Hi All,
I recently sent the Governor a letter urging him to relax the dancing zone protocols as soon as possible. I'm sharing a generalized version of the letter below in case any of you would like to adapt it for your own purposes. You can submit the letter online using the following contact form: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
Also, if you're so inclined, it may be even more effective to call the Governor's contact line to share your views. The phone number is 1-518-474-8390, and office hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Hope this information is helpful. Congratulations to you all, and please stay safe.
-Chris
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[DATE], 2021
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of the State of New York
New York State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Cuomo:
We are New York residents planning to host a wedding in New York State later this year. We write to urge you to revise the onerous dancing restrictions set forth in the Department of Health’s March 19, 2021 Interim Guidance for Food Services During the COVID-19 Health Emergency (the “Interim Guidance”).
The past year has been difficult for all of us. Like many couples, we were forced to postpone our wedding—originally scheduled for [MONTH] of 2020—due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a painful decision, but one we felt obligated to make for the safety of our guests and the broader community. Now, with vaccines widely available, the majority of vulnerable individuals vaccinated, and the public health condition steadily improving, we are excited to finally move forward with our wedding this [MONTH]. We understand that the pandemic is not over and that we will need to observe certain safety precautions throughout our event. It is our belief, however, that the dancing restrictions set forth in the Interim Guidance are neither workable nor necessary to ensure that weddings held in New York State are conducted safely.
Under the Interim Guidance, wedding guests may only dance with members of their party, household, or family who are seated at their table in designated and clearly marked areas or zones that are assigned to them and spaced at least six feet apart from any other dancing areas or zones and any tables (the “Isolated Dance Zone Rule”). By confining guests to small, secluded areas in which to dance, this draconian rule transforms what would normally be a joyous wedding ritual into a cold and awkward exercise. It is no surprise that many couples have decided to postpone their weddings further to avoid having to comply with this requirement.
The Interim Guidance notes that the Isolated Dance Zone Rule will be revisited by the State as the public health condition continues to change. Since the Interim Guidance was last updated on March 19, millions of New Yorkers have received the vaccine while the rates of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths in the State have decreased. Accordingly, I urge you to immediately revise the Isolated Dance Zone Rule in a manner that affords guests greater freedom of movement. In particular, I would recommend you adopt one or both of the following changes to the Interim Guidance, effective immediately:
1. Eliminate the Isolated Dance Zone Rule for events held outdoors. The risk of outdoor transmission is low, particularly among individuals who are fully vaccinated and/or have tested negative within the past 72 hours. Accordingly, the Isolated Dance Zone Rule could be eliminated for outdoor events without exposing attendees to a significant risk of transmission. Doing so may have the added benefit of encouraging couples to hold their wedding receptions outdoors during the pandemic.
2. Replace the Isolated Dance Zone Rule with a minimum size requirement for dance floors. The Interim Guidance could be amended to allow for greater freedom of movement while still promoting increased distancing by replacing the Isolated Dance Zone Rule with a minimum size requirement for dance floors, based on the number of individuals or couples expected to be dancing at one time. As I understand it, it is an industry rule of thumb to provide at least 4.5 square feet of dance floor space per individual, or 9 square feet per couple. The State could double this rule of thumb, requiring 9 square feet per individual or 18 square feet per couple, which would have the effect imposing a 50% capacity limit on dance floors.
In the context of all the stringent safety protocols the State has established for weddings during the pandemic, revising the Isolated Dance Zone Rule would be minor. Doing so, however, would mean the world to couples across the State who throughout the pandemic have been looking forward to nothing more than celebrating their commitment to one another with their closest friends and family.
Thank you in advance for your consideration, and for your leadership during this uncertain time. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[NAMES]
