City Dealers On-Track to Accept Walk-Ins on Monday

Governor Cuomo announced that New York City will finally reach Phase Two on Monday, which means that NYC dealers would be able to open their doors to walk-ins for the first time since the COVID-19 crisis began in March. NYC businesses have had the longest path to reach this important stage and will allow dealers to operate more in the way they did back before the pandemic hit the state. 

State Required Safety Plans

The State has issued regulations for all businesses to have a written Safety Plan on-hand detailing steps they are taking to keep employees and customers safe. 

State agencies, including the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Labor, have contacted businesses across the State to ensure that they have Safety Plans and are adhering to State guidelines. Last week, Gov. Cuomo said that the state had already received about 25,000 complaints concerning businesses not following social distancing and the use of face masks. For more information on how to put together a safety plan, please visit this link. 

Long Island and Lower Hudson will be Entering Phase 3  

The Governor also announced that due to the continued drop in the number of reported COVID-19 infections, Long Island and Lower Hudson businesses, such as massage therapists and restaurants, will be able to reopen.  Indoor dining will also start on June 23rd and 24th, respectively. The Lower Hudson region includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, and Dutchess Counties.

Phase 3 does not affect car dealership operations, which have already reopened in Phase 2 across the state.

Sen. John Flanagan to Retire at the end of June

State Senate Republicans will choose a new leader on a Zoom conference call today, after Minority Leader John Flanagan announced his early retirement on Tuesday. 

Flanagan will vacate his Senate seat on June 28th to take a job with Northwell Health, heading up its local lobbying efforts in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. From 2015 to 2018, Flanagan was the Senate Majority Leader before the GOP lost the chamber to the Democrats.  

For the last 12 years, a Long Islander has led the Senate GOP Conference. After large Democratic gains there in 2018, it appears there will be a shift of power Upstate. A short time ago, Sen. Rob Ortt (R - North Tonawanda) announced he has the votes to succeed Flanagan. Ortt represents all of Niagara County and part of Orleans County Upstate. Ortt, a military veteran and former local government official, entered the Senate in 2015. A leadership vote is expected this afternoon. 

GNYADA is greatly appreciative for all of Sen. Flanagan’s work supporting dealers’ interests in Albany during his career. Most notably, Sen. Flanagan supported GNYADA's effort to strengthen New York’s Franchise Law in 2008 and 2014 to protect dealers from unfair factory practices.