Oneida County submits plan to Governor Cuomo to reopen more businesses By Luke Perry
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente recently submitted a plan to Governor Cuomo for reopening businesses. “We’ve been very deliberate and very concerned,” Picente told Talk of the Town (WUTQ in Utica). Oneida County wants to adopt a data driven, phased in approach, contingent on local COVID-19 hospitalization and infection numbers.
Picente emphasized how “the numbers are different upstate” than metropolitan New York City and other metropolitan areas. There were 37 new cases in Oneida County over the weekend and three new fatalities. There has been a total of 364 cases and 11 fatalities.
Oneida County is focused on expanding “businesses operations and services,” Picente explained in his coronavirus press conference on Friday, not easing social distancing or the wearing of protective masks.
Picente said that more testing is needed, but believes it is important to discuss plans now. Doing so gives people hope and helps ensure the county is ready when the state transitions away from social distancing requirements.
“This is not about returning to normal,” Picente said. “It’s going to be a long time before we do.” Rather, “it’s a matter of getting some more people back to work and more services available to people that are now shutdown.”
These services include the work of dentists, ophthalmologists, chiropractors, and other things people rely on. “If we can open up golf courses,” Picente said, “we can open up some more small business and services that need to be provided to people.”
Photo from Metropolitan Transportation Authority
“It’s a plan. It’s an outline,” Picente said. “We’ll see what the Governor says about it.” Oneida County will not move forward without approval from New York State.
Earlier today, Governor Cuomo announced reopening of businesses would occur in two phases. Phase I would consist of construction and manufacturing, which were deemed “low risk.” May 15 is the earliest this would begin.
Phase II would expand to other businesses evaluated on how essential and how risky their services are. Reopening as a whole will involve a “new normal” of additional precautions and safeguards for public health.
Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College
