McMahon says return of in-person car sales is a big deal for Onondaga County economy

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon on Tuesday confirmed that auto dealers in the county can again sell cars and trucks in-person if they follow social-distancing guidelines.

“This is important for our economy as we start to get going,” McMahon said at his daily coronavirus briefing at the Oncenter. “Auto sales is the number one driver of sales tax [revenue] for our county and also the region and the state.”

The county executive earlier in the day released to the media a letter in which he told the Syracuse Auto Dealers Association (SADA) that auto-dealer showings and sales, “by appointment, are permissible.” It specified that all interactions with the public “are subject to current social distancing guidelines.” 

McMahon’s letter to Barbara Rothschild, the organization’s executive VP, was in response to a May 1 email from Rothschild. It also tied a bow on McMahon’s conversations with Gino Barbuto regarding “interpretation and clarification” of Gov. Cuomo’s executive order on essential services including automobile sales. Barbuto is owner of East Syracuse Chevrolet,

The Syracuse Auto Dealers Association is located at 770 James St. in Syracuse. It represents dealers in across Central New York, including Syracuse, Utica, Cortland, Auburn, Watertown, and Ithaca,

SADA on April 30 had outlined in a letter to McMahon’s office the procedures and protocols that its members had agreed to follow to open up the in-person sales channel. For almost two  months, dealers have been restricted to online and phone sales of vehicles due to COVID-19.

“Those protocols are in accordance and compliance with the governor’s orders, and demonstrate your concern for not only the public, but for your employees,” McMahon wrote back.

He went on to say that his and the state’s concern is that SADA members comply with the guidelines “and that there is an enforcement policy by your membership to assure compliance,” per the letter.

McMahon requested a copy of the protocols and instructions that SADA is sending to its members “prior to informing your members of their ability to open up to the public…”

He also noted that the Central New York region “has been allowed to lead the state’s reopening efforts.”

“Our actions here in Central New York will set a model for reopening across the entire state. Your members compliance and success in reopening will help expedite the reopening of other dealers across New York,” McMahon told the auto dealers.