East End Travel Restriction Plea: Cuomo Unaware Of Concerns

EAST END, NY — New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that he was unaware of any elected officials on the East End asking for people not to come out to their second homes — despite a letter signed by supervisors and mayors in late March asking him to consider just that, as cases of the new coronavirus continue to sweep across Long Island.

At Sunday's press briefing, a question was asked about New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy telling residents not to go to their second homes at the Jersey Shore, and whether Cuomo would consider a similar measure for New Yorkers heading to areas such as the East End.

"I have not," Cuomo said. "I will take a look at the New Jersey order. But I haven't heard local officials raise concerns."

In late March, however, despite urging from East End supervisors for possible travel restrictions, Cuomo said, at an earlier briefing, that it was not in his plans even amid a spike in confirmed cases of coronavirus across Long Island.

When asked about a possible travel ban suggested by county or local officials, Cuomo said: "Counties can come up with whatever they want, but I don't have any travel ban on my agenda."

Local leaders react

On Sunday, East End town supervisors reacted to Cuomo's statement that he hadn't heard about concerns from local officials.

"East End officials raised the issue weeks ago and sent him a formal request signed by three supervisors, several mayors and the Shinnecock Nation," said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. "This request is not unique. Communities to the north, south, east and west are seeing the same influx we are and are asking for the same restrictions. Our intent was to halt the unnecessary travel and to address the population that was exploding from renters looking to escape New York at the same time the virus was spreading rapidly. These people have no ties to Southold and are using the community as nothing more than a safe harbor. It is putting a tremendous strain on our resources."

He added: "Sorry, but now's not a good time for hospitality. The request was covered by New York, national, and international media. . . I'm not sure how he could be unaware of it."

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said he was "really surprised" by Cuomo's statement Sunday.

"We asked for it," Schneiderman said; he sent the letter signed by officials asking Cuomo to consider the restrictions. Schneiderman said he did get confirmation that the letter had been received and that it would be given to Cuomo with "urgency."

But, Schneiderman added: "I don't know whether the governor actually saw it or not. I guess it's possible that he didn't; he's very busy right now dealing with so many different things." He added that he believes Cuomo is doing a "tremendous" job.

The bottom line? "It's too late," Schneiderman said. "Most of the summer homes out here are occupied now. The pace of people coming from the city has slowed down. Most people who were coming from the city are here, and I'm not sure how effective travel restrictions are going to be at this point, anyway.'

But there's still the rental market, he said, which is moving at a brisk pace in the Hamptons, despite the spike in new coronavirus cases and an escalating number of deaths countywide. "Even a lot of real estate people, who make their living in this business, are saying we should restrict rentals," he said.

Thankfully, the hospital "seems to be managing well," Schneiderman said. "The stores seem to have ample supplies. We’re going to get through this."

Joining together to ask for help

A group of East End supervisors and mayors wrote a letter last month asking Cuomo to consider short-term limits on non-essential travel to the summer communities that they say are straining under the weight of a surge in people heading out from New York City and other areas to the west.

Schneiderman, who penned the letter, said he believed that already more than half of the summer homes, normally vacant this time of year, are occupied, effectively doubling the local population.

"People out here are concerned that our hospitals and supermarkets will not be able to meet the needed demand if our population continues to surge," Schneiderman said. "We are all doing everything we can to reduce new cases of COVID-19, but that is very challenging when new people are constantly entering the community from the New York metropolitan area, an epicenter for the coronavirus."

The letter recognized the right of seasonal residents from the metro area to reside in the community as they wish, but encourages them to follow the recommendation of Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, who told reporters at a news conference that anyone who left the Big Apple in past weeks may have been exposed to the virus. Furthermore, they should should self-quarantine for 14 days.

Local leaders requested that Cuomo consider restrictions on non-essential trips such as daily sightseeing visits, or day trips, and short-term leisure use of vacation homes.

The letter was signed by two East End supervisors including Russell — Southold has been hard hit by the virus and has seen a number of deaths.

"We're imploring people to follow the governor's directive to stay in place as part of the of the New York PAUSE program," said Russell. "For those who come it's important to quarantine the minute you get here."

Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar and Tribal Leaders of the Shinnecock Indian Nation also signed the letter.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc did not sign the letter because he wanted broader travel restrictions that would include all of Long Island, a release from Schneiderman's office said; Shelter Island Supervisor Gerry Siller also did not want to add his name to the letter.

Several villages also felt the measures were unnecessary.

Others who signed the letter included Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard, Westhampton Beach Village Mayor Maria Moore, Jeffrey Sander, North Haven Village Mayor, and Donald Louchheim, Sagaponack Village Mayor.

"The population surge is creating a number of challenges for local government including summertime levels of park usage and waste management facilities, but our main concern is the ability of our hospitals and other healthcare providers to meet the needs of those who contract the virus, Scheiderman said.

Russell spoke out strongly on the issue, stating that he would like to see a travel ban to the East End as the number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus cases continue to rise.

"Our resources are scarce, the risk of spread is too high for a town which is already seeing more than its share of confirmed cases and deaths," he said. "Southold should not be treated as someone's personal isolation unit."

People leaving the city may be behind an uptick in infections in places such as Florida and Long Island, Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said.

Dr. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, veered from that advice. "I would not follow that," Zucker said, adding that folks who've been in the city recently should continue following the guidelines set forth by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as social distancing.

A divide has emerged on the East End between locals who feel their supplies are stripped bare and health services overburdened, and many second home owners who state that they have a right to retreat to their own residences. Images posted on social media of discarded latex gloves tossed on the ground outside supermarkets sparked fury among some who saw them as a symbol of disregard for those who live and work in the community even in the face of coronavirus.

Ninth death at Peconic Landing

Southold, the town where the first Suffolk County coronavirus case was identified, has been struggling, with 209 cases as of Sunday night and a ninth death reported at the Peconic Landing retirement community in Greenport Sunday.

"With deep sadness, Peconic Landing reports a ninth death amongst our members in connection with COVID-19. Out of respect for the family, we provide the following information: The member was a 98-year-old woman of The Shores for Skilled Nursing. She tested positive on March 19 and passed away on April 4 while receiving care at Peconic Landing. She had known pre-existing conditions," Peconic Landing wrote.

Tremendous strain

"The virus has put a tremendous strain on our resources. Our community residents continue to be the most at-risk by the spread of this virus," Russell said.

He added: "A new trend is taking place that puts our local residents at even further risk — people seeking refuge from metropolitan areas. It is simple math, the more people that come, the greater the spread and the greater the confirmed cases."

Southold Town, Russell said, has a limited number of stores trying to keep shelves stocked and ration out supplies. "Local residents are finding it difficult to meet even their most basic needs," the supervisor said. "Unnecessary hoarding and the recent, sudden expansion of the population by those who come are making this far worse," Russell said.

Southold relies heavily on volunteer first responders who are trying to protect the community and their families, all while managing with limited protective gear, Russell said. "Their heroic efforts are under substantial strain," he said.

In addition, he added, the town's medical resources are overburdened and, "despite stellar healthcare facilities, they are reaching capacity which has the capacity of limiting access to local residents."

For those that have already arrived in town, Russell asked that they follow the federal guidelines to self-quarantine for 14 days.