New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo COVID-19 Press Conference Transcript May 17: Lifts Mask Restrictions

Andrew Cuomo: (00:00)
Good morning. What a pleasure to be here today at Radio City Music Hall. How magnificent is this venue? Let’s give the Radio City Music Hall a round of applause. It’s good to be back. I was going to start today offering my rendition and singing my own composition of New York State of Mind. I was rehearsing for days, I was all prepared. Mr. Dolan just informed me that I don’t have the appropriate union membership to perform, so I’m not going to sing, but I am gravely disappointed. I want you to know that. Let me introduce the people who are with me to my right, Mr. James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Entertainment. To his right, we have Karen Hempel, who is the interim CEO for New York Road Runners. We then have Mr. Robert Mujica, who’s the director of the state budget. He’s in charge of finances. To my left, Jane Rosenthal, who is the cofounder of Tribeca Productions, and to her left, Dr. Howard Zucker, who has been extraordinary in his guidance to the state of New York all through this COVID pandemic.

As I said, it’s my pleasure to be here today, and we have a lot of good news. We’re going to talk about today and tomorrow, because what we do today really is going to define what tomorrow is all about. There’s probably no other point in my memory where the future of this state was so dependent on the decisions and the actions that we take today. This post-COVID reality is going to be shaped and formed by what we do. This is happening all across this country. It’s happening all across the globe. We’re reopening the world, reopening economies. Yeah, but what does that look like? What does that mean? What did we learn from COVID? What are we going to be like going forward? And after all this devastation, we have now tremendous investment that we’re going to be making in the place that we build tomorrow. What are we going to do? What are we going to make it?

As far as today is concerned the numbers on COVID are all good. Overall statewide positivity is 1.26%. That’s well below the national average. Congratulations to New Yorkers. Hospitalizations are down, ICU is down, intubations are down. State-wide deaths, which is the most important number on the chart and the one that breaks my heart every day, 11 New Yorkers passed away. So anyone who says, “Well, COVID is over. It’s a thing of the past,” 11 people passed away. 11 families are grieving today because they lost loved ones, so keep that in mind. But the number of deaths is the lowest since October 30th. You look across the state, and this has always been interesting to me, and it’s been true from day one. The COVID positivity rate varies across the state.

Why? It’s one state, same governor. I’ve been giving the same message, same numbers, same health commissioner, same policies. Because COVID positivity is a function of individual behavior, period. And it is a function of community behavior. You tell me what a person does, how they act, you tell me how a community acts, I’ll tell you the COVID positivity rate. Are they wearing masks? Are they getting vaccines? So you see across the state, you go from a low of 0.5% to a high of 2.7% up in the Finger Lakes. It’s all a function of behavior. You take New York City, even within New York City, Staten Island, 1.2%. How can that be when you have Manhattan at 0. 5%. Density. How do you explain it? It’s a function of individual behavior and community behavior.

But the positivity in January after the holiday surge, remember? We were close to 8%. We’re now down to 1.1%. Hospitalizations, we were up near 9,000 hospitalizations in January, and now we’re down to 1,700, which is the lowest since November 15th. So all the arrows are headed in the right direction. We are managing COVID. We haven’t defeated COVID, but we are managing COVID, and we’re managing COVID well. The vaccinations were always the key to defeating COVID, and we’re doing very well that. 17 million doses. Just think about that. 60% of New Yorkers over 18 have received one dose already, and the percentage of people who come back for the second dose is very, very high. Over half the population, 52%, fully vaccinated now, but we still have more work to do on vaccinations.

The numbers on the vaccinations are the only number that is not doing as well as the others. Part of that is common sense. The people who were most eager to get a vaccine came in and got it, and now we’re getting towards a percentage of the population that’s not that eager to get that vaccine, and then you have a subgroup that is just reluctant and hesitant to get it. We started a new program, because these are times to be creative and do things you’ve never done before, the MTA’s Get a Shot, Take a Ride program. Theory is you’re going to the subway, you’re going onto a train. We will have the vaccines in the station, so you literally walk right past the vaccination to get on the train, and if you get a vaccination, then you will get a free pass on the subway or the Long Island Railroad or on Metro North, so a financial incentive to get it. We tried it last week. 5,700 vaccinations in five days, so it worked very well, and it was a pilot. We had never done it before.

We’re going to extend it because it’s worked well. Some stations worked better than other stations. We’re going to extend the stations you see there, East 180th Street in the Bronx, Grand Central, Penn Station, Broadway, and we’re going to add 125th Street in Harlem, Sutfin Boulevard, Queens, my old neighborhood, Hicksville on Long Island, and Broadway Junction we’re keeping. So this works, and we’re going to find more creative ways to get people to take vaccines, because the more people take vaccines the better, period. That’s what it’s all about.

But New Yorkers have made tremendous progress. New Yorkers have made more progress than any state in the United States of America. How can I say that? Because we had a worse problem than any state in the United States of America. Remember, we had the highest infection rate on the globe at one time. When COVID hit us, it hit us as an ambush. It had been coming here for months, and nobody knew, and by the time we figured it out, it was too late. Why? Because people fly into New York. COVID came to New York not from China. COVID came from Europe to New York, and those flights from Europe were landing in New York, and COVID had gone from China to Europe. Everybody missed it, and then people had it in Europe and were coming to New York, and everybody missed it until it was too late.

We had people dying from COVID before we knew we had COVID, so New Yorkers have made great progress. All the arrows are now pointed in the right direction, so let’s get back to life. This shutdown has caused all sorts of damage, damage that we’re not even aware of. Everybody points to the economic damage, and that’s certain. Businesses closed, people lost their jobs, but there’s all sorts of other damage that people are not yet understanding, I believe. What did it mean to keep children out of school for a year? The lack of socialization, the lack of developing friendships and bonds. What did it mean to say to people, “You can’t hug, you can’t kiss?” What did it mean to senior citizens who were basically trapped in their homes? You can’t visit your family. You have to be worried about everyone you see, the psychological trauma, the mental health trauma. Divorces are up about 300% across the globe from this situation.

So we have to reopen. We have to reopen smart. We have to reopen with a cautious eye, but we have to get back to life, and we have to get back to life and living, and we have to do it the way New Yorkers do it. We have to do it quickly and robustly. Effective this Wednesday, we’re going to adopt the CDC’s new guidance and regulations on masks and social distancing for vaccinated people. By the CDC guidance, immunocompromised people, unvaccinated people should continue to wear a mask and social distance, but if you are vaccinated, you are safe. No masks, no social distancing. We’re also going to follow the CDC’s guidelines that you will still need to wear a mask on public transportation, the subways, the buses, nursing homes, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, schools, and healthcare facilities. The CDC guidance is all up on the website.

Individual private venues still have the ability to add additional guidelines to the state guidelines and the CDC guidelines, but for our part, we’re adopting the CDC and we’re saying let’s open. This comes at a good time for New York, because we had already said we were going to do our major reopening this Wednesday, so this Wednesday, most capacity restrictions are lifted in the Tri-State area, New Jersey, Connecticut. Whenever possible, we work with New Jersey and Connecticut to make sure we’re doing the same thing. We don’t want people going from New York to New Jersey, New Jersey to New York. Well, we do, but not to get around COVID guidelines, not to shop COVID guidelines. Outdoor food and beverage curfew is lifted today. Indoor food and beverage lifted May 31st. Outdoor gathering increased to 500, indoor, 250. Indoor residential gathering to 50. 24-hour subway service has returned.

Getting back to life means not just getting back to work, but getting back to life the way we enjoy it in New York, why people enjoy being here, what makes New York New York, and part of that is sports. And congratulations to the Knicks and the Nets on making the playoffs. That is really good news. I am going to root for New York, just so you know. The rules on the playoffs. There will be a vaccinated section and an unvaccinated section. We’ve just done this for the Islanders. Currently, from the Islanders model that we used, which we’re now applying to the Knicks and the Nets, it’s 50% of the arena is for vaccinated people, 50% for unvaccinated people. Unvaccinated people have to do six feet social distancing and require a mask, but this is up to the individual venue, just to be clear. If I own the Knicks, can I tell you what I would do if I owned the Knicks? Everybody else tell you what they would do if they owned the Knicks, right?

Speaker 1: (01:30)
That’s true.

Everybody’s entitled opinion. If I owned the Knicks, yeah, the guidelines are 50% for vaccinated. I would go higher. I encourage operators and venues to go higher than 50% vaccinated. You can go to 100% vaccinated. That’s in a private operator’s control, and frankly, from the state’s point of view, we want to encourage people to get vaccinated. Yes, there are health reasons, but we’re opening up and we’re opening up with more opportunities to vaccinated people, so it’s another reason to get vaccinated. And if the Knicks or the Nets say 60%, 75%, 80% for vaccinated people, why would they say that? Because they get more attendance. You get more people in the arena in a vaccinated section than the unvaccinated, because the unvaccinated, you have to have the six-foot social distancing. From the team’s point of view, the teams want fans in the arena, right? Ty Cobb: “The fans make the game.” They want the cheers. They want the energy. The players themselves want it, so the more people in the arena, the better, and that is within their control.

New York City Marathon, that’s another great New York City institution. We have Karen Hempel with us. The marathon is back, and that is a great, great New York event that excites people from all across the globe, does a lot of great work for the city and the state of New York. Many people come. It’ll be at 60% capacity, 33,000 runners. They’ll have health and safety guidelines. Registration opens on June 8th, and again, the race isn’t until November 7th, but it’s the 50th running, and that can be adjusted between now and November, because November’s a long way away. But for now, for the opening registration, it’s 33,000 runners.

County fairs, a big part of this state, big part of Upstate New York. They are all allowed to open up to the capacity of six feet social distancing. The local Department of Health will issue a permit, New York State Department of Health approves events over 5,000. Private operator can again set their own rules or a government-owned venue can set additional rules. And Tribeca Film Festival is going to reopen. Talk about everything comes around. Tribeca was formed post-9/11. Post-9/11. I don’t know how many of you are old enough to remember. There were so many naysayers about New York post-9/11. “It’s over for New York. We’re a terrorist target. Everybody’s going to flee New York. Nobody wants to stay here, because now we’re an ongoing target.” Going downtown? Forget it. You couldn’t get people to go downtown. What was the logic? I have no idea. What, did you think there was going to be another terrorist attack, and it was going to happen to be downtown again?

But the esprit de corps of New York, the confidence in New York was gone. Tribeca was formed to bring back the New York spirit, to bring back what New Yorkers loved about New York, and it did it brilliantly. That was the founding of Tribeca, to help New York rejuvenate post-9/11, and Tribeca is now helping New York rejuvenate post-COVID. This is about rekindling the spirit of New York. Yeah, you can open buses, you can open subways, you can open businesses, but we need to get the exuberance back, the excitement back, the love of New York. I love New York. I love New York. Why are you in New York? Because I love New York. It’s that emotion. It’s that spirit, and that’s what we’re getting back, that, “Yeah, we’re New York tough. Yeah, we went through a tough time. Yes, COVID was tough, but we’re tougher. We’re better.” That’s the New York spirit. That’s the New York mojo.

Tribeca will open on June 9th at a new park that we’re opening on Manhattan West Side, Pier 76, which is magnificent. It’s a new public space. It goes right out into the Hudson. Magnificent views, and Tribeca on their opening on June 9th will host a screening on Pier 76 for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. And the closing night of Tribeca is June 19th. It’s going to be right here with a red carpet.

It’s going to be right here. With the red carpet closing night performance at the magnificent Radio City Music Hall. One hundred percent vaccinated, mask free audience. This beautiful hall will be filled, once again, with what I am sure is going to be a phenomenal, phenomenal evening and attraction.

Having Radio City back at 100% without masks, with people enjoying New York and the New York arts is going to be not only symbolic and metaphoric, but I think it’s going to go a long way towards bringing back this state overall. And we do want to say directly 100% at Radio City Music Hall. So if I’m not vaccinated, I can’t go. That’s right. That’s right.

The whole point of the CDC’s change, the whole point of our change is to say to people, “There are benefits to being vaccinated. Number one, if you get COVID, which there’s a fractional chance that you’ll get it if you’re vaccinated, you won’t get as sick. Number two, you can’t transmit it to anyone. And number three, yes, New York is opening. But you’re going to have more opportunities if you’re vaccinated. And yes, if you’re vaccinated, and you go to a ballgame, you sit in the vaccinated section, and you sit next to your buddies and your friends. If you’re un-vaccinated, you have to sit six feet apart. If you’re vaccinated, yes, you come to Radio City Music Hall. And if you’re un-vaccinated, that’s your choice. But you can’t go into the Radio City Music Hall with vaccinated people.”

For Radio City Music Hall to do this is so powerful, because you have to remember history repeats itself. Radio City Music Hall is not just an iconic venue. It was built by John Rockefeller. When? In the middle of The Depression. Why? Because we were in the middle of The Depression. Why would you build this amazing, futuristic music hall in the middle of a depression? Because we were in the middle of The Depression. And Rockefeller’s vision was let’s build something that inspires and shows hope.

Why did Governor Smith build The Empire State Building in the middle of The Great Depression? That’s when you’re going to build the tallest building? Of course that’s when I’m going to build the tallest building. Because we are in the middle of The Depression, and we want that building to rise, because we want those spirits to rise. Yes, says Rockefeller. I’m going to build an awesome music hall. Better than anything you’ve ever seen before, because that’s the statement that I want to make. The largest auditorium in the world, the biggest stage built for the ages. With technology never deployed before.

They did that in that moment to make that statement, because they were faced with a challenge, but they wanted to stand up to that challenge. And that’s the message we have to remember today. People ask me all day long, “What is New York going to be like post-COVID? What do you think?” We determine what New York is going to be like. There’s no pre-written destiny here. You tell me what we do, I will tell you what we are post-COVID. It will be what we make it to be. And what Radio City Music Hall says is imagine what you want it to be. And then build that.

Two steps. Imagine a better New York. And then make it happen. And we will imagine a better New York, because New York was not perfect pre-COVID. We want to go back to the day before COVID. No, we don’t. I don’t. I want to go back to a New York that never was. Let’s build a New York that is bigger, and bolder, and safer, and sweeter, and cleaner, and safer. And more just than ever before. This is the moment to do it, because the table has been reset. Every governor, every mayor, every country on the globe needs to recover from COVID. And needs to transform themselves for a post-COVID world. Who wins that competition? Whosever smarter, faster, and more entrepreneurial. Whoever has a better imagination, and more vision. That’s who wins. And you know what that is? That is the definition of what makes New York New York. And what makes New Yorkers New Yorkers. And why we built The Empire State Building. And why we built Radio City Music Hall. And why we started the Tribeca Film Festival.

Because you can knock us down, but we’re going to get up. And we’re going to get up smarter, and stronger, and more united than ever before. That is us. That’s who we are. It’s in our DNA. It’s what we mean by New York tough. Otherwise you don’t make it in this place. We have, and we will, and we’ll do it together. Thank you for being here. And with that, let me turn it over to Jane Rosenthal to speak about the Tribeca Film Festival.

Jane Rosenthal: (04:26)
Thank you, governor. What an exciting and hopeful day. It’s really an honor to be with you, and Jim, congratulations on the Knicks. We’ve been through a grueling year, and it’s been devastating, frustrating, at times frightening. We’ve missed each other and the opportunity to be together, to watch a movie, to dance, laugh, and sing. Like right here on this stage. Bob De Niro and I started the festival 19 years ago, as the governor said, in the aftermath of 9/11, with the purpose of bringing people back downtown. Not unlike today, there was a need to rebuild and reimagine New York. We wanted to unite and bring people together from all over the city, the country, and the world.

Now, in the wake of another crisis, our founding mission is even more relevant today. This year, we want to insure that we can reach all corners of New York. Today, we’re thrilled to be able to bring the Tribeca Film Festival to all five burrows as a tribute to storytelling and cultural richness of every part of New York, and to share our festival experience safely, while supporting local businesses.

Today’s announcement is a huge milestone. It marks the first time in over a year that people will be able to gather together in this extraordinary venue. This would not be possible without your incredible leadership, governor. So thank you, as we continue to fight this war against COVID.

The Tribeca Film Festival will be the first in person festival to take place in North America since the pandemic. Our opening night will be In the Heights, and we’ll be screening In the Heights at the Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. And simultaneously, we’re going to be screening in eight other screens from the Bronx, Pier 76, to The Battery, to Brooklyn, to Staten Island. And everyone, tickets will be free, but you do have to make a reservation to book your pod. So I hope everyone will join us as the governor has pushed us to do so many times, it’s about re-imagining. We never believed we’d be doing all these extraordinary outdoor venues. Basically, creating an outdoor multiplex here in New York. So thank you so much, governor, for pushing us. In the Heights is the quintessential New York tough story of hard work, resilience, and triumph. The very foundation of New York City. Thank you. You’ve been a tremendous supporter of the arts, and we’re so grateful for your friendship and partnership.

Thank you, thank you very much, Jane. And thank you for everything that you’ve done all through this. And you will do with Tribeca. Now it’s my pleasure to turn it over to Mr. James Dolan. Congratulations on the Knicks.

Go Knicks.

Go Knicks. And congratulations on this opening today. Thank you for having us, Jim.

Thank you, governor. Well, this is what we’ve been waiting for. Been waiting for 14 months for this. I remember sitting in my apartment back in the end of March last year. We didn’t know anything about this virus, and I had gotten it. I felt terrible. But they told me, “Well, you can’t come out until you test negative.” Which is very different than the guidance they give you today. 35 days it took me to test negative. That apartment smelled terrible on day 35, I’ll tell you that.

Simply put, today is a game changer. It’s a game changer for our venues, it’s a game changer for entertainment, for sports, and for New York. This is what we’ve been waiting for, New York. To bring the culture back, to bring the spirit back to New York. And the governor’s announcement today is the moment that we can really start to do it. It’s a way to get back to doing the things that we love. The things that we’re here to do. And what the city needs us to do. That’s the role that Madison Square Garden and Radio City and The Beacon Theater, that’s part of our role here. We’re part of the culture and the heart of New York City, and we’re ready to go.

And we want to thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership in making that happen. Great job.

Festival’s closing even here at Radio City is going to be special, as Jane told you. We look forward to working with her and her team to make it unforgettable for all who attend. All who attend, being vaccinated. So at this very moment, we’re turning on the lights. We’re going to immediately, and I’ve actually started this morning making phone calls, start to book concerts at our venues that we anticipate will make for a Blockbuster summer. Which is really different, because we didn’t think this was going to happen. We were really planning on a Blockbuster fall. So thank you. And we’re going to get right to it, and later on, not today, but soon, we will be announcing a slate of concerts.

But I’m telling you now, as the governor said, get vaccinated. Because if you don’t get vaccinated, your chances of going to participate in this great summer are going to be either non-existent or greatly diminished. It’s important, because you got to have… You have to have two weeks, right governor?

Yes.

Right, so we’re starting to book now. Go today and get your vaccination so that when these shows come, or when the Knicks make it to the second round, oh I hope… You can come. And we’ll have a seat for you.

But first, we’re going to look forward to an exciting Knicks playoff run with a lot more people. And for Knicks home playoff games, we’re shooting to have more than 13,000 fans at The Garden, the majority of whom will be sitting in vaccinated sections, shoulder to shoulder. Our fans have been extremely loyal and have helped drive the team’s success. I’m just noting that any of you who know about basketball know the concept of the 6th man in the home court. We’ve been missing our 6th man, and we’ve done as well as we’ve done without our 6th man, but we’re getting our 6th man back for the playoffs. So we’re going to be even better. And it’s going to be so much fun, and so loud at The Garden.

So come. Tickets are going to be on sale first to season ticket holders Tuesday. And then to, we think to the general public on Wednesday. They’re going to go fast. Get them. But get your vaccine if you don’t have it already.

Finally, let’s see… Just a last word about the Knicks. I know it’s been a long time. Believe me, I know it’s been a long time. People tell me every day. But we’re back. We’re in the playoffs. And it couldn’t come at a better time for New York. I hope our team does well, and I hope we lift the spirits of New York. And especially with this announcement, catapults us into a fantastic summer. Thank you, governor. That’s really what our venues are about, by the way. We’re bringing people together, and we can’t wait to get back to doing what we do best. Governor, we really, really appreciate this today. Like I said, I’ve been waiting 14 months for this.

Yeah.

It’s just the best.

This marks the moment where we start getting back to business, and hopefully all of New York gets back to business. Thank you.

Amen, amen. Well said. Let’s give James Dolan and Jane Rosenthal a round of applause. And Karen Hempel and the Road Runners with the marathon coming back, let’s give her a round of applause. And this is an exciting, exciting moment. It has been a dark, dark, hellish year. Something that we’ve never gone through before, and hope to God that we never go through again. But that was yesterday, and we’re looking at a different tomorrow. Reopening New York. How do you reopen New York? It’s not that simple. It’s not one switch.

You have to open the businesses, you have to open the offices, you have to open the subways, you have to open the buses, you have to open the restaurants. And you have to open the arts. And the big, cultural icons. And sports. That’s what makes New York New York. It’s not the buildings, it’s not the roads. It’s the spirit, it’s the energy, it’s the activity. That’s what New York is all about. And that’s what you see coming back to life today.

So thank you all very, very much. It’s very exciting. I’m pleased and honored to be part of it. I want to applaud you, Jim, and Jane, and Karen, for coming up to speed so quickly. I mean, these are massive operations that are now coming online. Normally, to say we’re going to open Radio City Music Hall, they would say, “Well, I need six months. I have to plan.” But that New York mojo, that New York spirit says, “You tell me when, and we’ll turn on the lights.” And that’s exactly what Mr. Dolan is doing, and I want to thank him very much.

Let’s take questions from the press for Jane Rosenthal, Jim Dolan, or Karen Hempel. I’ll then stay behind and answer any questions for myself with Dr. Zucker and Robert Mujica.

Speaker 2: (37:31)
[inaudible 00:37:31]

Can you give me that without your mask on, because I can’t hear what he said. And the governor says it’s okay. Right, it’s a big place.

Speaker 2: (38:07)
I’m curious, [inaudible 00:38:07].

Yes, and for the basketball games, too. The 50% was a guideline, but as the governor pointed out, it’s up to us, and we’re going higher. Look, we’re going to still make room for people who are un-vaccinated. But honestly, we’re going to favor the vaccinated. And at Radio City, we’ll go to 100% vaccinated. I understand there are some people who are reluctant, etc. Right? This is the reason why you should get vaccinated, so you can participate in the culture and the things that you love about New York. Get vaccinated. And then come.

Yeah, I applaud Mr. Dolan’s point. We have slowed down on the vaccinations, as you know. And that’s a problem. We have to get more people vaccinated. We are working very hard to come up with incentives to get people vaccinated. First, accessibility. We have mobile vaccine sites, we’re going to churches, we’re going to public housing projects. And now we’re actually offering incentives to get a vaccine. That’s the MTA. You get a vaccine, you get a free metro pass. So we’re offering incentives.

Here’s another incentive. It’s nothing to do with government. Private venues, I encourage them to have a high percentage available for vaccinated people. Radio City’s going to be 100%. I encourage that, because that’s an incentive to get vaccinated. And we need more people vaccinated. And in some ways, I think the private sector can offer more effective.

Governor Cuomo: (40:00)
I think the private sector can offer more effective incentives than government can. I’m limited in government. We have a few other ideas that we’re poking around, but being able to go to Radio City Music Hall, being able to go to a Knicks’ playoff game, that’s a real incentive.

Speaker 3: (40:00)
Mister Dolan, first a quick question. What is the seating capacity of this facility?

James Dolan: (40:00)
Radio City?

Speaker 3: (40:00)
Yes.

5500.

Speaker 3: (40:00)
Will this be all done on the honor system or will certificates be checked when people enter your venues? How is that going to work?

That’s a really good question. I have no idea. We just started this. We will be working with the state, and we’ll figure out a way for it to happen, but I’m just… You’re ahead of me.

The state protocol, just so you know, is when you got vaccinated, you got a card. You could also have the Empire Pass, which is on your smartphone. But on a vaccinated venue, you will be asked or can be asked to produce that card and proof of vaccination.

Speaker 13: (40:51)
Mister Governor, New York is one of the few states that has this passport you just mentioned, and it seems like you’re kind of leaving it up to the venues to decide. Why not mandate that they show the Excelsior Pass app?

Well, you have an Excelsior Pass app or you have a card, one or the other. I have a card. I don’t have the app. I have a card, so it can be the Excelsior Pass or the card, but you have to show that when you enter the venue. Or if you’re asked, you have to present that. In other words, the Empire State Pass is an app, so you have to have an iPhone. And it’s convenient. I understand. You have some dinosaurs who still walk around with cards, and they would have to present the card. Did I get that right, Rob?

Rob: (42:20)
It’s available on any smartphone, so it’s [crosstalk 00:42:20].

Speaker 4: (42:20)
Turn your button on.

Rob: (42:20)
Okay. It’s the Excelsior Pass. It’s available on any of the app stores for either phones. It’s also available… You can get it on any computer and you can print it out, so you would be able to just get online, get your electronic Excelsior Pass. You can print it out if you do not have a smartphone. You can use that. There’s a QR code on it that you’ll be able to use to present as proof of your vaccination and then also, you also will have your card. We will issue a guidance for the large venues that outlines, “What are the requirements?” But we do have both of those options. One’s more convenient than the other, but you could have paper or electronic version.

Speaker 14: (42:20)
The state is saying that there will be some form of proof that you were vaccinated to get into Radio City or MSG?

Rob: (42:20)
For the large venues, there will be… Right. They will have to show. And just to be clear, that has been going on right now, so right now there are venues that have been operating in Madison Square Garden and others where there’s an option for testing and or proof of vaccination, so thousands and thousands of people have used the Excelsior Pass and or shown proof of vaccination so far, so this is not something that’s new. What’s new would be that it’s 100 percent of all people in those places, so you have the 100 percent vaccinated. But we’ve tested this. It started all the way back in… During when the Buffalo Bills made the playoffs. That was the first start of this, so it’s been going on since then. This is just the culmination of that.

Speaker 4: (42:20)
Mister Dolan, just to clarify, when you say a hundred percent vaccinated at the Radio City Music Hall, were you referring to just that Tribeca-

No.

Speaker 4: (42:20)
Every event?

Yes.

Speaker 4: (42:20)
For the foreseeable future?

Yes.

Speaker 5: (42:20)
Mister Dolan, you said earlier that vaccinated folks would be favored at Knicks and concert events. Does that mean the unvaccinated would be in the worst seats in the house essentially?

Yeah. We don’t actually know where every… The scale of the house. We’re working with different scenarios on it. But, I mean, look, as the Governor said, we’re going to favor vaccinated fans, so it doesn’t mean we’re going to put all the unvaccinated up in the very top of the Garden, right? But, I mean, the biggest thing with it is that if you really want, you’ll see the game. But the availability of tickets is going to be better than 10 to one in favor of vaccinated.

Favored in terms of the majority of the attendees, so you’re favored, you have more of a chance of getting a ticket if you are vaccinated than unvaccinated because there will be more vaccinated tickets.

Speaker 5: (42:20)
I mean, the reason I asked is because we saw what happened with the Yankees and the Mets where they put the vaccinated sections up at the top of the upper deck. And I know, Governor, you had said that the unvaccinated wouldn’t be stuck in the nose bleeds. It turns out that that’s what happened to the vaccinated at baseball games.

The vaccinated got… I’m not familiar with what they did.

We’re going to see. It’s a fairly new announcement and we have to do what’s called scale the house, which we’re going to actually do today, so we’ll have an answer for you probably in 24 hours or so.

Speaker 6: (42:20)
Regarding the Excelsior Pass, I just signed up for one and I was very surprised that it doesn’t require any kind of proof. It’s based on self-reporting. It asks you, “Did you get a vaccine?” You say yes. It asks you, “What date was your last dose?” You put that in. Anyone can fill that out and get what would then be accepted as proof of vaccination. Is that a concern?

Yeah, I don’t believe that’s correct. I believe it’s verified.

Rob: (42:20)
So it’s actually verified. Actually, the Excelsior Pass is running up against the state’s NYSIIS system that has a record of everyone’s vaccination. So if you enter that information, it is actually running up against the state’s system, which is confirming that you have gotten a vaccine.

Speaker 6: (42:20)
Okay.

Rob: (42:20)
It’s transparent. It’s for privacy reasons. The only thing it transmits back is actually a yes or no, and that’s it. It doesn’t give out anymore information.

Speaker 6: (42:20)
I didn’t realize it was doing that.

It was run against the database and if you were lying, it would have sent you a big L.

Speaker 7: (42:20)
One more for Mister Dolan if you don’t mind. One of the Governor’s big goals so far has been to redevelop Penn Station, make a new Penn Station. Advocates have long said that the one way of getting the Penn Station that New York deserves is for Madison Square Garden to move. How open would you be to that prospect?

We continue to work with the Governor’s office on all his plans for the area. We’re still looking at many scenarios, and I won’t say one versus the other, but our intention is to continue to work with the state and to help them achieve what the Governor wants to achieve, which is build the Empire State Building all over again or… What was the other one? [crosstalk 00:47:27] Right. I agree with his vision very much so.

And as Mister Dolan said, we’ve had very good discussions. We have a good relationship, and it’s in everyone’s best interest, right? When we talk about expanding Penn, 780 block next door, Moynihan Train Hall, we want more people coming into the city. You get more people on trains, more people coming in, it’s a better experience. It’s good for Madison Square Garden. It’s good for the west side of Manhattan. It’s good for everyone.

Speaker 8: (48:03)
Why [inaudible 00:48:03]?

Because if I don’t give people notice… My job is a thankless job. Whatever you do, someone is going to complain. This is a radical adjustment of rules and guidelines. It was radical when CDC put it out, frankly, last week and caught people by surprise. So we took a couple of days to analyze what it would be. We aligned it with our guidance. We’re announcing that today. We’re then giving vendors, local governments notice today. It goes into effect Wednesday, so they have a day to make adjustments. I’m sure they’ll say it’s too fast. They need more than a day, but that’s where we are.

Speaker 9: (49:04)
What’s your advice [inaudible 00:49:04] smaller businesses, restaurants, stores [inaudible 00:49:10]?

Yeah. No, that’s a very good question. It is up to them. Now, the Empire Pass, which is a really great thing. We were the first state to do it. I don’t know that we’re the only state that has it, but the Empire Pass is very easy to get. They can check. They can ask at the door. They can ask when you’re seated at the table or not. There is no mandatory compliance that the state is imposing on the private vendors. I will bet you this. I will bet you when you go to a restaurant and you’re sitting next to a person who has no mask, people are going to ask the restaurant owner, “Did you check to make sure this person was vaccinated?” Just because you say today, “Okay. You don’t need this anymore.” This has gone beyond government rules and regulations.

People have inculcated this into their psyche. I’ve had more people ask me, “Are you saying I can’t wear a mask anymore? Because I still want to wear a mask.” I expect there are going to be a lot of people who are not just going to flick a switch and be over this. I think there’s going to be lingering concern, et cetera. And I think you’re going to see a lot of people wearing masks going forward. But it is up to the private vendor, private venue. I would suspect the customers are going to be asking those private vendors what they did. I’m sure when people come into Radio City Music Hall, they’re going to ask, “I’m sitting next to someone. I don’t know who they are. Are you sure they were vaccinated?” And that’s why it’s on the operator’s best interest to be able to say, “Yes. I checked the Empire State Pass. If they didn’t have a pass, they had a card, but they were checked when they walked in the door.”

Speaker 10: (51:46)
[inaudible 00:51:46] touched on that. For example, we all know that you don’t need to wear them outside, the masks. If I’m walking to work the 10 blocks that I walk into work, most people I still see wearing masks. Do you expect on Wednesday [inaudible 00:52:00]?

I don’t expect all people to be dropping them. See, I think this is interesting. I don’t think it has anything to do with… I did COVID briefings every day for ever. It wasn’t the rules. Government can’t tell you to wear a mask. I can’t. I can say it. Wear a mask. You say no, and then what is the government going to do? It’s not that they adhered to the rule because it was a rule. It was because I gave them the rationale and the explanation that said, “It’s smart for you to wear a mask.” That was more powerful than the rules. They heard. They looked at the numbers. They processed the information, and they came to a decision in their judgment. Well, CDC says you don’t need a mask, and New York state followed CDC. They’re going to do the same thing.

They’re going to say, “That’s nice CDC said that, and that’s nice the New York State Commissioner of Health said that, but I’m going to process it myself. And you know what? I think I’m going to keep wearing a mask because I’m not a hundred percent sure about this.” Yeah, it goes into effect Wednesday. I will wager you on your walk to work at least 40 percent of the people are still wearing masks. $10.00. Be honest on the count. No. Videotape your walk as a matter of fact. Anything else for Jim, or Jane, or Karen? Okay. I’ll let them go. Give us a minute. Give them a round of applause. Thank you. (silence) Look at you. You have everything going on there.

Speaker 11: (51:46)
Everything.

And you’re in Radio City Music Hall.

Speaker 11: (55:26)
[crosstalk 00:55:26] Can I ask you a question?

Sure.

Speaker 11: (55:31)
Thank you so much. I’m curious [inaudible 00:55:31] are getting vaccinated in [inaudible 00:55:34] station. They show their passport, and they get the vaccine. When do you think [inaudible 00:55:42] all sites available for tourists to come from countries where the vaccine is not… It’s sparse, not readily available, so they are eager to come to New York and see the actual things like the Statue of Liberty. Come to New York and get vaccinated, so when that’s going to be [inaudible 00:56:02]?

Where are you from?

Speaker 11: (55:31)
Argentina.

Anyone can come and be vaccinated here in New York and receive proof of vaccination, and that proof works anywhere in the state. Is that right?

Speaker 11: (55:31)
And now they can… If they go to the website and they put their address in in Argentina, they get rejected. If they come, can they walk in and just get vaccinated?

Rob?

Rob: (55:31)
We have walk ins now. We do have walk ins now and on the address, but we’ll work on the technology issue and make sure that they can reflect that. The issue is that the technology was designed for New Yorkers to make sure that it goes into our system and then there’s a record. Because they’re not residents, they don’t get put into the NYSIIS system, so we’re working on that. That’s a new announcement.

Speaker 11: (56:55)
[inaudible 00:56:55] with the passport that’s allowed?

Rob: (56:55)
Right now, with a passport at those sites, but not every site has gotten all of the instructions because it’s mostly a New York City issue, but we’re working on it.

Speaker 11: (56:55)
My Governor, that’s the kind of program that stops May 22nd, right? The popups in the subway station.

Yeah. Well, we don’t know exactly when that ends. We’re going to see. This has never been done before. None of this has ever been done before, but these popups in the subway stations has just started last week. It worked very well. We extended it. If it continues to work well, we’re going to extend it more, but besides the subways, we have popup sites everywhere.

Speaker 12: (57:41)
Mister Governor, what do you think [crosstalk 00:57:41] this morning, the mayor said that he’s going to… I’m sure you welcome the extra [inaudible 00:57:44] police officers, but he took a couple of shots at the [MCA 00:57:47], saying the MCA needs to get its act together.

Let’s just talk some facts, okay? Because I want to be productive. We have to get New York City back. That is a more complicated equation than it suggests. The obvious is open the businesses, open the offices, restaurants. But that’s not enough. You also have to deal with the fact of where New Yorkers are now and the damage that has been done during COVID. Damage has been done. Damage has been done to schoolchildren, and I believe that has to be rectified when they get back to school. Damage has been done to businesses, so you have to correct for the damage, and you have to improve New York, because you have many doubters out there. You had doubters after 911, which I mentioned, but you have doubters today.

You have a lot of doubters who say, “You know what? New York, it’s not worth it. The crime rate, homelessness, taxes. I moved to Florida, to Aspen, to North Carolina, to the Hamptons, to the Hudson Valley during COVID, and you know what? It’s okay, and I can do this remote learning.” We have to attract them back. The burden is on us, and a big piece of it… Step back. Come back for Radio City Music Hall. You don’t get that in the Hamptons and you don’t get that in Florida. Come back for the Tribeca Film Festival. Come back for the Hudson River. Come back for the restaurants. Best on the globe. And come back because it’s safe.

Come back because it’s safe. Come back because it’s safe. If you don’t have it is safe, you don’t have anything. You don’t have anything.

The MTA is not perfect, has never been perfect, will never be perfect. Few of us have attained that goal. Only one person in history. And he wouldn’t even claim that he achieved perfection. The MTA has made tremendous progress, and you know it. It is cleaner, the schedule and the performance rate is better than ever. The main problem the MTA has is crime. That’s the main problem. It has been for quite some time. It has been pre-COVID. I said pre-COVID, two years ago, the MTA should stop asking for the New York City to put more police officers, hire their own police. What was that, two years ago? Three years ago?

Speaker 15: (57:41)
Two years.

Two years ago. Hire 500 more police. We needed that two years ago. And MTA was asking, MTA was asking, MTA was asking. Nothing was happening. I said the MTA should hire 500 more police. There was opposition. We don’t need more police. We have too many police. The defund police movement. You remember the videos of NYPD officers arresting people on trains in a very harsh way that went viral? So there was a psyche and a mentality that said, “We don’t want more police. Defund all police. We don’t need any police. Police are the problem, not the solution.” I said the MTA should hire 500 more police. They have been hiring the police.

The crime on the subways now is a major, major problem. How do you deny that? So the major now… I don’t know exactly what he said. But to the extent he said, “I’m going to send more police,” at least that’s an acknowledgement of the problem. Right? Now, are the number of police that he sent enough? I don’t think so. Because I think we have been under-policed for quite some time. You go back and look at the staffing rate that was in the subways in like, the mid-90’s. We are below that. You know you have a crime problem in the subways. You need more police.

And it’s not just crime in the subways, it’s crime, period. That’s why I say to these mayoral candidates, “You want to be mayor of New York?” I’m New York City born and raised. I don’t vote in New York City anymore. My first question to mayoral candidates, “What are you going to do about crime? Specifically. How many police? How many police in the subways? What are you going to do about crime in the subways? What changes would you make? What changes do you think you’d make?” I try to prompt that conversation by saying every city had to do a reform plan on public safety by April 1.

New York City put in it’s reform plan. It had some nice initiatives. But it is not a fundamental reform plan, and that has to be the question for the next mayor. The state does what the state can do. What is the responsibility of the city? Police, fire, sanitation, run the schools, pursuant to state law. All those things are pursuant to state law. But those are the services controlled by the city.

And of police, fire, sanitation, run the schools, pursuant to state law, police is of paramount importance, especially today. Crime is a major problem in the city. Crime is a major problem in the MTA. The MTA, for the first time, increased the number of police the MTA was hiring. They did that as a last resort. NYPD, finest police department in the country. Well, put them in the subways. But to the extent the mayor has acknowledged that crime is a problem in the subways, I’d say, “Amen.”

Speaker 16: (01:05:41)
[inaudible 01:05:41] Bunch of different things. Why not send the state troopers to the subways?

Andrew Cuomo: (01:05:41)
I have. I have. I have. But to give you an idea, we have about 5,000 state police. There are about 30,000 NYPD. What are the exact numbers? Do you remember the numbers?

Speaker 15: (01:05:41)
It’s higher than… Over 32. It’s about 34. Over 30.

Over 30.

Speaker 15: (01:05:41)
Over 30,000.

Over 30,000. 5,000 state police for the state. I have assigned them to New York City. We did two things. We gave money to the MTA to hire more police, and we sent in more state troopers. We have state police in train stations. We have state police throughout the city. You see state police cars now. You’d never seen the state police in New York City before. You never saw that.

When I was growing up, I never saw a state police car in New York City. Never happened. So that’s everything we can do. More troopers, more MTA police.

Speaker 17: (01:06:55)

Yeah, yeah. There is a legal definition of harassment that is very clear. All I was saying was just uncomfortable does not mean sexual harassment. You make me uncomfortable by some of the questions you ask me. That is not sexual harassment. There are other elements that also have to be added.

Speaker 18: (01:07:42)

Yes.

Speaker 18: (01:07:42)
Governor, have you ever had an intimate relationship with a fellow state employee?

Intimate? You mean sexual relationship?

Speaker 18: (01:07:53)
Yeah. [inaudible 01:07:53].

Well, don’t just read the question. You have to know basically what it means.

Speaker 18: (01:07:53)
An intimate relationship with a fellow state employee.

Intimate has a number of manifestations. I think we have an intimate relationship. Don’t you think that? Not a sexual relationship.

Speaker 18: (01:07:53)
I mean boyfriend or girlfriend.

No, no.

Speaker 19: (01:07:53)
Governor…

Made you uncomfortable with that question, didn’t I?

Speaker 19: (01:08:26)
[inaudible 01:08:26] Obviously if someone’s uncomfortable in service if it’s not harassment. However, the question is about you, as a boss, speaking to an employee about sexual issues. Is that just making the employee uncomfortable, or is that harassment?

No, there is a legal definition of harassment.

Speaker 19: (01:08:26)
Give us the definition, then.

Yeah, I’ll send it to you.

Speaker 19: (01:08:26)
No, can you give it to me right now?

It’s two paragraphs.

Speaker 19: (01:08:26)
Because you’re denying any harassment.

Yes. If you read the Gower Handbook on Sexual Harassment.

Speaker 19: (01:08:26)
You tell me the definition. I know the definition of sexual harassment.

What is it?

Speaker 19: (01:08:26)
I’m not the one asking. You’re not the one asking.

Well, I’m asking you, what do you think it is.

Speaker 19: (01:08:26)
I’m asking you what the definition is.

Is it just making someone uncomfortable? Because that’s what you said last week. All right.

Speaker 19: (01:08:26)
I’m asking you, if you as a boss are asking an employee…

Yes, I know the definition. And I never sexually harassed anyone. I am going to… Let me finish the question. Answer. I let them do the review. And now I’m going to tell you the truth and the facts about this entire situation. That it has been, I think, distorted in the press. And manipulated, and when the time is right, I will tell you the truth and the facts, and I am very much looking forward to it.

Speaker 20: (01:10:04)
Governor, [inaudible 01:10:04]. You metnioned that you were looking at it closely, [inaudible 01:10:08]. Said that he would accept your endorsement. Is that something you’re [inaudible 01:10:17].

I want to hear, as a New Yorker, from the candidates on their positions. A number of issues matter to me. Number one issue to me right now is what is their plan on fighting crime? What is their plan on fighting crime? And specifics. Specifics. See, when you are a mayor, when you are an executive, there is no conceptual. Conceptually, I’m against crime, and I believe we have to reduce crime. And conceptually, I believe in community-based policing. And conceptually, I want a better relationship between the community and the police. Yeah, I understand that.

What are you going to do? What needs to be done? Do you need more police? How many police would you put in the subway? What laws do you need? What laws that the state passed need to be modified, if any? What would you do?

That is… The sine qua non, is public safety. Can we bring back Radio City Music Hall? Yes. Can we bring back Tribeca? Yes. Can we bring back restaurants? Yes. Can we reopen small businesses? Yes. We’re funding that. Can you get tenants relief? Yes. Can you move quickly and show a new future? Yes. Come to the Pier 76 opening. Come to look at the new Moynihan Train Hall. Come to look at the new Penn Station. Come to look at the new Belmont Arena. Come to look at the new Long Island railroad track. Come to look at the new airports. Yes.

But what the state does not control is crime and policing. And whatever we do, if people don’t feel safe, it’s not going to be enough. You look at the trajectory of the city’s economy, and you look at the up periods and the down periods. You know what is the one constant? The rate of crime. Get people back on the subways, get them vaccinated. They have to feel safe. They have to feel safe. Do they feel safe now? No.

Speaker 20: (01:13:03)

I don’t want to comment on that at this time.

Speaker 21: (01:13:09)
[inaudible 01:13:09] Have you guys had any conversations at all about when it’s safe to put all those people back in shelters?

I don’t know what guidance he’s referring to. Homelessness is complicated, but like anything in life, as complicated as it is is as simple as it is. I’ve worked on the homeless issue all my life. I started in my 20’s. When I was Housing and Urban Development Secretary under Clinton, I did a homeless plan for the entire country. I visited every state. The subways are no place for the homeless. The homeless can successfully be engaged and removed from the subways. We proved that last year when the subways were shut down. And police came in, and social workers came in, and brought the homeless to a shelter.

The shelter has to be safe. Otherwise homeless people make a decision, “The subway is safer than the shelter.” I mean, I have conversations. There’s a certain amount of rationality. The subways are safer than a shelter. That’s a rational judgment. You have to have safe shelters, which is a current problem in the city. And you need a mental health component. And a mental health facility that you can bring people back to.

Handing pamphlets to people on the subway system, as has been done over the past two years, “Call 1-800-FOR-HELP,” that does work.

Speaker 21: (01:13:09)
But in terms of COVID, are there any state guidelines barring the city from putting homeless people back in shelters?

Do you? No?

Speaker 15: (01:13:09)
No.

No.

Speaker 15: (01:13:09)
No, there are not. No, there are not.

Short answer is no. Thank you very much. Thank you guys.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo COVID-19 Press Conference Transcript May 17: Lifts Mask Restrictions

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