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Stec, Davis differ on PAUSE

Assemblyman Dan Stec and candidate Kimberly Davis, who are running for New York’s 45th State Senate District on the Republican and Democratic lines, respectively, have issued differing opinions on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to extend New York State on PAUSE. This program is the one keeping schools and non-essential business from opening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stec, R,C,I-Queensbury, said he disagreed with Cuomo’s decision to extend PAUSE.

“While I understand the need to be cautious during these uncertain times, the Governor’s decision is both a bit premature and fails to recognize the need for some regional-based strategies,” Stec wrote in a press release. “The state was already on pause until April 29. There was no need, with two weeks remaining in that time frame, to extend this pause until mid-May. … But more importantly, and I expressed this (Friday) to the Governor’s office, our upstate economy simply cannot continue to be tethered to the situations in New York City and downstate suburbs. I fully understand keeping a pause on operations in that part of the state, but our region has not been hit anywhere near as hard and plans going forward need to reflect that the situation on the ground isn’t the same everywhere.”

Stec and the Assembly Minority Conference introduced the Jump-Start New York initiative, a 14-point plan aimed at helping the state’s small businesses and employees to get back on their feet following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conference’s plan would work to help allocate state and federal funding to businesses and their employees through repurposing Economic Development Funds from programs like START-Up New York; extending or waiving state regulations that have been enacted by executive order for a year; adjusting the state tax filling dates to align with federal tax filings; ensuring federal funding is provided to businesses and individuals within 30 days of passage of the stimulus package; ensuring future federal stimulus funding is given directly to school districts and local governments and providing zero percent interest loans to small businesses affected by COVID-19.

“Our plan aims to help struggling businesses, employees, residents, and municipalities get back on their feet when this is all over,” Stec wrote in a press release. “I hope the governor and legislative leaders take our plan into consideration as we begin talks to open New York up again once more.”

Davis

Davis supported Cuomo’s order to continue PAUSE until May 15 and opposed Stec’s stance.

“We are in extraordinary times with a previously unknown virus that has taken a devastating toll on our communities. I understand that many are suffering economically during this crisis, but we must do everything in our power to slow the spread of infection and stop the loss of life,” Davis wrote in a press release. “I am disappointed in my opponent’s comments that we shouldn’t continue with the stay-at-home measures. We simply do not have enough testing to know how many cases are truly out there. … Imagine what will happen if we reopen and people go back to congregating together? People are saying that they don’t want to wear masks. My health, your health, your family’s health, is dependent on our neighbors’ actions. We need to take the rest of the PAUSE ‘medicine’ and let it finish its course — we must put health and safety first.”

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