We are beginning to be able to quantify the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus health crisis, and although the numbers may seem scary, there is much we can do to ensure New York endures and, eventually, thrives. 

New York State is facing a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit over the next several years, with some estimates projecting as much as a $69 billion shortfall through 2024. This presents a challenge the likes of which we have not seen, and it is one that demands fiscal discipline and community engagement. There must be full transparency and unfettered communication. 

Recently, the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB) gave the authority for the state to take on $11 billion in new debt. Although the current economic downturn makes steps like this necessary to meet obligations and keep government functional, there must be greater transparency in any budget actions moving forward. Major budget actions are coming, including likely cuts that will have significant impacts on education, health care, and local governments.

In a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders, I called for common-sense protocols to be put in place and a full public accounting of all state revenue, spending, borrowing and other budget actions be provided to the legislature. These are uncertain times, and the best thing Albany can do is provide clarity, information, and answers — especially on matters of taxpayer dollars. 

 We have not yet eradicated COVID-19, but New York’s health outlook is promising, as the rate the virus is spreading has slowed and efforts to contain its impact have proven effective. With increased hospital-bed capacity, more data available to government officials, and the public adapting to new, evolved social patterns, it’s time to begin planning for a post-pandemic New York. 

The Assembly Minority Conference has laid the groundwork for both short- and long-term measures to right the ship. Done properly, New York will not merely survive the crisis, it will thrive on the other side of it.

 The first step to overcoming the economic slowdown is a region-by-region examination of health-care capacity and the needs of the communities impacted. Members of our conference and I have called for a “New York Regional Restart” to immediately assess the viability of bringing parts of New York back online. Reliable, actionable data is available, and we must begin looking at ways to mitigate further, unneeded economic damage.

 Gov. Cuomo’s drastic measures to lock down New York State, specifically New York City, have undoubtedly contributed to the slowing of COVID-19. However, large portions of New York look nothing like downstate. Population density and the number of those infected vary widely from region to region. Any future action must take into consideration the nuances of New York state’s varied composition. 

It is my sincere hope the governor takes advantage of the many channels of communication and resources available to him, and actively listens to the concerns of local governments, legislators, regional health experts, and the public. Reopening New York is not a partisan issue, and it must be done openly and in collaboration with government and community partners. This needs to be a team effort. 

 In the interim, individuals and small businesses need immediate help. To that end, the Minority Conference has developed the “Small Business Emergency Recovery Act of 2020,” and the “Jump-Start New York” initiative. We have also called on the federal government to consider the enormous costs to our emergency-service volunteers and farming community. With the legislative groundwork we have laid out, an infusion of federal funding, and a governor willing to listen, we will be in a position to rebuild New York better than ever.            

William (Will) A. Barclay, Republican, is the New York Assembly Minority Leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact Barclay at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us or (315) 598-5185.

We are living in a difficult time. Our country and its communities are deeply polarized; many Americans distrust one another as well as the government and other institutions. The novel coronavirus has deepened our problems in a way none of us imagined.

The number of Americans who have contracted the virus has surpassed 1 million. Tens of thousands have died, and record numbers have lost their jobs. No wonder, then, people are disheartened, even discouraged. This is a stressful and challenging period when we and our representative democracy are being tested.

But there are reasons to be hopeful. Hope is a precious commodity in human endeavors, including government and politics. We need it now as much as ever.

What gives us hope today? First, the United States remains the world’s preeminent power. We may not stand astride the world as we once did, but we are still a global leader. People in other nations look to us for leadership. I have experienced this scores of times, in international meetings where delegates looked to see what the U.S. would do.

The fundamentals of the U.S. economy are strong. After recovering from the 2007-08 recession, we experienced a remarkable period of economic growth. The pandemic has brought a setback, of course, but there is strength and growing vitality in America.

Even with all our problems, a strong strain of optimism is part of the national character. We may not agree about politics, our leaders, or the direction of our country, but dig beneath the surface and most Americans are appreciative of our history and proud to be Americans. They do not want to trade places with the citizens of any other country.

Moreover, Americans are talented and resilient.

I have traveled across this country many times, and I’ve met with countless groups and individuals; and in those meetings I have been repeatedly impressed with the wealth of talented people I’ve encountered. You find them in all walks of life: academia, business, labor, and the worlds of sports, arts, and culture. In unexpected settings, I have met knowledgeable citizens who can argue the finer points of domestic politics and foreign policy.

Energetic discussion and deliberation on issues of public concern is a defining feature of American life. With the internet, all Americans have access to vast amounts of information about topics that interest them, and they use that information skillfully.

Finally, our system of federalism is again showing its strength. In the current public-health crisis, governors and mayors have stepped up to lead. And it’s not just government where this occurs. Individuals and community groups of all kinds, public and private, are meeting our challenges.

Progress is never linear, and the COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that there will always be setbacks. But they will not override our hopes and actions.

Nearly 200 years ago, Tocqueville wrote that Americans had “a lively faith in the perfectibility of man.” That faith may be tested, but it endures.      

Lee Hamilton, 89, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south central Indiana.