‘Local governments are teetering on the edge of a fiscal cliff as demands for services rise and economic activity is at a standstill.’

Press Release, New York State Association of Counties

Following an announcement from the NYS Division of Budget that budget shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic could result in cuts of up to 50% in aid to local governments, the New York State Association of Counties says counties need funding from the federal government.

Congressional leaders are beginning negotiations for a fourth stimulus package. The counties are calling on President Trump, U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, the New York Congressional delegation and leaders McConnell, Pelosi, Schumer and McCarthy to take up the cause for county governments.

According to the Division of Budget’s Summary, “The scope and depth of the reductions to local aid programs needed to balance the FY 2021 Budget have no precedent in modern times. In the absence of Federal aid, nearly every activity funded by state government in the aid to localities budget … will face steep cuts.”

These cuts are expected as the COVID-19 pandemic is spiking demand for social services such as TANF, HEAP, child support, child welfare services and adult protective services.

“Local governments are teetering on the edge of a fiscal cliff as demands for services rise and economic activity is at a standstill,” said NYSAC President John F. Marren. “Counties are the foot soldiers in the war against COVID-19, and without direct federal support, they’ll be running out of the resources necessary to continue the fight.”

Early estimates project revenues from local sales, which are the lifeblood of local government, are falling off a cliff. Initial projections from the most recent data available show severe declines in retail activity, including:

• Motor Vehicle & Parts Dealers – loss of 23.7%
• Gasoline stations – loss of 18%
• Department stores – loss of 23.9%
• Clothing & Accessories – loss of 50%

These categories of economic retail activity represent some of the largest segments of the economy contributing to sales tax, a major source of revenue for county governments.

“Local taxpayers cannot absorb the loss of this revenue and state aid cuts. As Congress negotiates the next COVID-19 response package, we are asking them to ensure that there is direct and flexible funding for the county governments who are on the front lines of this critical public health and economic crisis,” said Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, president of the New York State County Executives’ Association.

“County governments are facing an unprecedented perfect fiscal storm as severe revenue loss and high demand for social service program are threatening to overwhelm county governments interfering with our efforts to combat COVID-19,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “Without help from the federal government in the form of direct aid to local governments, counties simply won’t be able to provide the essential services that are crucial to stopping the virus and reopening our communities.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Wally Skrypnik (left) of the American Legion and Mark Roberts of the VFW Post carry flags in the honor guard to start the Memorial Day parade in Albion last year on May 27.

ALBION – The Memorial Day parade and the ceremony that follows at the Albion Middle School have been cancelled due to concerns about bringing groups of people together during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s something that happens to be done for the betterment of the community,” said Gary Befus, who coordinates the Memorial Day observance along with Phil Warne of the Legion.

The Legion will still be putting about 2,000 flags on the graves of veterans at Mount Albion Cemetery, St’ Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery and other cemeteries in town.

Normally, local scouts help with that effort but Befus said the Legion members will take care of it this year. He said the scouts often move in a pack of kids when they place the flags and he wanted to avoid that during the pandemic.

The Honor Guard will recognize veterans on Memorial Day with gun salutes at the local cemeteries. Befus said the Honor Guard will meet at the Legion post the morning of May 25 and will be given sanitizer. Each member will be wearing gloves and driving in separate vehicles. Normally the Honor Guard stands close next to each other but they will be spread out more on Memorial Day, Befus said.

‘You can still get outside and enjoy planet Earth.’ – George Sokolsky

ALBION – Three friends from Brockport are walking stretches of the Erie Canal almost every day, gradually working their way from Brockport to Lockport.

The trio heads west past the Main Street lift bridge in Albion.

That’s about 40 miles along the towpath. The three drive to near one spot, walk 2 or 3 miles, and then turn around and walk back to their vehicle. They do it again the next day, with a new starting about 2 to 3 miles west of where they previously started.

They decided to walk a long stretch of the canal when the pandemic hit which has slowed down commerce and kept many people inside.

“You can still get outside and enjoy planet Earth,” said George Sokolsky, owner of the Magic Works Vacuum Shop in Brockport.

Sokolsky, 76, has owned that business for 36 years. He has reduced his hours during the pandemic. That his given him more time for walks.

He is often joined by his friends, Jim Balmer, 66; and Brad Alexander, 68. Balmer works as a stack tester, measuring air pollutants from industry and other sources. Alexander has been self employed for 46 years.

The trio said there are some benefits of the pandemic. The pace of life has slowed down. That has offered a chance for friends and family to reconnect.

“All of a sudden I have more time,” Sokolsky said while walking the towpath in Albion.

The group has made it to Marshall Road in Medina, with Niagara County not too far away.

George Sokolsky, Brad Alexander and Jim Balmer are enjoying their walks along the canal, seeing the small towns and wildlife along the way. They are pictured on the Main Street lift bridge in Albion. These photos were taken before Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s directive to wear masks or face coverings when social distancing isn’t possible in public.

They have enjoyed the quiet stretches along the canal, seeing turkey vultures, blue herons, deer and other animals.

“It’s a lot more peaceful than I thought,” Balmer said. “My blood pressure has dropped.”

The three friends have also walked at Hamlin Beach State Park since the pandemic hit. They see many families out for walks.

“The people we see they are all outgoing and friendly,” Alexander said. “It’s quite a contrast from when you go into Walmart or Wegmans. You go in there and people are scared.”

Sokolsky urged more people to get out for walks on the towpath or the nearby state parks.

“The canal is a great resource and Hamlin Beach is just wonderful,” Sokolsky said. “I would encourage everyone to just get out and breathe.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Andrew Lafave, a volunteer with Calvary Tabernacle Church, carries a box with food to a trunk of a vehicle on Monday afternoon during a Foodlink distribution at the church, which is at the old Medina High School on Catherine Street.

Foodlink dropped off 300 boxes and the church distributed 110 from 3 to 5 p.m., including 85 in the first 40 minutes, said Donna Poore, coordinator of the distribution and the food pantry at the church.

Donna Poore helps the vehicles to line up. She was tasked by Foodlink to find out the zip code of each recipient and the number of people in the family.

Kurt Strickland helps with the food distribution on Monday. The church had nearly 200 boxes of food left over after the distribution. Those boxes will be used for the church’s food pantry, which is open Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Some of the boxes might also go to the food distribution Friday in Albion from 9:30 to 11:30 at the Main Street parking lot, across from Hoag Library. Community Action runs that food distribution. It went through all 300 of its boxes during the first distribution on April 17.

People don’t need to register for the food distribution. They are encouraged to clean out their trunks and keep their windows closed. Volunteers will put a box of food in the trunk and then close the trunk.

Daniel Tabor, another volunteer at Calvary, gets a box ready. The boxes included citrus.

The boxes on Monday were a little lighter than usual due to increased demand on Foodlink.

The bags of citrus were added to the other boxes of food.

Phase II antibody tests suggest 14.9% of state residents have Covid-19 antibodies

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Photo by Tom Rivers: The flag is lowered at the Veterans’ Section at Mount Albion Cemetery out of respect for people who have died from Covid-19. Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported today that 337 people died from Covid-19 on Sunday, bringing the death toll from the virus in the state to 17,303.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the state is opening five new drive-through testing facilities in Monroe, Erie, Broome, Niagara and Oneida Counties.

On Saturday, the state expanded diagnostic testing criteria to include all first responders, health care workers and essential employees even if they aren’t symptomatic. These individuals will be able to get tested for COVID-19 at these new drive-through facilities. Residents who would like to be tested at these facilities must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065 or online at www.covid19screening.health.ny.gov.

The governor also announced the results of phase two of the state’s antibody testing survey. The preliminary results show 14.9 percent of the population have COVID-19 antibodies. The preliminary results of phase one of the state’s antibody testing survey released on April 23rd showed 13.9 percent of the population have COVID-19 antibodies.

The Governor also announced the state is expanding its antibody testing survey starting today to further determine the spread of infections among frontline workers and first responders. The state is testing today 1,000 New York City Fire Department officers and 1,000 New York City Police Department officers from across all five boroughs, and this week will test 3,000 health care workers and 1,000 transit workers for antibodies.

The Governor also announced that two million bottles of NYS Clean hand sanitizer have been distributed across all 62 counties to date. The hand sanitizer has been distributed to hospitals, nursing homes, food banks, food handlers, Red Cross, first responders, schools and colleges, healthcare workers, homeless organizations, law enforcement, unions, transportation systems and faith-based organizations

“The NYS on PAUSE regulations are set to expire statewide on May 15th and some regions may be ready to begin re-opening at that time, but we have to be smart about it and make sure each industry and business is putting the necessary precautions in place so the infection rate doesn’t go back up,” Cuomo said. “Antibody and diagnostic testing will be a key component of our phased re-opening because it tells us the people who were infected and have now resolved, as well as the overall infection rate across the state.”

Finally, the Governor confirmed 3,951 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 291,996 confirmed cases in New York State.

KENDALL – The Kendall Town Board has decided to cancel the community Memorial Day observance on may 30 due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.

The observance rotates each year from one of Kendall’s three town cemeteries. The observance is also on May 30, which was the official day for the holiday until it was changed to be the last Monday in May. Memorial Day used to be known as Decoration Day. The holiday was celebrated on May 30 from 1868 to 1970.

The service usually attracts about 75 to 125 people with local firefighters, scouts, Kendall students, veterans and senior citizens gathering to pay homage to veterans who died in service to the country.

Tony Cammarata, the town supervisor, said he was concerned about the potential health risks to the public with a gathering of that size.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Cows are pictured at the Van Lieshout farm in Barre in this photo from October.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a $25 million “Nourish New York” initiative today where the state will buy farm products and direct that food to food banks that are seeing increased demand during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The governor also welcomed philanthropists to step forward and buy produce and milk from upstate farmers that could be given to people through food banks.

“We’re seeing a tremendous demand in food banks,” Cuomo said during a news conference today. “The numbers are very, very high, and we need to address it.”

The state is committing $25 million in emergency funding to buy the produce and milk for the food banks.

“I’m also asking philanthropies to help,” Cuomo said. “Many philanthropies said they wanted to help and step up.”

The governor said supporting the food banks is a great way to support people in crisis.

Despite the demand for food many of the markets are disrupted, and some farm cooperatives are dumping food because the market can’t consume it, Cuomo said.

“This is just total waste to me,” the governor said. “We have people downstate who need food. We have farmers upstate who can’t sell their product. We have to put those two things together. It’s just common sense.”

The state will connect companies with dairies to buy the excess milk, yogurt, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, and then give that to the food banks that are downstate, Cuomo said.

The governor also announced the launch of the Nourish New York Initiative to purchase food and products from Upstate farms and direct it to food banks across the state. The state will also be partnering with the state’s dairy producers – Chobani, Dairy Farmers of America, Upstate Niagara, Cabot Cheese and others – to process excess milk into products like yogurt, cheese, sour cream and cream cheese, that will be distributed to food banks and those in need.

The Nourish New York Initiative will be led by:

• Kelly Cummings, Director of State Operations and Infrastructure
• Richard Ball, Commissioner of Agriculture
• Rossana Rosado, Secretary of State
• Karim Camara, Executive Director of the Office of Faith-Based Community Development Services
• Fran Barrett, Director of Non-Profits
• Mike Hein, Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

The governor’s announcement was well received by the New York Farm Bureau.

“Governor Cuomo provided some much-needed good news today for the state’s farmers and our partners looking to feed fellow New Yorkers in need,” said Farm Bureau President David Fisher. “Our organization has been advocating for food purchase programs at the state and national levels to address the surging demand for food assistance as well as to help alleviate oversupply issues that are burdening our farms because of the loss of markets in the food service industry.”

Fisher said the agriculture industry in New York needs additional assistance.

“More needs to be done to support all New Yorkers,” Fisher said. “No farmer wants to dispose of the food they produce, but few farms can process and package their raw commodities, like milk, into products that can be purchased or donated to those in need.”

The Northeast Dairy Producers Association Inc. also praised the announcement from the governor in this tweet.

By Mike Pettinella, publicist for Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

As our nation deals with the COVID-19 pandemic by practicing social distancing and other safety measures, counselors and peer recovery advocates at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse have expanded their use of the telephone and internet to support those in recovery.

Understanding that people recovering from substance use can be adversely affected by isolation and boredom, GCASA professionals are taking effective steps to keep in contact with those at risk despite the inability to meet on a face-to-face basis at this time.

“What is most important to know is that GCASA is still here for people – every day of the week, all day and even into the evening,” said Rosalie Mangino-Crandall, director of the recovery programs as well as project innovation and expansion. “We are still finding ways to support people and help them in recovery and doing what they need to do to get better.”

Mangino-Crandall added that just talking to a person or hearing a soothing voice of encouragement can have a profound impact.

“One of the advantages of phone support is that it concentrates that support on the person and what he or she wants to talk about,” she explained. “It really focuses the support on the recovery conversation.”

GCASA’s peer recovery advocates, or peers for short, are people who have lived through recovery (with some of them still in recovery) and have received specialized training to share their experiences with others in need.

According to Amy Kabel, a lead peer at the agency’s Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road, her team continues to connect with their clients on a regular basis.

“While things have changed a lot, what hasn’t changed is that we are checking with people about what they are doing for self-care, and making sure they are reaching out to any support system they may have – to us and their counselors – and making sure they are staying active,” Kabel said.

Kabel said those currently living at Atwater House, GCASA’s residential building on East Main Street, are able to utilize Recovery Station under specific guidelines.

“We allow them to use the facility in small groups, and we are doing social distancing – keeping everyone six feet away from each other,” she said, adding that peers and other staff there are wearing masks as a precaution. “Some come for a couple hours and some come at 10 in the morning and pretty much stay all day until we close at 8 p.m.”

Recovery Station is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday but, until state-mandated restrictions are lifted, it is available only for Atwater residents.

Peers are working from home, with extended hours, and reaching out by telephone to their clients, Kabel said.

“We are making calls and we’re getting calls on the peer support line – 585-815-1800. Since OASAS (NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports) has changed some of the rules, we can bill for telehealth, so we’re able to keep everybody involved.”

She said that a couple of her colleagues, Nick Volpe and Sheila Smith, have been picking up food at various food pantries for clients.

“They’re making calls and making sure everybody has enough food. And if clients don’t have vehicles, we can make deliveries, and drop it off at their doors.”

Sue Gagne, GCASA’s recovery center coordinator, said the Recovery WOW support group has launched new ventures designed to perpetuate its “together we are stronger” philosophy.

“We are starting up a Guided Journaling workshop on Tuesday afternoons at 3:30 and we have partnered with NAMI Rochester (a mental health organization) to provide a family support group on Friday mornings at 10,” Gagne said. “We’re doing this through Zoom meetings … and hopefully will be working the peers to put some videos up.”

Thus far, all three women agreed that the modifications are working well.

“All of the (seven) peers have full workloads as we interact with dozens of people in various stages of recovery,” Kabel said, noting that peers are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mangino-Crandall said that navigating around the coronavirus has been tough, but it’s not insurmountable.

“I think it’s a challenging time for everyone. Certainly, everybody out there is trying to deal with it in their own way and it is difficult kind of being on your own, so it’s good for folks to know and get the word out that we’re available to talk,” she said.

She also pointed out a silver lining in the midst of these unprecedented times.

“With all of us in the same situation, there are a lot of remote opportunities to connect with people, not only locally but across the state and the country, that you might not have had normally,” she said. “That’s an advantage in that it opens the recovery community up much more broadly than you would typically find.”

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced today that Medina Memorial Hospital (Orleans Community Health) will receive $380,000 in federal funding through the CARES Act.

The money is part of $1.4 billion being directed to hospitals by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

“Our hospitals and providers have been New York’s heroes in the fight against COVID-19, and these critical dollars will help keep the fight against the virus going strong,” Schumer said in a news release. “New York and its hospitals have been on the frontline of the battle against the virus for over a month now and they are struggling. I will fight with everything I’ve got to get New York’s incredible healthcare workforce all the federal support they need to beat back this pandemic.”

There are two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans and also two more people have recovered after being ill from the virus, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting today.

Of the two new cases in Orleans, one person is in the 60s and the other is in the 80s. The Health Department reports the new positive cases include a resident of Waterport and a person from Albion. One of the positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.

The Health Department said 81 people have now tested positive for the virus, and that includes 42 at the Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility in Albion.

The number of people who have recovered from the virus also increased by two, going from 22 to 24.

Eight people are currently hospitalized from Covid-19.

In Genesee County, there are three new positive cases bringing the county’s total to 146. All three live in Batavia with one person in the 20s, one in the 40s and one in the 80s.

One of the newly positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.

Three more people have recovered from the virus, bringing the total recoveries to 72.

Two people from Genesee are currently hospitalized from Covid-19, while another person in an active case is at a non-hospital regulated facility.

Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.

Additional updates and guidelines from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• VIRUS IS PREVALENT LOCALLY: Remember even though the numbers may be high at a specific location, the virus is still moving though our counties. People need to continue frequent handwashing and sanitizing shared surfaces, practicing stay safe at home, social distancing and wearing cloth masks when out in public.  This is not the time for gathering at the grocery stores, take-out lines or play dates. This is the time to be kind and think of the health and well-being of others.

• NURSING HOME VIOLATIONS: The NYS Health Department will partner with the State’s Attorney General to investigate nursing home violations.  A hotline or online form can be submitted where residents, families, or members of the public can share complaints about nursing homes that have not provided required communications with families about COVID-19 diagnoses or fatalities, nursing home abuse and neglect including failure to follow rules to keep residents safe.  The hotline number is 833-249-8499 or click the link for the online form.

• Domestic Violence: For New Yorkers in need of help or assistance, they can text 844-997-2121 or can go to the new confidential online site to reach a professional at www.opdv.ny.gov The new text program and confidential online service will make it easier for victim who are isolated with their abusers to get help.  Both the text and online service are staffed 24/7 by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Staff who are experts in the area of domestic violence.

• MASKS: Wearing Masks and social distancing is paramount to preventing flare-ups and mini-outbreaks. Everyone needs to be compliant. Correctly wearing cloth masks is part of a multi-prong approach to stop/slow the spread of COVID-19.  We know wearing a face covering is inconvenient and uncomfortable, but it can limit transmission of respiratory germs. The mask traps the droplets before they spread into the environment.  Remember wearing a face covering helps to protect others from your potential germs.

• GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESSES: The Health Department encourages stores and businesses to set guidelines that include not allowing patrons to enter if they are not wearing a face covering or wearing it correctly (covering the mouth & nose).  Make sure proper signage noting your policy is visible to patrons.

• When the state starts to open up we all have to be diligent for quite some time to prevent the spread of this virus.

• Continue frequent handwashing / hand sanitizing if soap and water are not available.

• Continue frequent sanitizing / cleaning of shared surfaces.

•Continue Social Distancing – staying 6’ away from others.

• Continue Wearing face coverings – wearing face coverings correctly when out in public.  The mouth and nose are to be covered and the face covering should be tucked under the chin.  Wearing masks is a way of strengthening social distancing.

• Stay HOME if you are sick! Do not go shopping, Do not go to work, Do not go visiting!

• There is still no cure or vaccination available for COVID-19. Be alert to scams or home remedies. Contact your primary care provider if you have any symptoms and follow his/her instructions.

• Swabbing is becoming increasingly available in the WNY region. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your primary care provider and they will determine if testing is right for you.  If the counties receive an increase in swabbing supplies and the protocol for testing is changed, we will notify the public.

• MENTAL HEALTH: Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations and having to socially distance yourself from someone you love can be difficult. Below are resources that can help you connect to a professional that can help you through these challenging times:

• Care + Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 at 585-283-5200 or text  ‘Talk’ to 741741

• New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling

Photo courtesy of Albion Central School: Sue Webster and Cassie Dash, both staff members at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School, are joined by the Purple Eagle mascot with a poster sending students “6 feet of love.”

ALBION – A new video put together by Rachel Curtin, principal of the elementary school, includes photos of many elementary school staff and teachers, holding signs to let students know they are missed.

Click here to see the video which is titled, “We love our Purple Eagles.”

Curtin created the nearly 6-minute long video with background music of students performing at a recent school concert.

“Keep working hard and stay positive,” Curtin urges the students. “With respect, responsibility and optimism, Mrs. Curtin.”

Respect, responsibility and optimism are the three guiding principles of the school district.

Today is the start of the seventh week students have been home from school.

Company quickly retools with new floor markers, protective shields, sanitizer/PPE stations and other products

Provided photos, images: Takeform in Medina developed these and other products for healthcare facilities. Amplify wall posters including these floor decals at left allow for easy display of a message on any interior wall or floor. This one is 6 feet wide, the recommended space for social distancing. The amplify window cling at right applies directly to glass doors and windows and is intended for indoor and outdoor use. These window clings inform that Covid-19 testing is done at the site.

Provided photo: Ken McPherson of Takeform assembles one of the Assure Protective Shields manufactured by the Medina company. These shields are used to protect tellers and other in-person customer service employees from germs during customer interactions.

MEDINA – Takeform, a company with 200 employees in Medina, has quickly developed an array of products to help businesses, especially healthcare organizations, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Takeform has made numerous signs and floor decals about the 6-foot social distancing guidelines, and signs for Covid-19 testing.

The company has also developed protective shields for bank tellers and other employees in close contact with customers. Takeform also made sanitizer stations that can be mounted on walls and placed throughout buildings.

Takeform was able to design, engineer and manufacture these products in about two months. Normally it takes about six months or more to develop new products and make them available to their customers around the country.

Takeform works with 40 percent of the 100 largest healthcare systems in the country, said Michael Hungerford, a regional director for Takeform.

“Since we serve a lot of healthcare clients already, we’re in a position to help them adjust and reconfigure their facilities to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19,” Hungerford said.

“Over the span of about two weeks our engineers and designers developed a new line of products that do just that,” he said. “The fact that they were able to develop the products and then roll it out nationwide in a little over two weeks in such challenging times is amazing because it usually takes 6-plus months to do something like this.”

Takeform also has been busy working with colleges and businesses “who are all trying to figure out how to make their buildings safe for people to return to,” Hungerford said.

The floor markers, protective shields, and sanitizer/PPE stations are part of the reopening strategy for colleges and businesses.

“Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll introduce several more products that help these organizations open confidently and then stay open safely into the future,” Hungerford said.

Covid-19 notices and notice holders offer a simple, yet effective means of communicating hygiene and safety messages.

Hand sanitizer displays can be mounted on walls in five different finishes: Manitoba Maple, Wild Cherry, Silver Wings, Black Microdot and White Microdot. These displays can be mounted at critical points throughout facilities.

Takeform says, “At no time is communication more critical than during a crisis. Demands are more intense, emotions are high, and miscommunication can be dangerous. Have the right message in the right place, communicated professionally plays a valuable role in managing urgent situations.”

Takeform also has large banners to inform people of testing sites and quarantine zones.

For more information on some of the products at Takeform, click here.

File photo by Tom Rivers: A farmer works a field on July 19, 2016 near the 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer revealed that as part of his negotiation priorities for the interim emergency bill that passed the Senate last week, he has ensured that agricultural enterprises will be added as an eligible recipient for grants of up to $10,000 and low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This assistance can help cover business expenses, including payroll and other operating expenses.

“Making our hardworking Upstate farmers eligible for this vital federal emergency grant-and-aid program was a huge priority for me and I am proud to have secured them this much-needed and well-deserved access to a program that could be a lifeline in these very difficult times,” said Senator Schumer. “I fought hard because just like any other small business in New York, access to this funding could be a vital lifeline for our farmers during this time of crisis. In good times, New York farmers are some of the best in the world and work long hours on tight margins, but in the midst of a global pandemic, they are losing revenue streams, suffering huge financial losses and being forced to discard their products. They need all the help we can offer – and they need it now.”

About 23% of New York State’s land area, or almost 7 million acres, is farmland, and with more than 33,000 farms across the state and nearly 700 farmer’s markets, New York’s agricultural sector is one of the hardest-hit industries in the nation. Additionally, 96% of farms in the state are family-owned.

Since the March passage of the CARES Act, there has been demand from the agricultural community for the SBA to include agricultural enterprises to the EIDL program. With this fix to the EIDL program, farms and other agricultural enterprises under 500 employees will be eligible to apply for SBA grant and loan disaster assistance.

Schumer added, “the bill originally pushed by Senate Republicans had absolutely no fix for our farmers, nor did it have any money for the entire Emergency Injury Disaster Grant and Loan Program. But we stopped that bill so we could make vital improvements, like making sure our farmers had full access to all key forms of federal aid to get through the tough times.”

Here are the facts:

Farmers and other agricultural enterprises are now eligible for the EIDL program.

The bill passed in the Senate adds agricultural enterprises under 500 employees as an eligible recipient for grants of up to $10,000 and low-interest loans through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

There has been a demand from the agricultural community for SBA to change its rules so agricultural enterprises would be eligible for the SBA’s EIDL loans and the new EILD grant program, but no such rule change has happened.

The interim emergency bill proposed by Democrats called for this key fix to support the nation’s farmers, which would not have happened under the original proposal that would have solely increased in funding for PPP.

Schumer has been advocating for New York’s farms during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, securing over $9.5 billion in emergency funding in last month’s CARES ACT for the agricultural sector suffering massive financial losses due to reduced demands and supply chain disruptions.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Please advise that the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are canceling the anti-rabies immunization clinics scheduled for May to comply with the New York State on PAUSE executive order.

Cats, dogs and ferrets still need to be protected against rabies with a vaccine. Please call your local veterinary practice about how and when to vaccinate your pet.

• The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Genesee County is scheduled for Aug. 13 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds from 4 to 7 p.m.

• The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Orleans County is scheduled for Aug. 15 at the town of Shelby Highway Building from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Press Release, Siena College Research Institute

Photo by Mike Groll/Office of the Governor: Andrew M. Cuomo provides a coronavirus update during a news conference at Albany on March 31.

New Yorkers give Governor Andrew Cuomo record high job performance and favorability ratings, according to a new Siena College Poll of registered New York State voters released today.

His favorability rating is 77-21 percent, up from 71-23 percent last month, matching his highest ever in February 2011. His job performance rating is 71-28 percent, up from 63-35 percent last month, his best ever. By a 78-16 percent margin, voters say they trust Cuomo over President Donald Trump to make a determination about opening New York, according to the poll.

This Siena College Poll was conducted April 19-23 among 803 New York State registered voters with 508 voters contacted through a dual frame (landline and cell phone) mode and 295 responses drawn from a proprietary online panel (Lucid) of New Yorkers.

Fifty-one (51) percent of New Yorkers say they personally know someone who has tested positive for coronavirus and 32 percent, including nearly half of New York City voters, say they know someone who has died as a result of coronavirus. By a 92-8 percent margin, voters support the Governor’s order requiring face masks or coverings in public and by 87-11 percent, they support his decision to extend New York ‘On Pause’ until May 15.

“Mired in middling poll numbers for the last two years, Cuomo is feeling the love from New Yorkers of all stripes in year three of his third term, and his first global pandemic. He is viewed favorably by 90 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of independents and 53 percent of Republicans, his first time favorable with Republicans in more than six years,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. “His 71-28 percent job performance rating this month bests last month’s all-time high, and is up strikingly from a negative 36-63 percent rating just two months ago.

“When it comes to whom New Yorkers trust more to make decisions about reopening the state and its economy – the President or the Governor – it’s not even close. Only 16 percent of voters – and only 36 percent of Republicans – trust Trump, compared to 78 percent of all voters – and 56 percent of Republicans – who trust Cuomo. Even self-identified conservatives trust Cuomo more, 57-34 percent,” Greenberg said.

One-Third of NY households include someone laid off & half have someone working from home

Fourteen percent of voters have been laid off, with another 13 percent having someone in their household laid off, and five percent who have been laid off in addition to someone else in their household.

Forty-eight (48) percent are working from home and/or have a household member working from home who normally works outside the home. Thirty-two (32) percent of voters say they and/or someone they live with is continuing to work outside the home.

“To say the coronavirus has had a tremendously detrimental effect on New York’s workforce – upstate and downstate – is a gross understatement. Nineteen percent of voters have themselves been laid off and another 13 percent say someone in their household has been laid off. While the layoffs have hit upstate and downstate nearly the same, 48 percent of Latino voters say that they and/or someone in their household has been laid off, compared to 30 percent of both white and black voters affected by layoffs,” Greenberg said.

“More than half of downstate voters and 41 percent of upstaters live in a household with at least one person working from home who usually works outside the house. While 66 percent of people earning $100,000 or more annually have someone working from home who usually does not, only 26 percent of people earning less than $50,000 have someone newly working from home,” Greenberg said. “About one-third of voters upstate and downstate have someone in their household continuing to work outside the house, including 43 percent of voters from union households, compared to 27 percent from non-union households.”

Other highlights in the poll:

• Coronavirus testing – By a 69-26 percent margin, voters say New York cannot start to reopen without widespread coronavirus testing. When asked which level of government should have ultimate responsibility to ensure appropriate testing, voters split with 49 percent saying the Federal government, 41 percent state governments and seven percent both.

• Public gatherings – Thirty-two percent of voters think it very (seven percent) or somewhat (25 percent) likely large public gatherings – like sporting events, concerts or graduations – will resume this summer, and 67 percent think it is not very (40 percent) or not at all (27 percent) likely. Similarly, if such events were to resume this summer, 69 percent say it is not very (30 percent) or not at all (39 percent) likely they would attend, compared to 31 percent who say it is very (10 percent) or somewhat (21 percent) likely they would attend.

• “Getting back to normal” – “While 43 percent of voters think ‘things will be back to normal sometime soon,’ down from 53 percent last month, a majority, 56 percent say they’re ‘not confident America will be back to normal anytime soon,’ up from 44 percent last month,” Greenberg said. “Republicans are optimistic, 61-39 percent, while 55 percent of independents, 63 percent of Democrats and at least 53 percent of voters from every region are more pessimistic.”

• Biden leads Trump among New York voters – Joe Biden leads Trump among New York voters, 65-29 percent, up from 58-33 percent in March. Trump has a 31-66 percent favorability rating, down from 35-59 percent last month. Biden has a 60-36 percent favorability rating, up from 51-40 percent last month.

• High approval for Cuomo and Fauci – Cuomo (84 percent) and Dr. Anthony Fauci (81 percent) continue to garner extraordinarily high approval ratings for their handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as does ‘your local government leader’ outside of New York City (78 percent). Trump’s handling of the pandemic fell to 34-65 percent, down from 41-56 percent approval last month.

• Stimulus checks – Thirty-six (36) percent say they have received a check or direct deposit from the Federal government in response to the pandemic. Forty-three percent of upstaters and 42 percent of Republicans say they have received money from the Federal government, and one-third of downstaters, Democrats and independents say they have.