MID-HUDSON – County executives from three Mid-Hudson counties agree that communication with each other and the residents in their respective counties is key as we weather and try to overcome the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus and Ulster County Executive Patrick Ryan joined Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress President Jonathan Drapkin at a virtual on Thursday.
“This is the new norm,” said Molinaro. “We have to learn to lean on one another.”
Neuhaus and Ryan are both military veterans and they equated their attack on the pandemic to their military service in terms of how to address it, from “rallying the troops” to the mass tragedy of hundreds of deaths in the region. “We’re ordering body bags and coffins” Neuhaus said, referring to the number of people who have died.
All three men agreed that local government and the local economy matter and once the virus has been resolved, bringing back jobs and commerce will start and expand in hometowns and Neuhaus questioned the degree at which brick and mortar business will come back since more and more people now ae making purchases on line.
