“With Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement today lifting the mask mandates for businesses, I want to thank local business owners and patrons for their patience over the past couple of months.I agree with both New York State United Teachers and New York State Council of School Superintendents who have called on the Governor to provide reasonable and achievable metrics for when the mandate will be lifted. All institutions that still have mask mandates also need clear guidance for when the requirements can be lifted. It’s also important to note that the best defense against COVID-19 is getting vaccinated and boosted.”