New York gym owner sues Gov. Cuomo to reopen the state because he is ‘destroying everything’ with his stringent lockdown and asks ‘are we supposed to go broke?’
- Charles DeFrancesco owns The Arena and is part of New York Fitness Coalition
- The coalition is suing Gov Andrew Cuomo and New York state to reopen gyms
- Gyms were supposed to reopen during Phase 4 but were ordered to remain shut
- Coalition is made up of 5,000 industry members and represents over 700 gyms
A New York gym owner has sued Gov Andrew Cuomo and the state to reopen because the governor’s stringent lockdown guidelines are ‘destroying everything’.
During a COVID-19 update on Thursday, Cuomo called gyms ‘problematic’ and said they will remain closed until the state feels they can reopen safely.
‘These have been the nationally identified sources of increased infection. We have some data here. We have data. We know gyms are highly problematic,’ Cuomo said.
‘Not from our experience because we haven’t opened them, but we know from other states who had to open and then close them.
In a recent interview with Fox News Radio, Charles DeFrancesco, the owner of The Arena and part of the New York Fitness Coalition suing Cuomo, said: ‘The statements from the governor are ridiculous.’
Gym owner, Charles DeFrancesco (left and right), has sued Gov Andrew Cuomo and New York to reopen because the governor’s stringent lockdown guidelines are ‘destroying everything’
During a COVID-19 update on Thursday, Cuomo called gyms ‘problematic’ and said they will remain closed until the state feels they can reopen safely
‘I don’t know what gyms he’s talking about because in 44 states gyms have been opened, and we have the numbers and the data to prove that you’re no more likely at a gym to get COVID than anywhere else, and that’s what we can’t understand,’ DeFrancesco added.
DeFrancesco made the statements while speaking on the Brian Kilmeade Show.
Kilmeade also said that the governor’s strict orders are ‘denying people like [DeFrancesco] to make a living’.
DeFrancesco said that Cuomo and the state are ‘destroying everything, and you know, gyms and fitness are the only defense that’s proven to combat against COVID’.
‘The healthier you are, the more unlikely you are to get sick or die from COVID, Activity is great for mental health and look at the suicide rates. It speaks for itself,’ DeFrancesco added.
DeFrancesco also runs a program called Fit 4 All Abilities, which helps children and adults with special needs, including his son, Antonio, who is autistic.
Gyms like The Arena (pictured) were supposed to reopen during Phase 4 of New York’s plan, but Cuomo ordered that they remain closed as coronavirus cases spiked in other states like Florida and Texas, two states that experts say reopened too soon
The lawsuit was filed in late June but as of Monday, it’s unclear when gyms in New York will reopen
DeFrancesco also said that he was denied exempt status for his fitness program for special needs adults and children. ‘They said it wasn’t essential, but just remember liquor stores are open,’ he said
According to DeFrancesco, he applied for a state exemption for the program but was denied.
‘I was refused. They said it wasn’t essential, but just remember liquor stores are open… but our special needs children can’t go exercise for mental health. It can’t be more ridiculous,’ DeFrancesco added.
DeFrancesco is a part of the New York Fitness Coalition which is made up of more than 5,000 industry members and represents over 700 gyms.
Gyms were supposed to reopen during Phase 4 of New York’s plan, but Cuomo ordered that they remain closed as coronavirus cases spiked in other states like Florida and Texas, two states that experts say reopened too soon.
The lawsuit was filed in late June but as of Monday, it’s unclear when gyms in New York will reopen.
New York was once the epicenter for the virus. The state has recorded more than 421,000 cases and at least 32,361 deaths since the outbreak in mid-March.