New York State Says Out of Home Media is Essential

New York State, which has issued a strict stay-at-home order, says a major out of home company operating in the state is considered as an “essential business.”

A growing number of states and localities have issued orders for workers to stay at home, to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Responding to a request from Lamar Advertising Company, New York State (via Empire State Development), provided a written response:

– The business function of the company is an essential business

– Therefore, the company is not subject to the required 100 percent workforce reduction of the governor’s order

– The exemption applies only to “those employees that must be present at the business location in support of essential business activities.

To be clear, the written response from New York State applied to Lamar, based on information provided.


Resources Available:

List of stay-at-home orders

Recording of the OAAA webinar on stay-at-orders

Here is the communication from New York:

From: Dillon, Linda (ESD) <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, Mar 22, 2020 at 3:37 PM
Subject: Request for Designation
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>

ON BEHALF OF MICHAEL YEVOLI:

Dear Business Owner:

Thank you for seeking designation as an “essential business” pursuant to the revised New York State Executive Order 202.6 with respect to your business function of   Lamar Advertising.   Based on the information you have provided, that business function is an essential business and/or supports an essential business and is not subject to the required 100% workforce reduction pursuant to the revised Executive Order 202.6.   However, your business has been designated as essential solely with respect to those employees that must be present at the business location in support of essential business activities. No other employees/personnel shall be permitted to work from your business’s location. Any other business activities being completed at your location that are not essential are still subject to the revised Executive Order 202.6.  Please continue to comply with all other Executive Orders and recommendations from the New York State Department of Health and please consider reducing your workforce to the extent practicable.

Sincerely,

Michael Yevoli
Regional Director

Linda Dillon
Deputy Director – Capital Region
Empire State Development
Hedley Park Place
433 River Street – Suite 1003, Troy, NY  12180
[email protected] | www.esd.ny.gov