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Reed talks cooperation, praises leadership

‘Unprecedented’ events

Pictured from left are OBSERVER Staff Writer Natasha Matteliano, Rep. Tom Reed assistant Alison Hunt, Rep. Reed, and Publisher John D’Agostino. OBSERVER Photo.

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed acknowledged on Tuesday our region and country are in a “unique time.”

Reed, District 23 representative in New York state, said the national emergency declaration by President Donald Trump has freed up additional resources and enabled more money to flow in support of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

“The economy was strong to begin with, going into it,” Reed said in a stop at the OBSERVER offices in Dunkirk. “There is some capacity in the economy for it to be shared, more than it would have been otherwise. But we’re going to have to borrow, … at some point we’re going to run out.”

The congressman wanted to ensure the public that even though the stock market is looking rough right now, the market could be able to come back better than ever. “As the economics come back online, we could potentially come out of this stronger than when we went into it,” he said.

Referring to the anxieties and fears people have about the virus, Reed said, “Take it one bite at a time, … the data is just coming online, so as the testing goes out, you’re going to see a spike in numbers.

It should be concerning, but it’s not because, I don’t think, that the virus all of a sudden came here a week ago and is taking hold. In this day and age, the world is so connected and so much smaller. This has been amongst us a while.”

In light of the moves Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Trump are making regarding the virus, he said: “I’m a little concerned about the one-size-fits-all in regards to these edicts that are coming out. I encourage folks that are contemplating these edicts and executive acts, understand that when you do that, you better have at least thought about 2, 3, 4 steps down the line. … I’m glad to see both are taking it serious.”

Seeing all the cancellations of classes on college campuses, Reed praised the measure taken at Alfred University. The president of the college, Mark Zupan, recognized that if they shut down the campus, a lot of students on campus would be sent back to the areas that have a lot of cases. “You don’t want to shut down their housing here and send them to a hot zone,” said Reed. “That’s the common sense type of flexibility we have to have through this.”

Regarding Lakeshore Hospital in Irving as an available facility for extra beds in preparation for the virus spreading, he noted: “I just talked to Andy (Andrew Goodell, State Assemblyman) and George (Borrello, State Senator). They’re working with the governor, … That’s the kind of facility that makes a lot of sense for that surge capacity. That’s the common sense that we need more of and I applaud them on that.”

Overall, Reed wanted to convey that though this is a serious matter and it is good to take precautions, everybody should try to stay calm. “We’re in it with you guys, we’re here, we’re present and we’re going to have your back,” he said.

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