Region Reopening Progress

Currently the regions in Phase Two of the reopening process are the Finger Lakes (including Rochester), Mohawk Valley (including Utica), Central New York (including Syracuse), Southern Tier and North Country. Governor Cuomo announced today that the Western Region (including Buffalo) is expected to join them in Phase Two tomorrow, with the Capital Region to join Phase Two on Wednesday.

Protests

The Governor, acknowledging the protests around the State over the weekend, commended the State Police on their work in helping to deal with them in many upstate regions but remained worried as to what the ramifications of the mass gatherings could mean for the State’s COVID-19 infection rates.

In response to the ongoing unrest, Governor Cuomo proposed a Positive Reform Agenda to begin to help resolve the issues at hand, including:

  • National ban on excessive force and choke-holds
  • Independent investigations of police abuse, suggested AG investigate
  • Disciplinary records disclosed of police officers being investigated
  • Education equity
  • Anti-poverty agenda
  • A real national affordable housing plan

New York City Curfew Tonight

Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio have imposed a curfew in New York City beginning tonight at 11 PM running until 5 AM tomorrow morning, at which time they will reevaluate the situation.  

Upcoming Legislative Session

Today, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie released the following statement in regard to the recent protests across the state.

“Today the Senate and Assembly had productive majority conferences to discuss the issues occurring in our communities that have caused so much unrest over the last several days. Members have bills on many topics related to these issues and we will be developing a legislative package based on the ideas put forward. We intend to act on them next week.”

 New York State COVID-19 Numbers

Thankfully, we are now firmly on the far side of the COVID-19 plateau in New York State. That said, the number of deaths in the State has increased by 54 since yesterday.