Local officials speak out on extended border closing

PLATTSBURGH | Local politicians from both sides of the aisle are urging action on the extended Canadian border closure, which they say has been devastating to our economy leading into one of the busiest times of the year for the region. Now extended until at least July 31, officials gathered at Champlain Centre mall to express their frustration at the closure and implore the governments of both countries to come to a solution. With the border closed for over three months now, local politicians and business owners alike are worried that a lack of revenue will have untold consequences on the region. One particular area of worry is the lost gasoline taxes which help fuel the North Country throughout the summer tourism season. With Canadian travelers typically gassing up as soon as they cross the border, the taxes raised during these months are crucial for Plattsburgh and the surrounding areas, said New York Assemblyman Dan Stec. "There would be some people who would say: 'Hey, that kind of traffic concerns me'," said Stec. "I get all that, but we are in the process in the state and in the country of reopening. It's important to remember that it takes a functioning economy to fund the revenues that go into all the government programs that are keeping a lot of people afloat right now. You can't ignore the economy." Stec said there has been bipartisan support for action on the border situation here in the North Country, but ultimately the decision rests with the federal governments of the United States and Canada. Rep. Elise Stefanik, North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas and fellow Assemblyman Billy Jones have been in constant contact on the issue, and are united in finding a solution. "It's a non-partisan issue," said Stec. "We want to do the right thing from a health perspective, but also balance that with the economic realities and the economic needs. So, all three of them and myself included, [we're all] pointing to [a] need to find a way forward. Just kicking the can down the road another 30 days without a plan, without a proposal - without some sort of specifics - it doesn't help anybody." Stec, a Republican, applauds Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's valve approach to opening the economy - slowly allowing certain businesses to reopen after reaching certain metrics while at the same time ready to shut that valve down and return to lockdown measures at a moment's notice. However, Stec decried the lack of adequate guidance from the state - saying that some goalposts have been moved, leaving business owners frustrated and confused. As phases began, many businesses were told of the regulations they were required to follow with little time to prepare before reopening. In particular, he said mall tenants have been unfairly shuttered. Although set to open in Phase 4, the state ultimately did not give restaurants like those in the Champlain Centre mall's food court permission to open. As the reopening plan has no Phase 5, it's left local officials and business owners with no idea when they'll finally be allowed to begin again. A one size fits all approach is simply too broad, he said. What may work for some border areas may not be necessary for others. Stec said a region by region approach based on individual infection rates could be one possible solution. "The 30 days is kind of a shot in the dark, it's arbitrary," said Stec. "These are real businesses, these are real revenues, these are real livelihoods that we're affecting here."

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Local officials speak out on extended border closing

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