New York State Team
After taking a wait-and-see approach to the coronavirus vaccines, Sean Salmonson of Dutchess County received his second shot of the Moderna vaccine at a former JC Penney store at the Poughkeepsie Galleria on May 22.
Salmonson, a 28-year-old mechanic from the City of Poughkeepsie, said he remembered visiting the JCPenney store before it closed in October. However, the mechanic also recalled the lack of notoriety and product availability that plagued the department store for years. This store was too big, Salmonson said. They didn t have too many name-brand stuff and the stuff they had was old and out of style.
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NY amusement parks are open. Here s what to expect from these 10 parks in 2021
New York boasts two Six Flags theme parks, but that s not all. Don t miss these thrill and water parks in NY on the next family adventure.
Mario Marroquin, Karen Croke and Shaniquah Gabino, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
Published
2:19 am UTC May. 24, 2021
Last year was a rollercoaster for amusement parks.
Ready to open with new amenities and attractions, all were forced to close for the entire 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and government-mandated restrictions.
With vaccinations on the increase and the pandemic easing, restrictions have loosened. And in early May, Gov. Cuomo announced that outdoor amusement parks could open at 100% capacity so long as six feet of distance could be maintained and mask wearing was enforced at amusement parks.
May 11, 2021
USA TODAY New York State Team
Loosening COVID-19 restrictions across New York are bringing a measure of financial relief for businesses. Now they just have to find the workers.
A combination of labor shortages across the state prior to the pandemic and enhanced unemployment benefits is now keeping some workers from looking for work, according to New York business owners struggling to fill jobs.
“When the [enhanced unemployment benefits] came out, it became kind of a different labor relationship with the employees,” said John Carr, owner of Adirondack Brewery in Lake George.
“There were a lot of them that, not because they were afraid of COVID or anything, were just like, ‘Why go to work if I can stay home?’”
New York State Team
While the service sector in the New York metropolitan area began showing positive signs for the first time in 13 months in April, the regional unemployment rate continues to challenge communities across the Empire State.
The state Department of Labor reported this week that the unemployment rate across all but three regions in the state remains at or above the national average of 6%.
Meanwhile, New York City s current unemployment rate of 11.2% is nearly thrice the unemployment rate of the city in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, when it was a mere 4.2%.
Government-mandated restrictions across New York and a change in consumer habits doubled the unemployment rate in the state s metro areas from 4.3% in March 2020 to 8.6% last month.
While the service sector in the New York metropolitan area began showing positive signs for the first time in 13 months in April, the regional unemployment rate continues to challenge communities across the Empire State.
The state Department of Labor reported this week that the unemployment rate across all but three regions in the state remains at or above the national average of 6%.
Meanwhile, New York City s current unemployment rate of 11.2% is nearly thrice the unemployment rate of the city in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, when it was a mere 4.2%.
Government-mandated restrictions across New York and a change in consumer habits doubled the unemployment rate in the state s metro areas from 4.3% in March 2020 to 8.6% last month.