Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed Central New York’s Coronavirus infection rate and its economy in his briefing from Syracuse Tuesday. Cuomo realizes Upstate is very different than New York City.

Onondaga County updates on the COVID-19 pandemic have recently shown leveling off or drops in community spread infections. Cuomo says hard data on infections and the rate of spread from person to person are key factors to determine when and how to reopen the economy. But Cuomo also says it’s not just that simple.

“Regions that in two weeks have reduced rates, these would be the reopening plans that we have to have in place. Those counties would have to coordinate on the county responsibilities, the state has to coordinate certain responsibilities, the federal government are providing supplies for the testing because the testing has been a big problem.”

He gave the update at Upstate University Hospital. No more than 70% of hospital beds are full in the county, a positive sign for region health. If beds were full, any uptick in cases could overwhelm health systems. Other factors include plans on distancing and personal protective equipment for each business that would reopen, testing, and isolation specifics for positive cases.

Manufacturing and construction seem most likely to be in any phase one of an opening process, with an estimated 46,000 jobs in our region. Cuomo says data, metrics and even circuit breakers if things take a turn for the worse, are essential to getting the economy going again.

“Factual points of what we have to do to reopen, so everyone has the same opening template that we’re dealing with. But emotions can’t drive a re-opening process. Be smart about it, don’t be emotional, don’t be political, don’t get pushed politically into a situation — protesters are in front of the capital, we better re-open — no, I’m not going to do that. That’s not how we make decisions.”

More guidance on schools is expected by the end of the week. Cuomo warned against opening beaches, other waterfront attractions or something like the state fair because they would attract people from other regions that are not open and increase density like the hotspot in New York City.

The administration is still saying to, ‘stay home, stop the spread, save lives.’ Cuomo thanked essential workers, from grocery store employees to cab and bus drivers, to nurses and doctors. They’re facing increased infection rates but are needed to for people to eat, get to work, keep the lights on and care for people, he said.

The Governor’s Office released a point-by-point plan for re-opening the state as part of the press conference. From its press release:

• Phase one will include opening construction and manufacturing functions with low risk.
• Phase two will open certain industries based on priority and risk level. Businesses considered "more essential" with inherent low risks of infection in the workplace and to customers will be prioritized, followed by other businesses considered "less essential" or those that present a higher risk of infection spread. As the infection rate declines, the pace of reopening businesses will be increased.
• The region must not open attractions or businesses that would draw a large number of visitors from outside the local area.
• There will be two weeks in between each phase to monitor the effects of the re-opening and ensure hospitalization and infection rates are not increasing.
• This plan will be implemented with multi-state coordination, especially in downstate New York. The plan will also coordinate the opening of transportation systems, parks, schools, beaches and businesses with special attention on summer activities for downstate, public housing and low-income communities, food banks and childcare.
• The phased re-opening will also be based on individual business and industry plans that include new measures to protect employees and consumers, make the physical workspace safer and implement processes that lower risk of infection in the business. The state is consulting with local leaders in each region and industry to formulate these plans.

According to the Governor’s Office, Onondaga County has 692 total positive cases of COVID-19 as of April 28.

Many of New York’s largest environmental groups were not going to let the 50th anniversary of Earth Day pass without a celebration. Organizations ranging from the Adirondack Council to Sierra Club to Audubon Society and many more wanted to rejoice in progress the state has made.

Wide range of environmental groups acknowledged Earth Day @ 50, pointing at work to be done, economic benefits of green infrastructure investments, and environmental justice concerns.

There’s plenty to celebrate as Earth Day turns 50, the groups say, in how New York State has often led the nation in environmental policy. There is the recent Climate Protection Act, clean water and infrastructure measures, and a ban on methane-producing shale gas extraction. The Nature Conservancy’s Jessica Ottney also says lawmakers put $300 million in the Environmental Protection Fund this year, which pays multiple dividends.

“From outdoor recreation to fishing and agriculture, to tourism and forestry, people don’t often think that protecting nature is about jobs, but engineers, construction workers, and other trade workers are needed to restore natural areas and to build parks and clean water projects. Investing in our environment is good for our well being and great for our economy.”

She cites a Nature Conservancy study that suggests a one-dollar investment in green projects returns seven dollars to the state’s economy in salaries, tourism and taxes.

Andy Bicking of the group Scenic Hudson is asking people to support an even larger investment. The upcoming election will include a three billion-dollar bond act to solve a range of issues, after the coronavirus crisis eases.

“These investments are critical in order to protect our communities and ensure that our children and grandchildren are afforded the same or better opportunities than we have had. When the pandemic is under control, we will still need to ensure clean drinking water supplies, protected farms the supply us with fresh food, buildings that are clean, safe and efficient, parks and community gardens that make our cities, town and villages better places to live, and measures that protect us from heat waves, severe flooding and storms which are unfortunately becoming more common.”

The groups thought Earth Day was a good time to ask voters to support the “Restore Mother Nature Bond Act” in November.

(Comments from state lawmakers, Adirondack Council, Clean Healthy New York, Alliance for Clean Energy, Parks and Trails New York, New York Sustainable Business Council and others here.)

Cecil Corbin-Mark with the group WE ACT for Environmental Justice suggests many problems, such as air pollution, are concentrated on marginalized communities.

“What that means is that communities like East Harlem El Barrio and the east and west sides of Buffalo, both communities of color, are among the state’s highest with asthma rates and incidents of hospitalizations, and the premature deaths that those communities can sometimes experience. It’s also a contributor to their high incidence of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. Our environmental policies must, moving forward, as recognition of this 50th anniversary of Earth Day, uplift these communities first and foremost.”

Earth Day in New York did not include the usual rallies or tree plantings or school teach-ins, but groups came together virtually to celebrate progress that has been – and could be – made in the spirit of the first Earth Day in 1970.

Lawmakers, survivors and advocates are calling for an extension of the lookback window for sexual assault survivors in New York with old claims. Under the Child Victims Act, more than 1700 people filed claims that had gone cold due to statutes of limitations.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic shut down state courts. State Senator Brad Hoylman has taken up the cause.

“We promised survivors a full 12 months to have their day in court, and it’s just simply unfair and unjust to pull the rug out from under them at this point.”

The act has a 12-month look-back window for survivors to bring cases against abusers and institutions that enabled them, no matter how long ago they occurred. Abuse Survivor Brian Toale says cases to date in New York and other states are giving victims relief and stopping abusers from hurting others.

“There is no question that we were on a path to the righting of a great wrong. To do anything less than extend the window for another year would be a travesty and a tragedy because of the success they have had in bringing predators to justice, healing to victims and safety to our children today and tomorrow.”

States such as California and New Jersey have similar acts with longer look-back windows. The group Safe Horizon is providing legal help for victims and advocating for New York to extend the look-back period.

Toale says lawyers are reluctant to take cases against individuals, so unless victims are suing institutions such as a church or youth organization, they may have trouble.

Mary Ellen O’Loughlin has had just such problems trying to sue her stepfather. She says she’s not looking for money, but rather justice for herself and protection of others.

“By having him identified through the court system, and his name to be available for discovery, allows for corroborating evidence for someone to come forward over the coming years, while they are still within the statute of limitations.”

If not changed, the look-back window on older cases would close on Aug. 14. Safe Horizons is seeking to extend it another year. Current law allows victims to bring criminal charges against an attacker until they’re 28 years old, while civil cases can be brought until the victim is 55.

The Child Victims Act was passed in January 2019 as one of the first pieces of legislation from the new Democratic majority in the Legislature after stalling for years in the Republican-led Senate. Hoylman has asked fellow legislators to session digitally to pass the extension, as the Legislature is on break until April 20. The State Assembly and Senate failed to act on an extension while in session remotely last week.

The abrupt suspension of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign is being met with disappointment, but also a lack of surprise in Central New York. Fellow Democrat Common Councilor Joe Driscoll was disappointed to see an old inspiration go, though he thinks it was the right call.

With Bernie Sanders dropping out of the race for Democratic nominee, CNY experts say its time for the party to come together.

Driscoll believes party front-runner Joe Biden will need to shift policies on some issues to attract younger voters.

“I think the youth that utilize the internet a lot, they’re reading a lot about climate change, the impending disasters that are coming, seeing storms coming that are worse and worse, and they know that we need an aggressive plan if they’re going to grow old and their children are going to grow old. They want to know that the environment that they will be living in is going to be safe.”

He notes health care is another issue on which Sanders’ ideas can help Biden. Driscoll can see how a meeting-of-minds of leading democrats could pay off.

“It would be great if Joe Biden sat down with Bernie and with Elizabeth Warren and developed a more aggressive plan. I believe there are more pragmatic ways to do it, I believe that there are ways that won’t alienate moderate voters. If the messaging is right, you can rally the troops around him and I hope that Joe Biden does that.”

Sanders remains on New York’s primary ballot and will continue to amass delegates before the convention. Cornell Department of Government Professor Douglas Kriner believes he will still try to influence the party platform.

“How much more clout could he possibly have? The party has moved left on almost all of his key issues and priorities. I think that there is a sense that the establishment and that party leaders want to appease Sen. Sanders but they also feel that he did not give unconditional and full-throated support to Sec. Clinton last time and that it significantly hurt her chances.”

Kriner suggest democrats have to come together and re-energize … something he says Joe Biden is better positioned to do than anyone else. And the Coronavirus pandemic has shut down most campaign activity that could help now and in November.

“What does Vice President Biden project in this crisis? He may not have quite the charisma of a President Obama, but he tries project a return to normalcy and a commitment to competency in management, versus the more kneejerk responses that we’ve gotten from the Trump administration at times, explicitly downplaying the threat in this.”

Kriner adds that democrats can take this time, knowing the likely nominee, to right some wrongs and close gaps that hurt the party in 2016, losing the presidential election that seemed a sure win.

Sanders has asked supporters in states that have not voted yet, including New York, to still vote for him in their primaries so that Sanders can gain more leverage over the Democratic Party’s platform in the DNC National Convention scheduled for July.

“While this campaign is coming to an end, our movement is not,” Sanders said.

Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter officially launched the petitioning process to get her on the ballot Saturday morning. Balter ran against Rep. John Katko in 2018, but lost in the general election.

Democrat Dana Balter opened a new campaign office in Syracuse and is starting to collect petitions ahead of the June democratic primary for the 24th Congressional District seat.

Now she seeks the nomination again, but without being the Party’s designee for the position. She is running against Francis Conole and Roger Misso in the June 23 primary.

"This is when it really gets good. We have just legions of volunteers our knocking on doors and talking to voters and that is the most exciting part, that's why we do this, politics is about people. It is a thrill to get out there and talk to voters, to hear from them about things that matter to them the most, to be able to talk about what we're fighing for and to feel the energy in the community for change," Balter said.

In her speech to a large group of volunteers and campaign staff in the campaign’s new office in Syracuse, Balter focused on defeating Katko.

"In a moment in our history that calls for political courage, moral clarity and bold leadership, John Katko gives us none."

Balter also held a free breakfast for supporters and voters before the event, and called out Katko’s $1000 per plate breakfast fundraiser held earlier that morning with Calif. Rep. Devin Nunes.

"Where your elected official takes the time to listen to you, not because you pay them $1000 to have breakfast with them, but because it's their job."

Balter needs 1,250 signatures from registered Democrats by April 2 to qualify for the ballot.

The people of Syracuse are about to celebrate the local music scene. Syracuse Area Music Awards has released the nominees for this year’s SAMMY Awards held in March. A record number of over 120 entries from recording artists this year have been submitted.

Executive Director Liz Nowak says the people of Syracuse can expect a lot from the event.

“The diversity ⁠— we have rap, hip-hop and country, rock and roll, some of the finest Jazz, pop, R and B and just diversity. I mean, it’s a little tiny sampling of what we have in the community.”

She’s excited that one of the first female recording engineers, Judy Mareiniss, is being inducted into Hall of Fame this year.

There are four Hall of Fame inductions this year — the Moss Back Mule Band, WSYR producer Tim Fox, rapper Seth Marcel, and Mereiniss.

Acclaimed musician and songwriter Garland Jeffreys will receive the SAMMYS Lifetime Achievement Award.

SAMMY Awards Founder Frank Malfitano credited Nowak for her energy and spirit to carry on. He will present the founder’s award to vocal group U A D.

“The fact that we are still going strong after almost thirty years, and the fact that we got a scene like this that celebrates itself, I think it’s really incredible, I think every city in the country should have one of like this. I think it’s wonderful.”

People’s Choice online voting is now open with over 130,000 votes already cast. You can vote on SyracuseAreaMusic.com for categories like Best Local Artist or Band, Best Local Venue, and others.

The awards will start on March 5 at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que with the Hall of Fame Induction. The following day, March 6, the SAMMY Awards show will take place at the Palace Theater in Eastwood. The awards show presentation will host six musical performances from Jeffreys, the Moss Back Mule Band, and other local musicians.

The Chief of Infectious Diseases at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse says it’s not the Coronavirus from China that Central New Yorkers should be most concerned about this season. Dr. Stephen Thomas says there’s a good reason to wash your hands and suggests those who feel ill to stay away from others.

Specialists at Upstate Medical University say there is more reason to worry about the flu than the Coronavirus.

"The seasonal flu right now is a much bigger concern right now than novel Coronavirus... it's the same processes we use for both."

He says they’re asking patients who come to the emergency room with respiratory illnesses if they’ve travelled out of the country recently.

The doctor says the Coronavirus comes from a family of 7 viruses — and four of them have similar symptoms to the common cold, causing 10-30% of colds.

"The transmit throughout the year but they predominate in the fall and winter, and they cause mild respiratory infections in people, so these are things we see every year. We test for these Coronaviruses in the routine panels we use for people who have respiratory infections."

Thomas says Influenza B has been the most active but, now they’re starting to see more cases of type A in the emergency room at Upstate University Hospital. He says respiratory illnesses are spread by water droplets through a cough and are even more likely to infect others in confined spaces. The CDC reports that more than 8,000 people have died from the flu this season.

In response to the Coronavirus outbreak which started in China in late December and has killed more than 100 in the county, Syracuse University has issued additional travel warnings for students who are travelling abroad. A University Travel Registry, proposed to be implemented later in 2020, has been expedited and put in to place now, requiring all students and faculty to register with the University before they leave the country on University business.

"This measure will add a greater layer of protection to our campus community while respecting the academic, scholarly and research mission of our university," said a statement from the Uniersity released Tuesday.

The University has also asked all students who have travelled to China in the last 14 days to confidentially contact the SU Director of Global Safety and Support.

The statement also references recent elevated travel warnings to China from the U.S. State Department, which is now a Level 3 warning as of Monday. The State Department reccomends that all americans "reconsider travel" to all of China, not just the Hubei region where the Coronavirus originated. A Level 4, or "Do Not Travel" warning is now in place for the Hubei region of China as well.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also stated Tuesday that blood samples from 10 New York residents suspected of having the Coronavirus have been sent to the CDC, and that there are currently no confirmed cases of the virus' presence in the state.

An estimated 4,500 people have been infected with Coronavirus worldwide, including at least 6 in the United States as of Tuesday.

Nearly a dozen corner stores in Syracuse are now participating in a program aimed at offering healthier food choices, especially to children. A new report showed that more than 14 percent of children in New York have obesity. The state now ranks 25th in the country. The new program focuses on stores in north and west Syracuse.

Hawley Market co-owner Rita Algattas was one of the first to make fruits and vegetables more visible nearly three years ago. She says they’re making a difference, even if it isn’t always easy.

"A lot of [kids], we can't convince them. I say "Why don't you leave the candy and take the banana?" and some kids they listen, and some kids they don't, and if they have their parents with them, I don't want to be their parents, it's their parent's job to do that. But [a healthier option is] there, it's availible, that's what we are trying to do."

Her market is just down the block from Dr. Weeks Elementary School, which had 796 students as of August this year. About half of the market's floor space is devoted to healthier options like low-fat dairy, granola bars, nuts, trail mix, whole grain products and bottled water, versus items high in fat, sodium, and sugar.

Algattas tries to combat the common misconception that eating healthier foods is more expensive by providing healthy foods at reasonable costs and even helping parents with cooking tips and recipies.

"A lot of people live check by check and they don't have the extra money to eat healthier... but you don't have to be rich to eat healthy. You can spend ten dollars to make a whole pot of soup for the family. You don't have to have a lot of money to eat healthy," Algattas said.

The Onondaga County Health Department and Trinity Health are helping stores by providing mini-grants and technical assistance. Grants will help stores purchase appliances like coolers or freezers so they can widen their variety of availible healthy food options.

Onondaga County Community Health Counselor Adriana Sereno says stores are often reluctant to use their limited space on less profitable products that might not sell or have a short shelf life. But she says the opposite is true.

"In most of our stores, there's a 65% increase in the sale of healthy foods. So, we have that kind of data to back us up and the numbers kind of speak for themselves because you can turn it into a profit if it's done the right way."

Sereno says many neighborhood residents with limited transportation options rely on corner stores for all of their groceries because they can’t get to supermarkets that carry a wider selection of produce and healthier foods. Sereno hopes the program can help Trinity Health's bigger goal of reducing obesity and increasing accesss to healthier foods in the Syracuse area.