DELAWARE COUNTY - On Friday, April 17 Congressman Antonio Delgado, representing New York’s 19th Congressional District which includes Delaware County, held a telephone town hall to outline action taken at the federal level to address the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Businesses, including farmers, have suffered as a result of the economic slow down, Delgado said; and he detailed three different federal programs aimed at lessening the hardships suffered, including the payroll protection program, the economic injury disaster loan program and stimulus payments to the public.
There has been a lack of clear guidance in the economic injury disaster loan program including a provision for a $10,000 advance to businesses that was intended to be a grant if certain criteria is met. Unfortunately, Delgado said, farmers were not eligible in the first round of funding for the program, The funding has been depleted, Delgado said, and a second bill has been introduced to replenish the funds and to include farmers as eligible businesses.
Delgado said he has called on all congressional representatives to allocate additional monies to alleviate the economic impacts to business, state, county and local governing bodies and individuals. “We want our county level governments to function,” Delgado said. “They need resources and they need them now,” noting that there is no revenue coming in.
Small non-profit businesses are also eligible for Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance funds which can be used to cover operating expenses, Delgado said. Nonprofits can also apply for the payroll protection program. Though previously allocated funds have been exhausted, he continued, it is anticipated that additional federal funding will be made available,
In response to a question regarding the potential infringement on constitutional rights by gubernatorial mandates of face masks in public and stay-home guidelines, Delgado said his priority is to protect communities and essential workers. That can be done, he said, by abiding by social distancing guidelines.
He understands the frustration, angst and pain caused by the harsh realities of the public health emergency, Delgado said. Like others, he is looking forward to things returning to normal. However, he said, “If you don’t have a healthy well-functioning workforce, you don’t have a healthy well-functioning economy.”
Senator Jen Metzger, representing New York’s 42nd Senatorial District which includes a portion of Delaware County, was a panelist on the telephone town hall and assured those who have been laid off and are seeking unemployment benefits that the filing system has been streamlined to allow for easier and more efficient completion of forms.
Prior to the pandemic, Delgado and Metzger were both advocating for broadband expansion to rural areas. The return on investment is low in less-densely populated areas, Delgado said, which is why private business doesn’t invest in those areas.
Broadband, they both agreed, is essential, especially now.
Metzger said there are enormous gaps in broadband service in her district, despite what Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office claims. Students learning and employees working remotely make it critical that broadband is expanded and widely accessible, Metzger said.
She has introduced two bills at the state level to help accomplish that goal, including a requirement of statewide mapping by the Public Service Commission which shows population density and available service and a plan to close gaps in service.
Metzger has also introduced a bill to implement service quality by internet service providers. “There is no one holding these companies accountable for speeds, interconnection or fixing interconnection issues.”
Metzger said she will be working hard to get those two bills passed in the senate this year.
Delgado opened and finished the call by thanking law enforcement, health care staff and other essential front-line employees for their continued work, committing to fight for more protective equipment for them.
