"I think they're irresponsible," Cuomo said, reiterating decisions on state pandemic restrictions were his call. "July 1 - you have May, June, what happens in May, what happens in June? I'd like to get the hopeful reopening date before that. I don't want to wait that long. I think if we do what we have to do we can reopen earlier."
God, these two men hate each other, like on a teenage girls in middle school level.
My first thought was that de Blasio said this because he thinks this would be good for re-election chances. Of course, it could all backfire if it doesn’t happen or NYC does re-open and things go to hell (again).
Correction: not being a New Yorker, I didn’t realize he wasn’t eligible for another term. Maybe he really is then optimistic or maybe he just wants to be remembered fondly. Anyone think he’d try to challenge Cuomo for Governor? (Doubtful). I do think it’s possible to open things back up by July 1. That’s basically how it is in Oklahoma although we’re obviously not the tourist destination that NYC is.
And regarding Cuomo, we all know he has his own reasons to support some good, distracting news for NYC.
Having said that, I’ll follow-up on Hogan’s statement and say while my Oklahoma City Republican mayor has navigated the pandemic surprisingly well, I’d trade Governors (minus the sexual harassment allegations) in a New York Minute.
It’ll probably be awhile until I can crawl out of the financial hit Covid through at me, but I’m finally beginning the recovery process. Having said that, unless I snag a NYC work trip, it’ll probably be a year or more before I’ll be able to take a trip to NYC. Still, it brings me joy to think of NYC including Broadway re-opening safely.
As far as I know, only two of favorite restaurants (Philip Marie, AquaGrill) got permanently closed by the pandemic although some of my fave Time Square//Theater District restaurants are understandably temporarily (hopefully) closed.
and as night follows day, they are not on the same page. LOL
Also note that the 100% reopen notion has nothing to do with Broadway being at full strength. De Blasio clearly has no idea what he is talking about and doesn't care. He is 99% ego and 1% BS.
Jordan Catalano said: "So he wants to open before that, just to spite de Blasio. I’m so glad this is turning into a pissing contest between these two. JFC."
Can someone for the love of god tell me why the mayor is doing this? I mean, the only logical thing that could have been the case is that he is trying to get more votes come Election Day. But, he is done, he can’t run again his two terms are up.
Given that what I'm hearing from League sources is "not until January 2022, and that's optimistic / the earliest," I wouldn't lose any sleep over this.
g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Given that what I'm hearing from League sources is "not until January 2022, and that's optimistic / the earliest," I wouldn't lose any sleep over this."
Sources? Like Charlotte? January 2022 I can see NEW shows opening. time will tell!
de Blasio and Cuomo don't get along, so it's no surprise they're butting heads over this. As it's been mentioned NUMEROUS times, Broadway will gradually reopen. Small shows first? Long running shows next? New shows not until 2022?
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
I think long-running shows that mainly cater to tourists (phantom, lion king, wicked, Chicago, etc.) will reopen when tourists come back to nyc.
Judging from last year, covid cases in nyc were relatively low from June to early November. I know most locals in nyc area will be fully vaccinated by August but some news outlets out there are claiming this pandemic is becoming endemic... and thus an annual booster shot may be needed every year.
g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Given that what I'm hearing from League sources is "not until January 2022, and that's optimistic / the earliest," I wouldn't lose any sleep over this."
The League is not a person, and its only "source" is Charlotte, who (a) is clueless and (b) has been saying something quite opposite to what you are saying, as recently as today. Moreover, the League has zero say in when Broadway reopens. Zero. (The state has a say, the unions have a say, and obviously the individual producers of shows that want to come back sooner rather than later have a say. The League? LOL They are on the outside looking in, with DeBlasio.) Reading between the lines, best case scenario, you have a "source" who is a member of the league, who has told you this. It will come as a surprise to absolutely no one that there are members of the league at every single data point along the reopening continuum. They are not "sources."
g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Given that what I'm hearing from League sources is "not until January 2022, and that's optimistic / the earliest," I wouldn't lose any sleep over this."
I swear, Cuomo and D.B. are just as petulant with each other as Trump was with everyone else around him. Cuomo has no right to say he's following science after his scandals, and while this is a tad off topic...can someone explain his new law of requiring food to be ordered with alcoholic drinks?? While I'm all for safety and caution, how the actual hell does this help...
Chiming in to agree with the “not another pissing contest between these petty goons” sentiment. I’m all for a return to whatever normal is or can be, but these two... Oy vey. Not again.
You know, it’s possible to be a strong, strong willed male leader and not ooze toxic masculinity. Just look at Biden the other evening.
Sutton Ross said: "Um, his scandals have zero to do with his job, part of which is following science regarding Covid. One has nothing to do with the other.
A mandate is not a law, just an order and July of 2020 isn't "new". Besides, it was lifted two days ago, so it's a non-issue now."
I missed that memo, but that doesn't negate how dumb and nonsensical it was. And yes, at the very least his nursing home scandal has something to do with it. He always was playing the "competence in service of..." game. Still rather be in NY than most other places, but I still prefer competence for the sake of competence.
JennH said: "while this is a tad off topic...can someone explain his new law of requiring food to be ordered with alcoholic drinks?? While I'm all for safety and caution, how the actual hell does this help..."
Since Sutton already dismantled your attempted scandal/science connection, I'll go to work on the above. First of all, it is not a new law. It is not a "law" at all; it was Cuomo's edict under his emergency covid powers. Second, it is not "new." It dates back to the original partial reopening of restaurants, and it is now being eliminated. Finally, I would think the logic of "how the actual hell does this help" would be manifest but since it appears to escape you: bars (which have been closed until now) promote social engagement and (because people are likely to end up with lessened reasoning powers) less responsible behavior. Letting restaurants function as bars (not requiring food) would be one big fat loophole. Until the recent good news on our current covid health status, providing an opportunity to hang out with friends (or strangers) and drink was an invitation to disaster. So yes, it helped. I am not a Cuomo fan in general, but his Covid leadership has been spot on (with one major mistake that has nothing to do with restaurants).
HogansHero said: "JennH said: "while this is a tad off topic...can someone explain his new law of requiring food to be ordered with alcoholic drinks?? While I'm all for safety and caution, how the actual hell does this help..."
Since Sutton already dismantled your attempted scandal/science connection, I'll go to work on the above. First of all, it is not a new law. It is not a "law" at all; it was Cuomo's edict under his emergency covid powers. Second, it is not "new." It dates back to the original partial reopening of restaurants, and it is now being eliminated. Finally, I would think the logic of "how the actual hell does this help" would be manifest but since it appears to escape you: bars (which have been closed until now) promote social engagement and (because people are likely to end up with lessened reasoning powers) less responsible behavior. Letting restaurants function as bars (not requiring food) would be one big fat loophole. Until the recent good news on our current covid health status, providing an opportunity to hang out with friends (or strangers) and drink was an invitation to disaster. So yes, it helped. I am not a Cuomo fan in general, but his Covid leadership has been spot on (with one major mistake that has nothing to do with restaurants)."
On another note, have theaters been preparing for this eventual reopening? I’m referring to plexiglass barriers or any type of safety measures that would help protect actors, stage workers as well as the audience. I haven’t read anything about this but let’s hope they have a reopening plan developed! Am I being too optimistic?
MCW1227 said: "On another note, have theaters been preparing for this eventual reopening? I’m referring to plexiglass barriers or any type of safety measures that would help protect actors, stage workers as well as the audience. I haven’t read anything about this but let’s hope they have a reopening plan developed! Am I being too optimistic?"
You’re being beyond optimistic. I’m in regular contact with several local 1 members at numerous Bway theatres. Nothing has been updated. Nothing. Now that there has been an announcement by the Governor that bway can reopen, the league will take over and work with the unions. This isn’t going to be an easy task to take on but I have confidence in local 1 if there is a good plan.
unclevictor said: "MCW1227 said: "On another note, have theaters been preparing for this eventual reopening? I’m referring to plexiglass barriers or any type of safety measures that would help protect actors, stage workers as well as the audience. I haven’t read anything about this but let’s hope they have a reopening plan developed! Am I being too optimistic?"
You’re being beyond optimistic. I’m in regular contact with several local 1 members at numerous Bway theatres. Nothing has been updated. Nothing. Now that there has been an announcement by the Governor that bway can reopen, the league will take over and work with the unions. This isn’t going to be an easy task to take on but I have confidence in local 1 if there is a good plan."
That’s so perplexing that an industry so dependent on in person interaction has done nothing during this shutdown period to address safety. Every industry, hotels, restaurants, airlines, etc that have been heavily impacted have implemented basic upgrades like air, barriers, sanitizer stations. There is such a disconnect with this. One would think they would have been using this time more productively.
MCW1227 said: "unclevictor said: "You’re being beyond optimistic. I’m in regular contact with several local 1 members at numerous Bway theatres. Nothing has been updated. Nothing. Now that there has been an announcement by the Governor that bway can reopen, the league will take over and work with the unions. This isn’t going to be an easy task to take on but I have confidence in local 1 if there is a good plan."
That’s so perplexing that an industry so dependent on in person interaction has done nothing during this shutdown period to address safety. Every industry, hotels, restaurants, airlines, etc that have been heavily impacted have implemented basic upgrades like air, barriers, sanitizer stations. There is such a disconnect with this. One would think they would have been using this time more productively."
There are theaters that either already have or are preparing to make updates to their air systems. Past that, there's only so much theaters can do when the entire business model is "Shove a couple thousand people into a room, while a hundred people on/backstage have to get within kissing distance to do their various jobs for three hours." Sanitizer stations will be put in place where they can be, barriers where they can be, but overall, the only thing that will make Broadway function as normal and keep the audience/company safe is the vaccine.