ALBANY – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has joined with governors of six other east coast states to launch a joint effort to discuss ways of turning the economy back on once the coronavirus is held at bay.
Joining with Cuomo are New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, and Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker.
The states will form a committee comprised of a public health and economic development official and each governor’s chief of staff with the goal of reopening the economy, including schools and transportation.
Cuomo believes the time is right to start the process since the number of COVID-19 cases in New York has reached a plateau.
“This is a fight for our lives,” said Murphy, who supports the effort.
Lamont noted there is a tri-state workforce along the I-95/Metro-North corridor.
Wolf said he hopes the new task force restores “hope” that “we indeed have a future.”
Carney and Raimondo support the effort. “I don’t want to keep out of work one day longer,” Raimondo said.
