Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig: June 28 update on Reopening

Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig took to his backyard yesterday to record a video for his facebook page that provides Oneonta residents with the latest information on a range of city related topics: everything from dining in the street to colleges reopening in August.

Herzig mentions that we are now in Phase 4 of Governor Cuomo's reopening plan and the only businesses not open are the interior mall stores, the movie theater, and gyms which all remain closed until further notice.

Survive then Thrive is helping Oneonta businesses by offering grants. Find out more at supportoneonta.com. The Survive Then Thrive Committee is working now on a schedule to close off Oneonta’s Main Street to traffic and allow restaurants to set up tables on it for outdoor dining. Mayor Herzig says that schedule should be released within a few weeks. Coinciding with dining on Oneonta’s Main Street, there is also a plan to allow businesses to set up outdoor sales during that time. If the dining on Main Street plan is success, Herzig says that it may very well continue after the pandemic is over.

Commenting on the return of the college student population to Oneonta,  which numbers around 7000, Herzig explains that it's certainly a challenge for Oneonta officials in terms of keeping COVID-19 numbers down. The Mayor says he is in close communication with both SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College and hopes that by working together with city officials, they can ensure that students follow social distancing and mask wearing rules both on and off campus.

To follow the latest Oneonta COVID-19 and reopening news, look for future information and videos on Gary Herzig's facebook page.