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Sundquist Doubts State Will Reopen Soon

The reopening of the city of Jamestown following the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak might not be happening any time soon.

On Monday during the Jamestown City Council work session meeting, Eddie Sundquist, Jamestown mayor, said, according to the criteria detailed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Jamestown might not be reopening following May 15, which is the last day of the governor’s PAUSE order.

According to Sundquist, Cuomo has outlined a seven-point criteria to allow for a region to reopen.

As part of the governor’s plan, the 10 Regional Economic Development Councils are the boundaries for each region in the state. Jamestown and Chautauqua County are a part of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, along with Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara counties.

Sundquist said, as of Monday, Western New York only passes three of the seven criteria points outlined by the governor to reopen.

“Western New York is still a high-risk region,” Sundquist said. “I’m not super confident we’re reopening May 15. It might take a couple weeks after that.”

Brent Sheldon, Ward 1 councilman, said it’s discouraging that Jamestown and Chautauqua County are being tied together with Erie County and Buffalo, and should be considered a part of the Southern Tier.

“I’m really disappointed that we are a part of the Western New York region. The numbers are so skewed by Erie County,” he said. “Everything in Western New York is going to be skewed by Erie County.”

Sundquist said this is how Cuomo determined how to reopen areas of New York.

“(State officials) decided to go by region. We are going to be tied to it from what I can tell,” he said. “Our state representatives are looking to reopen up Chautauqua County earlier than the rest. From what I understand from the governor’s office, that isn’t going to happen.”

Sundquist said once Jamestown is allowed to reopen for business, there is a four- phase plan. He said the lowest risk businesses of spreading the coronavirus will open first.

He said phase one will include manufacturing and construction jobs, phase two will be professional service businesses, phase three will be restaurants and hotels and the fourth phase will be arts and entertainment venues. He said there will be about a two-week period between opening each phase.

Sundquist said Jamestown government and Board of Public Utilities officials are working on reopening plans as well. He said the phased in plan for each department will be to gradually add 25% of the workforce at a time.

“We are creating a plan to see what that looks like,” he said. “Each department is working to develop a plan.”

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