Phase 3 Reopening

Five regions in New York State today began Phase 3 of the New York Forward reopening process – the North Country, Finger Lakes, Central New York, Mohawk Valley, and the Southern Tier.  These regions are eligible for restaurants/food service in both indoor and outdoor settings while still adhering to the appropriate industry guidance. In addition, businesses that fall within the “Personal Care” industry such as nail salons and massage parlors will be able to open while following their appropriate industry guidance. 

Children’s Overnight Camps to Remain Closed

This evening Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker announced that children’s overnight camps would be prohibited from operating this season. This comes after questioning from the press today in which the Governor stated that a decision had not yet been made. Children’s day camps, however, have been permitted to open starting June 29th.

New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative

Governor Cuomo today is issuing a non-COVID Executive Order – the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative.  This Order requires local police agencies, including the NYPD, to develop a plan that reinvents and modernizes police strategies and programs in their community based on community input.  Each police agency’s reform plan must address policies, procedures, practices and deployment including, but not limited to, use of force.  Police forces must adopt a plan by April 1, 2021 to be eligible for future State funding.  Additional details for this directive can be found in the Governor’s press release, here.

Law Enforcement Reforms

Joined at his press conference by NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Reverend Al Sharpton, and the families of police brutality victims, the Governor today signed into law a package of law enforcement reform legislation (the ‘Say Their Name’ Reform Agenda), including:

  • Repealing 50-a of the NYS Civil Rights Law to increase transparency of law enforcement officers’ disciplinary records;
  • Banning chokeholds by law enforcement officers;
  • Designating the NYS Attorney General as an independent prosecutor for matters relating to the deaths of unarmed civilians caused by law enforcement; and
  • Prohibiting false, race-based 911 reports and making them a crime.

The accompanying press release, with further details, can be found here.

New York State COVID-19 Numbers

Although we are on the far side of the COVID-19 plateau and moving well into the reopening process here in New York State, there were still 42 COVID-19 related deaths yesterday.  While highlighting 23 other states whose COVID-19 rates are surging, the Governor stressed that New Yorkers must remain vigilant to continue the State’s recent progress.