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Enterprise house owners have quite a lot of questions this week after Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced new COVID-19 restrictions within the type of a statewide mask mandate in all indoor public locations, except companies or venues implement a vaccine requirement.
Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, which represents greater than 1,300 firms, expressed each optimism and frustration on the new orders whereas talking with NY1 Saturday morning.
“One of many positives is now it’s statewide,” Grech stated of the masks mandate. “Town of New York, the 5 boroughs haven’t been singled out like town has been doing, forcing our companies to should form of rally as a result of their prospects had been heading to the east of Lengthy Island, to the north of Westchester, and in sure elements to the west and to the southwest to New Jersey.”
Grech pinpointed the fines companies face if prospects don’t abide by Hochul’s newest mandate as doubtlessly worrisome, although.
“The largest drawback that enterprise teams have and that I’ve particularly is the fining mechanism, a $1,000 nice. It’s forcing small companies, and huge, to be the COVID police,” Grech stated.
Gov. Hochul’s announcement got here on the heels of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s new rule requiring all non-public sector employers within the metropolis to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for his or her staff.
Grech advised NY1 he was taken without warning by the mayor’s newest vaccine order, although he emphasised the necessity for New Yorkers to get vaccinated as quickly as potential in opposition to the virus.
Seeking to the brand new yr, when Eric Adams is sworn in as the subsequent mayor of New York Metropolis, the enterprise chief praised the incoming mayor as somebody who understands the plights of native companies. He stated Adams is able to act on their behalf.
“If anyone will get it, it’s Mayor-elect Eric Adams,” Grech stated, who is part of Adams’ transition workforce. “He listens to what we wish. He needs to get stuff finished and he understands the perils of small companies.”
Gov. Hochul’s masks mandate is ready to take impact Monday, whereas Mayor de Blasio’s vaccine rule is scheduled to take impact Dec. 27.
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