Hazard Pay for All Frontline Workers

C M Y K

Economic reboot Benchmarks proposed for The Daily Mail COVID-19 recovery Inside, A2 Copyright 2020, Columbia-Greene Media All Rights Reserved The nation’s fourth-oldest newspaper • Serving Greene County since 1792 Price $1.50 Volume 228, No. 79 TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020 n FORECASTWEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT WED Scams add to COVID-19 pain By Nora Mishanec scams, which include schemes “The text claims that you Columbia-Greene Media to steal the $1,200 federal have come in contact with A heavy Sunshine, Partly cloudy stimulus checks, census fraud someone who has tested posi- afternoon breezy and Scammers are exploiting and cold t-storm cold public anxiety over the CO- and bogus coronavirus cures, tive or is showing symptoms of HIGH LOW 46 VID-19 pandemic and using James said on a call with the the coronavirus,” according to the crisis as an opportunity to state chapter of the AARP. the sheriff’s office. “It says you 54 30 26 make money, state and local “Scammers are very good must self-isolate and it directs officials warn. at capitalizing on current you to click on a link for more Complete weather, A2 Elderly people, already the events,” said state AARP Di- information. Do not click on the link.” frequent targets of scammers, rector Beth Finkel, who hosted The attorney general’s office are at increased risk during the call. n SPORTS has seen an uptick in attempts this time of heightened anxi- Greene County Sheriff Pe- to exploit people’s confusion C-GM FILE PHOTO ety, said state Attorney Gen- ter Kusminsky said his office over the distribution of federal State and AARP officials are warning New Yorkers, and seniors eral Letitia James on Friday. issued a warning after Greene stimulus checks, James said. in particular, that scammers are trying to take advantage of the The attorney general’s of- County residents were target- virus pandemic to fraudulently obtain private information. fice is tracking the latest ed with a text message scam. See SCAMS A8

Ionescu is on a Cuomo: Hazard pay mission...... to transform how we feel about women’s basketball PAGE B1 for all frontline workers n LOCAL

Virus changes shopping lists Area supermarkets try to make buying simpler PAGE A3 n NATION

COURTESY OF GOV. ANDREW CUOMO’S OFFICE Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a 50% federal bonus in hazard pay to COVID-19 frontline workers Monday during a press brieﬁng in the state Capitol.

By Kate Lisa “Thanks is nice, but recog- 45% of public transit workers, where the virus remains the time, what percentage of the Johnson Newspaper Corp. nition of their efforts and their 57% of building cleaning ser- most prevalent. The state pri- population has actually had ALBANY — Gov. Andrew sacrifice is also appropriate,” vice workers and 40% of health oritized coronavirus diagnos- coronavirus,” Cuomo said Endorsement Cuomo proposed federal haz- the governor said. “Essential care workers. Two-thirds of tic testing in communities of during a briefing Sunday at ard pay for all frontline work- public workers are the ones on frontline workers are women. color April 8. the Feinstein Institute for big for Biden ers Monday as New York start- the front lines every day carry- One-third of those essential The state’s blood antibody Medical Research on Long Is- Green group supports ed its 3,000-person COVID-19 ing us through this crisis, and employees come from a low- test, which determines a per- land. “This will be the first true antibody survey. we must ensure their efforts income household, according son’s coronavirus immunity, snapshot of what we’re deal- Biden election bid The governor called on the and sacrifice are appropriately to the governor’s office. began Monday with a sample ing with.” PAGE A5 federal government to provide recognized. They are the true People in African-Ameri- of 3,000 people. New York’s Results are expected by a 50% bonus, or hazard pay, heroes in this crisis.” can and Latinx communities population is about 19.5 mil- the end of the week. The state to essential public workers on People of color make up 41% are most heavily affected by lion. n INDEX the pandemic’s front lines. of frontline workers, including COVID-19 in New York City, “It will tell us, for the first See CUOMO A8 Region A3 Opinion A4 State/Nation A5 Obituaries A5 Sports B1 New programs keep business loans flowing Classified B4-5 Comics/Advice B7-8 By Sarah Trafton “The SBA is currently unable assistance program (includ- Columbia-Greene Media to accept new applications ing EIDL Advances) based On the web Reflecting the strain the for the Paycheck Protection on available appropriations www.HudsonValley360.com statewide COVID-19 outbreak Program based on available funding,” according to sba. is placing on aid, the U.S. Small appropriations funding,” ac- gov. “Applicants who have Twitter Business Administration is no cording to sba.gov. “Through already submitted their applications will continue to be Follow: longer accepting applications April 16, 2020, the SBA has processed on a first-come, @CatskillDailyMail for the Paycheck Protection guaranteed 1,035,086 loans first-served basis.” Program or the Economic In- under the Paycheck Protec- In Columbia County, the Facebook jury Disaster Loans. tion Program.” Columbia Economic Develop- www.facebook.com/ Similarly, the SBA is no lon- But small businesses con- ment Corporation has begun a CatskillDailyMail/ ger accepting applications for tinue to have local funding op- partnership with the Colum- portunities within their reach the Economic Injury Disaster bia County Chamber of Com- thanks to new loan programs Loans, which offered up to merce, Hudson Business Co- and partnerships. $10,000. alition and Berkshire Taconic The Paycheck Protection “SBA is unable to accept Community Foundation to Program, which began April new applications at this time establish a small business loan C-GM FILE PHOTO 3, offered up to $10 million in for the Economic Injury Di- U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-19, a supporter of aid to small relief to businesses. saster Loan, a COVID-related See LOANS A8 businesses, hosts a panel in this Nov. 9, 2019 file photo.