State puts phase 2 on hold

State puts phase 2 on hold

Before the mohawk valley region heads into phase two... oneida county executive anthony picente held an impromptu press conference that wrapped up just about and hour and a half ago.

In that he announced that the governor's office has put phase two on hold while "international experts" analyze the data....something no one saw coming in the region... including the county executive.

Newschannel 2's caitlin irla was at that press conference breaks it all down for us here live in the studio.

Caitlin stunning events tonight.

Jason, the county executive says he is outraged and clearly disappointed about this decision coming from the state just hours before phase two was set to begin.

Picente says the lack of communication is disrespectful.

According to the governor, phase two is on hold until "international experts" review data from phase one.

But - the county executive says cuomo never said anything about reviewing data.

Cuomo previously said that regions would pause for two weeks after the initial reopening to see how the virus responded.

That timeline would put central new york in a position to start the second phase tomorrow.

I stood up here and told businesses that we were set to open i stand by that were such a open and i'm not gonna enforce or tell them they shouldn't and my discussion with the sheriff my scutcheon with the chairman of the board i'm not asking for enforcement it's an insult to every business in this community that they've been struggling it's a lack of respect for the business community that has struggled throughout this crisis and have a hair to what the governor has put an executive orders they after day close their businesses have looked to reopen now with a great expense again with the money they don't have businesses have sacrificed a great deal business is expected to open you know why because we told him that you know why because our data said it was accurate because our data was accurate and our data did meet the guidelines that he established i didn't pick him not right not the way to peach tree bubble especially in a crisis like this where people suffered way too much i've stayed up here i've tried to be as reasonable and a team player with all my politics throughout this region working with the state on this as difficult as a spin the lack of information is coming our way is unbelievable picente says the state has not given any indication of when this review will occur or how long it will take.

I reached out to both herkimer and otsego county leaders.

Herkimer co chair vincent bono says and im quoting... we are very disappointed and discouraged by the news that phase two will be put on hold.

We have been told that 14 days of favorable data would allow struggling businesses to move forward and open in phase two.

It's unacceptable that the governor can change the rules with no forewarning after considerable expense and time has been spent by these hard-working and struggling business owners.

We were told that the data was to be reviewed tonight and tomorrow and at the very earliest a saturday opening date would be announced.

Time will tell also dave bliss chairman of the otsego county board of representatives...sa id this.

Unless there is information we do not have, the mohawk valley region has met the criteria laid out by governor cuomo to move in to phase two.

The governor appears to be moving the goal posts in the middle of the game causing residents, taxpayers, and hard working small business owners more uncertainty and increasing frustration.

It's something oneida county has had in