NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that he’s signing legislation that would curb his pandemic emergency powers as he seeks to increase capacity at restaurants outside New York City to 75% later this month.
The state Legislature passed the bill Friday as Cuomo faces sexual harassment allegations and scrutiny over his administration’s reporting of deadly COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes. It curbs his ability to pass new mandates.
“I’m signing the Legislature’s emergency power bill,” Cuomo said on a conference call with reporters Sunday. “I’m going to implement it today with a significant change.”
Cuomo said the change is that he wants to increase capacity at restaurants outside the city to 75% on March 19. He cited a continued decline in the state’s COVID-19 numbers.
“We also think that 75% is what the consumer is ready for,” Cuomo said.
The governor noted that Connecticut is going to 100% capacity at restaurants on March 19.
Lawmakers have five days to review the change to capacity and have the ability to cancel it with 50% of the vote, the governor said.
Restaurants in the state outside of the city have been at 50% capacity. New York City would remain at 35% capacity under the plan.
Cuomo said all the same safety measures would remain in effect at restaurants and that the plan could be adjusted by the state if COVID numbers change for the worse.
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