Statue of Liberty to remain open amid US government shutdown

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced the state will intervene in order to keep the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island open in face of a US federal government shutdown.

"As we've done before when Washington's dysfunction has shut down the government, New York will step up and ensure the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island remain open for the world to look to for strength and hope during this tumultuous time," Cuomo said in a statement on Satuday, Xinhua reported.

During the federal shutdown, the state will fully fund National Park Service personnel and costs of operations at the cost of $65,000 per day.

The New York State did this in previous shutdowns in 2013 and this past January.

The Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island have a major impact on the economy.

According to an annual report by the National Park Service, 4.5 million people visited Liberty Island in 2016, generating $263.2 million in visitor spending per year and supporting 3,400 jobs, with an economic output of $364 million.

Shutting down the park would deny access to an average of 12,000 daily visitors and impact more than 900 direct jobs at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, including with the National Park Service and Evelyn Hill, Inc, according to the statement.

--IANS

pgh/