Struggling business owners across the region are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to ease up coronavirus restrictions.
John Crecco, owner of Villa Barone Hilltop Manor, and his wife Janine Crecco, sent a letter to the governor, describing how its initial closure has hurt their business and is still unable to reopen under the current restrictions, which limits gatherings at catering halls at 50 people total.
“There is still no logical reason why we cannot work with the government…work with Andrew Cuomo to have some sort of implementation of a policy and guidelines," Janine Crecco says.
John Crecco says his business has not reopened under the state’s restrictions because the cost of hosting events would be greater than how much they would bring in.
However, Perry DiNavoli has had his smaller venue, the Briarcliff Manor, open since July under Phase Four.
"Fifty-people events are not really giving us the revenue that we need to flourish, but it keeps our staff working, it keeps us relevant and in the game," DiNavoli says.
Liane Riccobono had her wedding at the venue Friday under the restrictions.
“It just felt really normal… inside, our tables were spaced far apart and they had the windows and doors open. It was nice," she says.
DJ David Nazario, of a Perfect Blend Entertainment, is still feeling the pain of the restrictions, especially since dancing isn't allowed at events. He says he had to lay off all eight of his workers.
The governor’s office said in a statement that large events dramatically increase the risk of COVID-19 and can easily become superspreader events, adding that while some are unhappy about the rules, it’s better to be “unhappy…than sick, or worse.”
"There has to be a happy medium," John Crecco says. "There has to be some place we can work it out."
In the meantime, Crecco says people are still just going to neighboring states to throw their parties.