FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2020

New City, NY, - The County Executives of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland Counties have written to Governor Andrew Cuomo requesting that the Mid-Hudson Region enter Phase 3 of the NY Forward reopening plan tomorrow, Friday, June 19, 2020.

Please see the full text of the letter below (also attached):

Governor Andrew Cuomo:

Together our collective actions have brought New York from the worst situation in our nation to one of the best. The proactive steps we have taken thus far have been driven by hard data and facts. Today, we are asking you to once again be proactive in protecting the people of New York State and the Mid-Hudson Region by respecting the hard data and facts.

Throughout the NY Forward reopening process our Mid-Hudson Regional Control Room has presented a multitude of ideas which you have later adopted and adapted to help the entirety of New York State. We brought you the concerns of local religious leaders who wanted to engage their flocks during this moment of national concern; you eventually allowed Houses of Worship to resume services at 25% capacity.

We spoke to you and your staff regarding economic fairness as restaurants in neighboring states began to allow for outdoor dining; you altered your established plans to give us parity and these restaurants a fighting chance at economic survival.

We pleaded for weeks to get answers for parents of children who require special education and for family members who have been unable to visit their loved ones in group homes. You eventually acted on these issues as well but in the case of the special education students you responded too late for many local districts to implement the necessary health and safety requirements. While distance learning will continue to take place, this is no substitute for the in-person services these students need in order to succeed and grow.

In establishing these control rooms across New York State you pledged to let those most familiar with the situation on the ground make decisions; this is also implied in the name, "control room," yet you continue to ignore local input and requests. Requests that we make, not for the "political reasons," you so often rail against during your briefings, but that we make to protect the wellbeing of our residents and the future of our communities.

We are now respectfully requesting that you to advance our timeline four short days and allow the Mid-Hudson Region to enter Phase 3 tomorrow, June 19th. The data you rely on for your decision-making process is positive. We have moved through Memorial Day, hot summer weekends and large protests and have not seen an uptick in case numbers. We are being responsible, not only in monitoring the data, but by being proactive at all times.

Our businesses have submitted their affirmations by the thousands; they have created thorough health and safety plans based on New York State's guidance. Thanks to your leadership we have a strong contact tracing program in place. We are ready to take the next step.

Once again you have been called upon to take action in defense of the people and businesses of New York State. This small change will allow families to celebrate Father's Day without worrying as much about limited seating options. This act would also place us in position to enter Phase 4 on July 3rd. What better way to celebrate our Independence Day than by truly embracing the freedoms we all cherish.

Governor as you said during your press briefing on Wednesday, June 17th, "we're going to turn the page on the immediacy of this crisis." With the immediate crisis past it is time to also turn the page in support of our residents. Our communities are ready for the next step and on behalf of the residents of the Mid-Hudson region we thank you for your consideration of this request.

Very truly yours,

Marcus J. Molinaro
Dutchess County Executive

Steven M. Neuhaus
Orange County Executive

Mary Ellen Odell
Putnam County Executive

Edwin J. Day
Rockland County Executive

# # #

Follow us on Twitter: @rocklandgov
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/rocklandcountyny
Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/rocklandgov
Visit our website: rocklandgov.com