NY to Halt Construction, BTEA Reverses Stance and Supports Ban

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.

Building Trades Employer Association (BTEA) issues statement in support of Governor Cuomo.

In an earlier article, we reported that the construction industry was speaking out against banning construction because of COVID-19. One of those was the BTEA, who on March 19 stated, “If construction shuts down, then maintenance and repair of all critical transportation infrastructure – which is essential for health emergencies - shuts down with it. Construction of affordable housing and health facilities will halt as well, which will directly impact the health, well-being and livelihoods of the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Construction is an essential service and must be allowed to continue during this crisis.”

In the eight days since BTEA issued that statement, conditions in New York state have exponentially worsened and it has become the epicenter of the pandemic with half of all the cases in the U.S. located there. NBC channel 4 reported that New York City has lost more people to COVID-19 in the last two weeks than to homicides in all of 2019. In light of this, NY Daily News reports that Governor Cuomo has halted all construction, except for on essential buildings like healthcare facilities.

BTEA today issued a new statement saying, “We have supported the Governor's efforts to keep construction job sites open,” said BTEA President, Louis J. Coletti. “Our member contractors have implemented robust preventative protocols to protect their workers, while seeking to keep New York’s economy moving forward. However, the current state of escalating COVID-19 cases confirms the Governor’s prudent action today in his Executive Order to shut down all non-essential construction job sites through April 21.”

“The protection of all our workers and all New Yorkers is paramount,” confirmed Coletti. “We look forward to rebuilding New York’s economy when it is safe to do so.”

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