Lobbying bumps industries forward for reopening  

There’s an exception to every rule, and industries relegated to the last phases of reopening have been trying to grab the attention of New York lawmakers to prove they are special. For Melissa Fleischut, president of the New York State Restaurant Association, making her case required getting onto the governor’s New York Forward advisory board.

Restaurants are reopening in Central NY. How did the first weekend go?

There was a lot of joy inside newly reopened Central New York bars and restaurants over the weekend.

“Customers that came in were so happy to be back inside with all of us,” said Kelly O’Connor Metrick, manager of  San Miguel Mexican Restaurante  at 425 N. State St. in Syracuse.

NYC Mayor Confirms Phase II Start Monday, Opening Al Fresco, Playgrounds & More

Mayor Bill de Blasio clarified the confusion surrounding New York City's move to Phase II, saying in no uncertain terms Thursday that it will happen on Monday: "Get on your mark, get set, cuz here we go."

Phase II allows for the reopening of outdoor dining, in-person retail, hair salons and barbershops (but not personal care services like nails or massages) and more office-based jobs, all at half capacity and with mandatory COVID safeguards in place like social distancing and facial coverings.

Cuomo threatens reopen rollbacks over social distancing, business violations
Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned bars and restaurants that they can lose their liquor license if they violate reopening regulations, and threatened to reinstate closings in areas where local governments fail to enforce rules. Manhattan and the Hamptons were singled out as problem areas.

Cuomo said the state received 25,000 complaints including violations of social distancing, parties in the street, and restaurants and bars ignoring laws.