Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island reopening despite shutdown

<p>New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state will pick up the tab.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2018, 10:01 PM

Updated 2,298 days ago

Share:

National parks are closed during the federal government shutdown, and the Statue of Liberty was closed over the weekend.
But on Sunday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Lady Liberty and Ellis Island will be back open Monday morning. Cuomo says the state of New York will be picking up the tab.
MORE ON THE SHUTDOWN: What's closed, who's affected
The state will spend about $65,000 dollars per day to employ the federal workers.
Cuomo, a Democrat, says the sites are vital to the state's tourism industry, and adds that the revenue gained will more than offsets the costs.
The news comes after people who were looking to visit the sites over the weekend were turned away.
The plan to reopen is good news for the federal workers who are employed at the sites, including LeShante Austin, a security officer at the Statue of Liberty.
The single mother of two says she lost a week's pay during the last shutdown in 2013 and couldn't imagine going through it again. This time around, she already lost one day of work Saturday.
Austin is still worried about the thousands of other furloughed federal employees who are not assigned to popular tourists sites. But she says she and her colleagues are happy to be able to return to the job they love.
Cuomo says the state will now pay for the duration of the shutdown, and the sites will be open every day.


More from News 12
1:39
Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

2:36
Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

2:29
STORM WATCH: Early morning storms expected to impact Wednesday commute

STORM WATCH: Early morning storms expected to impact Wednesday commute

Police arrest man accused in 15 burglaries in Lakewood and Toms River

Police arrest man accused in 15 burglaries in Lakewood and Toms River

2:06
Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

0:24
Explore the Bubble Planet this summer at American Dream

Explore the Bubble Planet this summer at American Dream

2:03
Deadline to get a Real ID is in one year. Here's what you need to know

Deadline to get a Real ID is in one year. Here's what you need to know

2:23
Paterson public safety director derides layoff of sheriff officers, closure of Passaic County Jail

Paterson public safety director derides layoff of sheriff officers, closure of Passaic County Jail

0:28
TSA officers arrest Florida man for having loaded gun packed in carry-on bag at Newark airport

TSA officers arrest Florida man for having loaded gun packed in carry-on bag at Newark airport

0:35
Police: Elmwood Park man drove drunk, struck 8 vehicles; 3 injured

Police: Elmwood Park man drove drunk, struck 8 vehicles; 3 injured

0:25
Paterson man faces slew of charges in connection to armed kidnappings

Paterson man faces slew of charges in connection to armed kidnappings

2:03
Best of New Jersey: A taste of everything the Dunellen Hotel has to offer

Best of New Jersey: A taste of everything the Dunellen Hotel has to offer

0:29
Walmart reaches settlement in class action lawsuit

Walmart reaches settlement in class action lawsuit

0:33
Atlantic City man sentenced for drug induced deaths of tourists

Atlantic City man sentenced for drug induced deaths of tourists

0:26
Man killed in two-car Egg Harbor Township crash

Man killed in two-car Egg Harbor Township crash

0:48
Congressional action may help New Jersey seniors targeted by scams

Congressional action may help New Jersey seniors targeted by scams

0:37
Police: Man arrested after locking woman in crawl space in Atlantic City

Police: Man arrested after locking woman in crawl space in Atlantic City

2:09
Middletown moves forward with cheaper parking to offset NJ Transit fare increase

Middletown moves forward with cheaper parking to offset NJ Transit fare increase

0:48
Authorities: Construction worker who suffered fatal fall worked for K&D Contractors

Authorities: Construction worker who suffered fatal fall worked for K&D Contractors

0:21
Rutgers president to testify before Congress on antisemitism on college campuses

Rutgers president to testify before Congress on antisemitism on college campuses