Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Movie theaters are still awaiting for the green light from Governor Cuomo to reopen, while other businesses have already restarted.
"I'm incredibly frustrated because we've been closed for six months, we still cannot legally operate," says Ray Parker of the North Park Theater. "While the governor has allowed bowling alleys, bars and restaurants to open up, he's chosen to continue to shutter us and there's no scientific reason for it."
Parker says moviegoers aren't facing each other when they see a movie, and "they're not huffing and puffing when they're at a gym." He says there's a national campaign called CinemaSafe, that takes in CDC recommendations and requiring moviegoers to wear masks and do social distancing.
Parker says other states have operated movie theaters, and not one case of coronavirus has been traced to a movie theater.
Another person who feels this is unfair is Lynn Kinsella of the North Park Theater. "I think the governor will use the differentiation of the Bills being outdoors and movie theaters indoors, but I think when you have people going into big box stores since March, not being allowed into movie theaters despite all the precautions you've proposed, it's really not fair," says Kinsella. She adds it's also not fair other facilities like churches, bars, hair salons and bowling alleys have been allowed to open up and they're indoor facilities.
Kinsella says she just wants to reopen under similar guidelines. "There's no reason why we should not be allowed to reopen," says Kinsella. Kinsella adds the state's unwillingness to allow New York's movie theaters to reopen is hurting other theaters throughout the country because new movies won't be released.