Upstate NY Counties: “Rockland and Westchester are Dragging us Down”

Five upstate regions have begun their Phase One reopening today. For the rest of the state, including our area and the Buffalo region, the stay-at-home orders have been extended to June 13th, unless those regions meet certain criteria. For the regions that have met them, they can start construction work, and retailers can open with curbside or in-store pick-up. Some upstate counties that haven’t opened yet want Rockland and Westchester kicked to the curb. Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, and Putnam counties are reportedly unhappy that they’re being lumped in with Rockland and Westchester in the Mid-Hudson region when it comes to being judged in the re-opening process. MidHudsonNews.com reports Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2018, said Rockland and Westchester numbers are weighing the entire region down.