Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) appreciates the governor is in agreement with the Assembly Minority Conference about a regional reopening approach, after announcing a similar plan on Monday. The conference released its proposal, NYS Regional Restart, before the governor’s announcement, outlining some parameters which the state could adopt to get the economy running again in a safe manner.

“My constituents are eager to get back to work, open up their shops and resume life where it is safe and possible to do so. Upstate New York has not seen the breadth of COVID-19 cases that downstate has had to endure, so with proper planning we believe there is a safe way to move everyone forward,” said Friend.

The Empire Center has reported that the rate of COVID-19 cases in upstate counties has been well below the national average. It would be fair to take a regional approach to reopening the state’s economy, as Friend, his Minority colleagues, and the governor, have stated. The assemblyman is urging the state have a reopening plan in place by April 30, so that when it is safe and feasible to do so, New York is ready to implement the plan to restart the economy.

Friend, who is the ranking Minority member of the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry, helped lead the development of the Minority Conference’s New York State Regional Restart proposal. One of the biggest points to their proposal is that small business, agricultural, economic and industry advocates must be included in the planning process. It has been seen on the national and state level that the private sector has been a vital resource in retooling manufacturing, coordinating supplies and adjusting operations to meet the new demands and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The assemblyman asserts leaving out these key industry leaders would be a mistake.

A copy of the NYS Regional Restart is attached here.