Akshar says local governments should decide when to reopen, not the governor
New York State Senator Fred Akshar called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to allow local municipalities to decide when is the right time to reopen Friday morning. (Screenshot by Zachary Meseck)
NEW YORK - Senator Fred Akshar addressed New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday in a public meeting focused on allowing local governments to decide when it is a good time to reopen.
Akshar said small retail stores, local businesses, and non-profit organizations are all suffering due to the coronavirus lockdown. He said the phase system set in place doesn’t work for the people of the Southern Tier, and that local governments should be in control of when their businesses are allowed to reopen with social distancing guidelines in place.
“It's incredibly important for me to listen to the people I represent and then to act,” said Akshar. “My overall sense from the folks that I represent around the southern tier, is that people are frustrated.”
“People are at their breaking point with the economy being shut down.”
Akshar said the people in the Southern Tier are ready to get back to work, and that the governor needs to recognize the need to reopen.
“I’m calling on the governor to do away with the phases he’s implemented, and let us get back to work,” he said. “He has created this matrix, where you must check the boxes, and the fact that we’ve set up these arbitrary phases are really adding to the overall anxiety for the people throughout the southern tier.”
“I’ve been approached by countless business owners who have plans in place to keep their employees and customers safe if they could reopen.”
He said state guidelines require new hospitalization rates under two percent, and that the Southern Tier’s rates are at .11 percent. He added that the guidelines require 30 percent hospital bed availability, and the area has more than double that.
“The point today really is that the local business people here in the Southern Tier should not be prevented from opening up,” said Akshar. “Governor we have checked your boxes, we meet all of your thresholds, the people of the Southern Tier have said very very clearly, yes we have taken all of the appropriate precautions to keep people safe.”
He said the laws seem hypocritical when larger retailers are allowed to open and there are large numbers of people walking around there with and without masks.
“You can go to Lowes or Home Depot, or Walmart, and there are hundreds and hundreds of people, some with masks, and some without masks,” he added. “But somebody who owns a little retail shop in the Village of Owego, or owns a small retail shop in the City of Binghamton can’t open their doors the same way the big box store can.”
“These decisions quite frankly, should be made at the local level.”
He said the damage being done to local municipalities is doing more harm than good, and state aid isn’t enough to bridge the financial gap.
“There are many municipalities who are looking at making series cuts,” he added. “That’s why I’ve proposed legislation that would provide funds to businesses and organizations that otherwise haven’t received help.”
“For businesses it's capped at $1,000,000 a month, and for municipalities it's capped at $3,000,000 a month.”
He said businesses must show a specific loss month after month to qualify for aid.
Akshar said small retail stores, local businesses, and non-profit organizations are all suffering due to the coronavirus lockdown. He said the phase system set in place doesn’t work for the people of the Southern Tier, and that local governments should be in control of when their businesses are allowed to reopen with social distancing guidelines in place.
“It's incredibly important for me to listen to the people I represent and then to act,” said Akshar. “My overall sense from the folks that I represent around the southern tier, is that people are frustrated.”
“People are at their breaking point with the economy being shut down.”
Akshar said the people in the Southern Tier are ready to get back to work, and that the governor needs to recognize the need to reopen.
“I’m calling on the governor to do away with the phases he’s implemented, and let us get back to work,” he said. “He has created this matrix, where you must check the boxes, and the fact that we’ve set up these arbitrary phases are really adding to the overall anxiety for the people throughout the southern tier.”
“I’ve been approached by countless business owners who have plans in place to keep their employees and customers safe if they could reopen.”
He said state guidelines require new hospitalization rates under two percent, and that the Southern Tier’s rates are at .11 percent. He added that the guidelines require 30 percent hospital bed availability, and the area has more than double that.
“The point today really is that the local business people here in the Southern Tier should not be prevented from opening up,” said Akshar. “Governor we have checked your boxes, we meet all of your thresholds, the people of the Southern Tier have said very very clearly, yes we have taken all of the appropriate precautions to keep people safe.”
He said the laws seem hypocritical when larger retailers are allowed to open and there are large numbers of people walking around there with and without masks.
“You can go to Lowes or Home Depot, or Walmart, and there are hundreds and hundreds of people, some with masks, and some without masks,” he added. “But somebody who owns a little retail shop in the Village of Owego, or owns a small retail shop in the City of Binghamton can’t open their doors the same way the big box store can.”
“These decisions quite frankly, should be made at the local level.”
He said the damage being done to local municipalities is doing more harm than good, and state aid isn’t enough to bridge the financial gap.
“There are many municipalities who are looking at making series cuts,” he added. “That’s why I’ve proposed legislation that would provide funds to businesses and organizations that otherwise haven’t received help.”
“For businesses it's capped at $1,000,000 a month, and for municipalities it's capped at $3,000,000 a month.”
He said businesses must show a specific loss month after month to qualify for aid.
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