Press release/provided photo
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) joined local officials and small business owners yesterday to highlight the severe economic hardships caused by the extended closures of the Albion and Brockport Historical Lift Bridges.
Hawley is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to reimburse small businesses for the significant revenue lost during the prolonged shutdown, stressing that these communities should not be left to shoulder the burden of government inaction.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and for too long they’ve borne the brunt of these extended closures,” said Hawley. “When bridges stay down, so does local commerce. It’s unacceptable for them to shoulder the costs of government delays without compensation. These businesses kept our community alive during tough times and now, it’s our turn to return the favor. The state created this problem, and it’s the state’s responsibility to fix it. I’m calling on Gov. Hochul to step up and provide direct reimbursement to the businesses that have been unfairly impacted.”