Dear Gov. Cuomo,
As smoothie and juice bars within Poughkeepsie Galleria have been closed for months, we are urging you to reconsider and allow for enclosed shopping centers to reopen. We have followed the phased guidelines outlined by the state and have been busy getting prepared to reopen our restaurants safely once our region hits Phase Three. We’re simply asking not to be treated any differently than those restaurants that are being allowed to open within the guidelines outlined by the state.

We represent many businesses within Poughkeepsie Galleria and collectively employ hard-working individuals who are residents of our community. This unforeseen public health crisis has put our livelihoods in jeopardy. All we are looking to do is to get back to work to support our loved ones and the community we deeply care for.

We observed how certain retailers were permitted to reopen in Phase Two, while others were not. We believe we should be treated no differently as the other restaurant establishments that will be allowed to reopen in Phase Three. We all face a challenging road ahead. Not having the opportunity to begin this climb at the same time as others compounds our difficulties exponentially, jeopardizes thousands of jobs, and further opens the door to economic harm to the broader community.

We sincerely appreciate your prompt consideration of this request.