From the desk of City Manager Sarah Purdy...

COVID-19 UPDATE

April 6, 2020

Over the weekend there were several news-analysis shows on TV regarding the status of the national and worldwide economies as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. On one of these shows, economist Paul Krugman, who is a Nobel laureate and columnist, made an interesting comparison between the economy and a patient with a traumatic brain injury who has been placed into a coma to reduce the swelling.

Mr Krugman said that, as with the patient, who is brought out of the coma slowly while the patient’s functions and capabilities are monitored and assessed, so when the national (and worldwide) economy begins to start up again after the mandated shutdown, everyone will be watching to see how well the economy can recover and what stimuli will need to be provided in order to assist this recovery.

It is still not known exactly when the recovery can start, when all of the private, not-for-profit and public sector organizations that are now closed or greatly restricted can start to ramp up, and when schools can reopen.

It is not too soon, however, to start planning for if and how we all reopen. In terms of City services, City Comptroller Tim Johnson and I are looking at what revenues we expect will not meet projections in the current fiscal year, and what adjustments will need to be made to the delivery of City services. New information is still coming in daily. We will analyze it, and I expect to make a first presentation to City Council about what we recommend at Council’s April 27 meeting.

Meanwhile, City Council will be holding its first “virtual” Council meeting tonight at 7 p.m. If you want to access it, please go to the City’s webpage, scroll down to the bottom of the home page and click on “Agendas, Minutes and Audits.” Then go to “Council agenda” and “select an item,” which will lead you to tonight’s agenda and the instructions for the link to join the meeting.

Be hopeful, stay safe, stay healthy and stay together yet six feet apart. “Take 5 for New York” by calling someone and chatting for five minutes. And please find below several links to COVID-19 information that you may find useful.

Department of Labor Cares Act Information

US Small Business Administration

St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency

Governor Cuomo’s Website

New York State Department of Health

Protect Yourself & Stop the Spread of Germs

What You Need to Know

Please revisit this page for important updates from the City of Ogdensburg.