With New York State hitting its COVID-19 apex, state leaders must begin to figure out how and when to reopen the economy. The primary concern, of course, is of the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers, so the state lockdown will not be lifted soon. Of course, without proper widespread testing with fast results and comprehensive contact tracing for the infected, or a vaccine, the state will continue to have outbreaks.
Nevertheless, with businesses shuttered and the economy in freefall, it is vital that the state has a plan to reopen. To that end, Governor Andrew Cuomo will coordinate a regional economic reopening plan along with the governors of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. They will form an 18-member council, staffed with an economic development official, a public health official, and the chief of staff from each governor’s office. The plan will involve easing isolation, expanding those workers deemed essential, and applying more testing precautions. Issues of schools, transportation, and the broader economy will be coordinated with this council. The goal is not to create a one-size-fits-all solution but given the intertwined regional economic activity, this cooperation is crucial.
So, too is it crucial to include small business owners/representatives on this council. Far too often, before COVID-19 these committees were staffed with representatives from large real estate or mega-corporations. Their recommendations seldom improved the lives of small businesses which are the backbone of the economy but operate on thin margins. The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped away those margins with many small businesses struggling to survive. Their needs must be prioritized by governors as they seek to reopen their states. The old crony, insider economy is dead, the new community, the ground-up economy must take its place.
*This article will be updated in the coming weeks as specific details and suggestions begin to emerge
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