The head of the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) is placing blame for the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on the industry squarely on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s shoulders.
Since the onset of the pandemic hit the U.S. in March, movie theaters have remained closed in New York, effectively crippling one of the most essential exhibition markets in the entertainment industry. Months later, with no clear end to the pandemic in sight and the long-term financial strain becoming more and more evident, John Fithian is calling on Cuomo to relax restrictions in order to give theater owners a fighting chance.