BUFFALO (WBEN) - Gyms, shopping malls, and movie theaters will not immediately reopen even as some regions in New York will begin Phase Four at the end of this week, and Western New York is on pace for early next week.On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said she understands the frustration but defended the decision.
"I'll tell you right now, we're going to get it right - we're not going to succumb to pressure just because people have loud voices," she said. "I understand exactly why they're doing what they're doing, but they have to understand we're not going to end up like the other states - we're not going backwards."However, State Senator Pat Gallivan and State assemblywoman Monica Wallace both want to see the Galleria Mall reopened sooner rather than later, as they don't really see the difference between a mall and large retail store or supermarket.
"The infection rate is extremely low in Western New York and our region, throughout the state for that matter, so there was a phased plan and a set of rules put in place, and I think it's terribly unjust that it has changed in the eleventh hour because I don't really see that significant of a difference between a Wal Mart, a Tops or Wegmans and a mall," said Gallivan.
"I think that we've seen, if people use the appropriate precautions, and we do things like closing the food court, closing every other stall in the bathroom, or making sure there are sanitizing stations - all of these things that are part of the Galleria Mall's plan - that it can be done in a safe manner," she continued.
However, Hochul said the reason behind keeping malls, gyms, and theaters closed is not just about the air condition or HVAC systems - it's more about the style of business these places look to attract.
"I'm not seeing anyone who likes to hang around in a grocery store or a Target any longer than they need to - they go in and they go out," Hochul began. "A mall by it's nature is a larger is a larger gathering space - some of them have fountains, they have seating, they have food courts - by nature they're trying to draw people and keep them there for long periods of time.
"We've had to make tough decisions that a lot of people may not agree with," she continued. "But right now, at the end of June, we cannot argue with the results in terms of where we are compared to the rest of the nation, and that's because we made tough decisions to out public health first."