NY May Withhold Funds From Governments, Schools Over Coronavirus

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Local governments including Orange and Rockland counties, the town of Ramapo and village of Spring Valley, could have funds withheld over lack of enforcement of coronavirus restrictions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday morning.

"Ramapo, Spring Valley, Orange, Rockland, we need real enforcement," Cuomo said. "I can't do what I did on bars and restaurants and take it over."

Cuomo specifically cited yeshivas still open and religious gatherings still taking place in violation of the rules imposed last week in six small geographic areas, called red zones, where there have been spikes in coronavirus cases.

Rockland County officials said four staff members from the Rockland County Department of Health are out with the New York State Police Enforcement Task Force Wednesday. County officials are in the process of identifying additional staff to join the Enforcement Task Force.

"We are frustrated by the lack of response from local municipalities specifically the Town of Ramapo and the Village of Spring Valley as they are directly responsible for enforcement in these areas," said John Lyon, spokesman for Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

There is one red zone in Rockland County, one in Orange County, and three in Brooklyn and Queens. All those are in Hasidic enclaves. Cuomo acknowledged that local politicians don't want to run afoul of the Orthodox Jewish community, which is politically powerful.

The state will also withhold education funds from yeshivas in those zones that are open against the state's public health laws.

"If schools are operating it's easy enough to find out," Cuomo said, citing two recent news reports about yeshivas operating despite restrictions imposed last week. "The schools that have been identified as violating the closure order, they will be served today with a notice mandating they close and we are withholding funding from those schools."

The funds will be withheld until state officials are satisfied that the matter has been resolved, he said.

"They have the personnel they just have to be willing to do it," he said. "I guarantee if a yeshiva gets closed down and they're not going to get state funding you will see compliance."

Formal notifications to local governments including New York City, Orange County, Rockland County, the town of Ramapo and the village of Spring Valley will go out Wednesday, Cuomo said. In addition, the state will send notices to all schools in the red zones. Schools that have already been identified as violating closure orders will be served with a notice that funding is being withheld.

He warned private school operators to not suddenly announce they're operating as day care centers instead. Those have separate regulations and licensing and the state will enforce that as well.

It's not about the entire community, it's about outliers, he said, saying he was grateful that many in ultra-Orthodox sects have been following the law.