Senator Gallivan Joins Colleagues in Launching Re-Set, Re-Open Rollout

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) joined members of the Senate's Minority Conference to roll out an economic "Reset, Reopen" Plan for Upstate and Western New York in response to Coronavirus.  The policy consists of four distinct elements: Reopen businesses in a safe and pragmatic fashion; Reduce government control over businesses; Reform government to help businesses and taxpayers; Revitalize our economy and local communities.

While re-opening certain segments of the economy is critical, the plan goes beyond simply returning to work. 

“As we work to re-start our economy, we must do so while simultaneously following the guidelines of the CDC and other health care experts," Senator Gallivan said. "Analyzing each region based on population density, infection rate and health care capacity will help to determine which business sectors can reopen and the appropriate level of public health screening and protective measures that should apply.  We must also look for ways to support businesses and communities recovering from the devastating impact of this pandemic.”

Over the last week, Gov. Cuomo has been receptive to reopening along regional lines, stepping away from the one-size-fits approach of earlier in the pandemic. The Governor heeded calls from Senate and Assembly legislators who have called for a regional approach to reopening with individual assessments of specific regions COVID-19 cases, and for businesses to reopen while accounting for the economic viability and potential risk of infection. 

The Senators called for New York State to align the businesses on Empire State Development’s essential list with that of the Federal government’s essential businesses list. By aligning, operations such as construction, sportsmen stores, manufacturing, and other low-risk occupations would be allowed to re-open. This will allow limited New York residents to safely return to work – helping workers, small businesses, and a state unemployment system stretched to its financial and functional limits. The CDC’s “Opening Up America Again” Plan offers strict guidance for governors and legislators across the U.S. to utilize for the re-opening of the economy in phases as public health milestones are met.  

The Senators announced that they will follow up on the initial phase to lay out additional elements of the Re-open and Reset Plan pertaining to reduce, reform, and revitalize in the coming weeks. 

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