Vol. 25 / No. 5 May 2020 County Executives Believe Mid-Hudson Economy on Cusp of Finally Reopening By John Jordan county and the region com- WHITE PLAINS—It appears plies with a certain metric the reopening of the Mid- depends on the subjective Hudson economy, which interpretation of the data, was all but shut down back Latimer noted. on March 22 when Gov. An- “I think the Hudson Val- drew Cuomo put “New York ley, like the other regions of on Pause” to prevent the New York State, is moving spread of the Novel Corona- close to being open. This virus, is finally at hand. is the call that the gover- After a setback earlier nor and his people make. this week, Westchester on Tuesday, said that in terms of West- bers in terms of the number of hospital- It is not my call,” Latimer County Executive George Latimer and chester County’s compliance, “We are izations, new hospitalizations and other stressed. “I think we are close. I think we Orange County Executive Steven Neu- as close to opening as we can be, short metrics are so close to meeting state should be over the line very shortly and haus believe the Mid-Hudson is very of being opened.” requirements, it comes down to the in- open up to the first phase (of reopen- close to complying with all seven neces- In relation to the region, he said, “I terpretation of the numbers and cases ing).” sary metrics to begin phase one of the would be hopeful that within the next by the state. He said the data definitely The first phase of the reopening loos- reopening of the region’s economy. seven days or even sooner we can meet points to a reduction in cases, hospital- ens restrictions imposed back in March Latimer in his daily COVID-19 update those metrics.” He noted that the num- izations and deaths, but whether the Continued on page 10 How Realtors Deal With Stress in the COVID Climate By Mary T. Prenon While most Realtors are still dealing As president of the Pelham Bay Mer- with the frustration that the COVID-19 chants Association, Guanill offered her has placed on their industry, some are “Easter Bunny” visits to anyone who starting to discover different ways to was interested. For Guanill, the biggest conduct business and deal with their frustration now is trying to keep busy, as daily stress. live listings and showings are still pro- Virtual cocktail parties and drive-by hibited. “I do a lot of volunteering,” she visits to relatives are now part of the added, describing her work with New new norm, but Irene Guanill has taken York Cares, delivering food to those that to a new level. The Broker-Owner who are homebound. of Meet the Sellers in the Bronx recently Guanill admits she is fortunate in that donned an Easter Bunny costume to she also operates a property manage- pay “socially distanced” visits to fami- ment business, which is bringing in in- lies in Pelham Bay, Throggs Neck, City come. “I haven’t filed for unemployment Island and Morris Park. “It actually took yet, but I do plan on applying for a small Dr. Alec Miller and Dr. Lata McGinn of me two days, but I visited a lot of neigh- business loan,” she said. Cognitive Behavioral Consultants in borhoods, waved to kids and did a little In the meantime, people are still White Plains. dance in the streets,” she said. “The Irene Guanill, of Meet the Sellers, looking for homes. “I get calls every feedback was amazing and I was so took to the Bronx streets as the day from people who want to see virtual property,” she said. “Videos just don’t glad to be able to do something to bring Easter Bunny to bring joy to local tours, but they’re not going to take any do the property justice—people not smiles to other people and to myself.” families during the Easter season. action until they can actually see the only need to see the home, but they also need to have a feeling for it. Most people buy a house because they fall in love with it or have some type of emo- Rep. Maloney Tells HGAR a ‘Big Fight’ is Continued on page 2 Coming on State and Local COVID-19 Aid By John Jordan WHITE PLAINS—U.S. Rep. Sean Pat- DeClerck, Congressman Maloney’s INSIDE rick Maloney (D-NY-18) in a more than Federal Political Coordinator; and HGAR 50-minute online session hosted by Chief Executive Officer Richard Hag- SPOTLIGHT ON the Hudson Gateway Association of gerty. Realtors recently offered his views on Congressman Maloney noted that the COVID-19 crisis’ impacts on the real thus far there has been approximately estate industry and how the federal gov- $3 trillion in COVID-19 funding assis- ernment going forward will be assisting tance that has been approved by Con- businesses in New York State affected gress that has been geared to helping by the pandemic. business and those unemployed during The HGAR webinar was held on the ongoing health care crisis. Friday, May 1 and was hosted by HGAR “I think for the most part we’ve got President Gail Fattizzi; HGAR Legislative the right strategy, at least on the eco- Committee Chair Leah Caro; Katheryn nomic crisis, it was bipartisan, which is Betsy Estrella-Mejia see page 11 U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney VIEWPOINTS ................................. 4 good. I think we’ve got a big fight com- LEGAL CORNER ............................. 5 ing on state and local aid and everybody from our part of the world should care RESIDENTIAL ...............................6,7 about that a lot,” Rep. Maloney said. HGAR UPDATE ..........................11,12 The Congressman said he is hopeful EDUCATION/CALENDAR ...............13 that sometime in the future Congress LEGISLATIVE/BARRISTER ..............14 will re-establish the state and local tax (SALT) deductions, which he noted TECHNOLOGY ...............................16 would help the real estate industry in MORTGAGE/FINANCE ...................18 the Hudson Valley and also serve a COMMERCIAL ..........................20,21 means to reinvigorate the economy. PUTNAM ..................................... 23 Continued on page 2 2 | NEWS Real Estate In-Depth |May 2020 Rep. Maloney Tells HGAR a ‘Big Fight’ is Coming On State and Local COVID-19 Aid Continued from page 1 of the virus in the fall. “I think the worst is actually behind us,” Rep. Maloney said. He noted that while the nation will have paid a terrible price, the enormous amount of stimulus funding could lead to a much stronger economy by this time next year. Congressman Maloney, who is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, predicted that the House will move a major $1-tril- lion infrastructure bill in the next six to eight weeks. The key will be if the proposal can be From left, HGAR CEO Richard Haggerty, Katheryn DeClerck, Leah Caro and HGAR President Gail Fattizzi agreed upon by the House and Senate In terms of the SALT deductions, the “I do believe you will see a lot of weeks where the country found itself and later signed into law by President Congressman said, “I think we are go- people appreciate the value of having a on its back foot, overwhelmed by this Trump. The bill will be far-reaching and ing to win that fight by the way. Sooner property outside of the city and maybe crisis…” will include investment in ports, mass or later we are going to win that fight commuting instead of living down He noted that the nation and New transit, roads and bridges, he said. and we deserve to.” He said the victory there,” he said. “And so, for the Hudson York State particularly, have made great The House T&I Committee will likely could come as part of another COVID- Valley folks, there is every reason to strides and are now poised to imple- mark up the $1-trillion infrastructure bill related aid package later this year or believe that your industry can be strong ment mitigation measures on testing, in the next several months, but he noted perhaps after the Presidential election and recover quickly.” contract tracing and therapies and is that he does not expect it to be included in November. In terms of the current state of the na- now on a path to an expedited path to in the next federal COVID-19 stimulus Rep. Maloney believes the real es- tion’s response to COVID-19 pandemic the development of a vaccine. package. tate industry will weather the COVID-19 and his view on the months ahead, he The Congressman later said that with “Infrastructure is coming and it crisis pretty well and noted that the noted, “I think we have a lot of serious those mitigation measures now in the should come as the next major bipar- Hudson Valley will likely benefit from work to do to fully win the fight against works, along with safe social distancing tisan step once we get through this those living and working in urban areas this virus,” Congressman Maloney said. and PPEs, such as masks likely still be- short-term fight on state and local (as- seeking to relocate to a more suburban “But, I do think that we will never be in ing required this fall, the nation should sistance),” Rep. Maloney predicted. environment. the position we were in over the last six be prepared for a possible second wave How Realtors Deal With Stress in the COVID Climate Continued from page 1 tional connection to it.” chairs. An agent with William Raveis ing to set up a “Meal Train” of food Ron Garfalo, sales manager for John Legends Realty Group in Tarrytown, Koff donations to White Plains Hospital, J.