U.S. Open Golf Tournament On; Driver's Ed Resumes Online: Cuomo

NEW YORK CITY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said golf's U.S. Open Championship will be held in September in the Hudson Valley and that driver's education courses will resume online amid the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, the state Liquor Authority issued 29 new violations to bars and restaurants in New York City and Long Island, including one in Suffolk County.

The news came as the state saw its infection rate continue to hover around 1 percent even as other states continue to see surges across the country. Five New Yorkers died Tuesday of the COVID-19 disease and 76 patients had to be intubated.

A day after Cuomo floated the idea of hosting all MLB games in New York, the governor announced that the U.S. Open, one of four major tournaments in golf, would be held Sept. 14-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck. The championship will be held without fans.

"People will get to enjoy that, if not on-site then on TV," Cuomo said.

In response to a reporter's inquiry, he said driver's education courses will be held online beginning Wednesday for student drivers, who can use tools such as Zoom and WebEx.

"We understand that student drivers can’t appear in person," Cuomo said. "This will allow them to participate online so they can get their license."

Cuomo repeated Wednesday that investigators are looking into a concert for The Chainsmokers in Southampton in which people in a VIP area were seen packed tightly together near the front of the stage and dancing, with social distancing protocols abandoned. Jay Schneiderman, the Southampton town supervisor, performed at the event as an opening act with his band.

"We’re looking at issues on Long Island," Cuomo said. He added that "some other issues have come to light," in Southampton especially. He also mentioned "issues of police enforcement" but did not elaborate.

"We’ll get to the bottom of that," Cuomo said. He also called on the mayors and supervisors on Long Island to "step up."

The governor returned to his earlier calls for federal funding to help cover massive budget deficits for state and local governments. New York faces a revenue shortfall of $14 billion this year and $16 billion next year. Without federal aid, he said he doesn't see any way the state can avoid across-the-board cuts. Cuomo is sending a letter to New York's congressional delegation pleading with them not to support legislation that fails to adequately address the revenue shortfalls.

There were several attempts at this legislation and none have served New York, he said.

"This is the last bill that they’ll probably get done," Cuomo said. "This will be the determinative bill."

He added, "This one counts," calling it the most important and impactful legislation he has seen since becoming governor.

In response to a reporter's question, Cuomo said calls to tax New York billionaires to help close the deficit would be impossible. The state has about 100 billionaires and a combined shortfall of about $50 billion in the state budget, including New York City, the MTA and Port Authority. Taxing the state's billionaires would mean "you’ll have no billionaires," he joked.

"The numbers are too large for that," Cuomo said.

He later stressed he doesn't see additional revenues coming in, should federal lawmakers not include enough funding to cover the shortfall.

"The future for revenues is basic fairness from the federal government," Cuomo said. "We’re at bottom line time."