East End Lawmakers Implore Cuomo To Curtail 'Non-Essential' Trips

EAST END, NY — A group of East End supervisors and mayors have written a letter asking New York State Governor Andrew 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.

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, who penned the letter, said he believes 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.”

Despite urging from East End lawmakers for a possible travel ban, Cuomo said this week that it's not in his plans even amid a spike in confirmed cases of the new coronavirus countywide and a "woeful" shortage of ventilators continues, according to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.
When asked about a possible travel ban suggested by county or local officials, Cuomo said Thursday: "Counties can come up with whatever they want, but I don't have any travel ban on my agenda."

The letter recognizes 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 Tuesday that anyone who left the Big Apple over the last few days may have been exposed to the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, they should should self-quarantine for 14 days.

Local leaders have request 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 Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, an area that has been hard hit by the virus and has seen several 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 Wednesday, stating that he seeks a travel ban to the East End as the number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus cases continue to spike.

"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.

On Wednesday, 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.

Social media was abuzz this week with the recommendation that the crowds flocking to the far-reaches of Long Island, or, more specifically, the East End should self-quarantine, with a divide emerging 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.

Southold, the town where the first Suffolk County coronavirus case was identified, has been hit hard, with 133 cases reported in just over two weeks and six deaths at Peconic Landing, the retirement community in Greenport.

In comparison on the East End, as of Friday evening, Riverhead reported 58 positive cases, Southampton, 68, East Hampton, 20, and Shelter Island, 1.

"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.

Schneiderman has said he is "requesting the governor considers putting limits on nonessential travel to the East End. It is a suggestion— but not a demand."