The two state legislators who represent Chautauqua County had an opportunity to discuss their plan to reopen the economy with local business owners.

On Friday, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce held its annual legislative breakfast meeting online with state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown. The event was moderated by John D’Agostino, OBSERVER publisher.

Borrello said in order to get through these challenging times following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic, the economy needs to be restarted.

“We have suggested a region by region approach,” Borrello said. “We analyze industry by industry how to reopen. That is how we start.”

Borrello said he has been talking with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul about how to restart the state’s economy. Hochul is in favor of businesses designing their own plans to restart, Borrello said. He added that County Executive PJ Wendel has instructed business owners to start making plans on how to reopen their businesses.

“We cannot wait on the state to make the plan,” Borrello said. “We start with the lowest risk regions and lowest risk businesses, and that is how we start.”

Goodell echoed Borrello’s sentiments by stating that the coronavirus infection rate has varied greatly across the state. He said the highest density populated areas have the highest rates of infection, like New York City, while the lowest density areas, like Chautauqua County, have the lowest rates.

“We have to be focused on the future,” he said. “Where we are going to be and how to get there.”

Another topic discussed by the state legislators was about the state budget, which was facing a $6 billion deficit even before the coronavirus outbreak.

Borrello said the state’s budget director now estimates the state is facing a $15 billion deficit because of the impact of the coronavirus. He said, even before the pandemic, he was calling on a “clean budget” process that would include a spending bill that doesn’t included policy measures. However, Borrello said that wasn’t the case with the 2020-21 state budget, with more than $100 million for political campaigns, $30 million for free college tuition for illegal immigrants and billions spent on renewable energy projects.

Goodell and Borrello said good news in the budget included funding for Chautauqua Lake maintenance, which was reinserted into the state’s spending plan after not being included in the 2019-20 budget.

Bail reform was also discussed by the state legislators. Goodell said there was a few changes made to the bail reforms passed in the 2019-20 state budget, but nowhere near what needed to be done.

“We need to restore judicial discretion,” he said.

Borrello said before the coronavirus outbreak, the new bail reform laws that started at the beginning of the year was the dominating news story on the front page every day.

“We saw a huge spike in crime,” he said.

Borrello talked about the task force he chaired on the bail reform laws. He said the laws were passed without any input from law enforcement officials.

“There were minor reforms in the (2020-21) state budget. A small band-aid on an open wound,” he said.

Todd Tranum, chamber CEO, prior to the discussion by the legislators encouraged all those watching online to remember to buy local. He said there is a new website — CHQbuylocal.com — that was created that details the local businesses still providing takeout and curbside service.