Cuomo’s rollback threat raises concerns
For the second time in less than a week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped up threats Monday toward closing bars and restaurants if owners failed to comply with COVID-19 regulations.
And his warnings, which included demands on local law enforcement to crackdown on violators, drew reaction from some political leaders representing the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Cuomo said most establishment owners are complying, but not enough. If compliance and enforcement of rules doesn’t get better, “we are going to have to rollback opening plans and we are going to have to close bars and restaurants.”
Senator Sue Serino, R-Hyde Park, said the governor is off base.
“Threatening a widespread rollback in order to punish a few bad actors is not how the state should be operating,” Serino said in a statement. “Public health and safety must always be our top priority, but the state needs to do a better job of communicating with local stakeholders and community members on the ground who can help develop solutions that promote public health while ensuring businesses can continue to operate safely.”
“Most bar and restaurant owners are truly going above and beyond to keep patrons safe and we should be doing all we can to incentivize all institutions to follow suit, not threatening actions that will hurt all those who are doing their part to protect public health,” Serino said.
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill,
D-Kingston, said New York has, so far, done a good job beating back COVID-19.
“New York appears to have been as successful as much of the rest of the industrialized world in ‘flattening the curve’ of the COVID-19 virus ... for now,” Cahill said in a statement. “Meanwhile, we are seeing the disease ravage populations in other states from Florida to California. In spite of the unfortunate politicization of this health care issue, the science is that social distancing is an essential element, if not the key, to keeping COVID-19 in check and keeping us away from those days when our hospitals were overburdened, equipment in short supply and the health of the general public, especially vulnerable populations, were at severe risk.
“If we are to see progress and light at the end of the tunnel, compliance is critical, perhaps even more now than when the virus was in its nascent stage,” Cahill added.
Still, the assemblyman said, he feels for businesses hurt by the regulations.
“My heart aches for those who have suffered such a profound economic burden from the quarantine and economic slowdown that was an inevitable part of this whole unfortunate circumstance,” Cahill said. “My staff and I deal with it every single day. It is perfectly understandable that some are poised to move on to a less restrictive environment and closer to business as usual.
“In too many instances, their savings are decimated and their businesses challenged in unprecedented ways,” Cahill said. “And we are social people. The isolation and inability to gather in intimate settings we have all been experiencing is taking a significant toll.”
Cahill said his own “experience is that most restaurants have gone to extraordinary lengths to comply with health requirements, that they have been creative and committed in assuring that their clientele are safe and secure.”
Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, a Republican, said that the governor issuing a blanket closing would be unfair.
“I would hope that the governor’s actions would be specific to areas that are not complying,” Molinaro said. “We are not seeing it in the Mid-Hudson Valley and we are certainly not seeing it in Dutchess County.”
“We are not seeing blatant disregard for the socials gathering (expectations) and I am very happy about that,” Molinaro said.
He added that “our residents, our communities, our businesses are all trying their best to care for their neighbors and comply with the guidance.”
Assemblyman Chris Tague, R-Schoharie, said that Cuomo is changing the rules as he goes along.
“Business owners have been barely treading water after hanging on for months, waiting to reopen, and now the governor has thrown a wrench into their plans yet again,” Tague said. “Business owners should be able to sleep at night in this state without worrying a new edict from our governor will put them out of business, and for him to threaten people trying to feed their families and preserve their small businesses is heartless.”
“Even before this pandemic, New York was the hardest state in the union in which to own and operate a business,” Tague added. “We rank last in categories we should be first in and first in categories we should be last in.”
Senator Jen Metzger, DRosendale, said people still need to be cautious.
“We must remain vigilant in New York to keep this virus under control and keep our economic recovery moving forward,” Metzger said. “Fortunately, from what I’ve seen, many businesses in my district are setting the right example.”
On Monday, Cuomo also scolded younger people for congregating.
“I am telling you it has to stop,” Cuomo said. “I am telling you in plain New York speak, as a born and bred New Yorker, it is stupid.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Cuomo added.
In other news:
• U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, announced Monday his second Facebook Live Town Hall on Saturday, July 25, at 12:30 p.m. After holding 35 in-person town halls prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, including three in each of the eleven counties that make up New York’s 19th Congressional District, and ten telephone town halls during the pandemic, Delgado is holding his second Facebook Live Town Hall where he will provide a brief federal update and answer questions.
• Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan will also hold a Facebook live stream COVID-19 update on Tuesday, July 21.