As the pandemic continues to rage across the country, Governor Andrew Cuomo assured New York will emerge victorious from the “COVID war,” revealing his plans for 2021 in his “State of the State” speech on Monday. .
“COVID created the low tide in America and the ugliness was exposed for all to see,” Cuomo said. “New York, of course, is not immune to these currents.”
The governor’s speech was delivered in the Capitol War Room, a room that bears a lot of symbolism for the governor, now in his third term.
Ten years ago, Cuomo was sworn in as governor for his first term in the same space. At the time, New York was facing a large budget deficit in the midst of a recession.
Now, Cuomo is committing to an economic rebuild that balances public health and the rapid distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine that has stumbled in the first four weeks, but is now spreading across the state, opening up eligibility to more. people.
Typically, the speech is a joint session of the Legislature. This time, lawmakers and the general public watched from a distance.
“The place is appropriate because we are at war,” Cuomo said, pointing to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
It was one of four speeches Cuomo plans to deliver this week outlining his agenda for 2021. Monday’s speech outlined Cuomo’s plan for the new year: Build the economy, eradicate the virus, and identify the racial and economic divide. that has opened like a fresh wound.
Now Cuomo’s vision for the state in the new year comes amid widespread challenges: A pandemic that has crippled the state’s economy and a polarizing political environment that shows little sign of ending.
Unemployment in New York has skyrocketed in the past year as the pandemic shuttered businesses and forced others to cut back on workers, while millions more have stayed home.
Schools have struggled to stay open during the crisis, and many have turned to a combined model of distance learning and classroom instruction.
The pandemic has also exposed racial inequalities compounded by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, prompting calls for law enforcement organizations to reform.
In New York, Cuomo is linking state aid with local governments and police departments that are developing their own changes for April 1, the state’s fiscal year.
“Elected leaders must lead,” Cuomo said. “And leaders must commit now.”
Cuomo seeks billions of dollars in help from the federal government to make up for lost revenue in the past 12 months.
The governor is seeking $ 15 billion from Congress, and the chances of getting at least some of the funding have been increased in the last week as Democrats are going to gain tight control of the United States Senate.
Local governments have also seen sharp reductions in their tax revenues, especially sales tax, and could see cuts to schools, healthcare and other local services if the aid is not approved.
Still, Cuomo is looking for new ways to make money for New York. He wants to legalize marijuana and mobile sports betting. The money that is expected to be raised by both measures will not close the budget gap and will not be fully realized in the years to come.
Progressive groups, meanwhile, are pushing for higher taxes for those who earn the most money. They, too, have been fueled by Democratic success in the 2020 elections.
The question of whether taxes on the rich will be increased is almost a foregone conclusion. Instead, the question is at what income level lawmakers and Cuomo will agree to raise taxes.
Democrats in the state Senate have won a supermajority, emboldening the agenda of a new class of lawmakers who have signaled they are eager to challenge a governor who has led Albany for the past decade.
Many of Cuomo’s proposals will not cost the state a lot of money, but are intended to protect those who have struggled financially.
Cuomo seeks more protections for residential and commercial tenants. You want to make it easier to get an absentee vote and have those votes counted when they are returned to local election officials.
New proposals on Cuomo’s agenda first announced Monday include a Medical Supplies Act to ensure the state is better prepared for the next public health crisis.
Cuomo also wants the creation of a Public Health Corps of 1,000 fellows to provide support. And Cuomo called for the creation of a citizen public health training program by Cornell University so members of the public are “better prepared to help themselves and be ready to volunteer in their community during the next public health emergency. “.
But much of Cuomo’s speech Monday focused on balancing the needs of running an economy amid a pandemic that has prevented mass gatherings and closed bars and restaurants.
“We must vaccinate all New Yorkers,” Cuomo said. “We are expanding today. The supply of federal vaccines must increase.”
And Cuomo reserved his harshest criticism for the federal government, which is expected to be much friendlier to its agenda with the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20, while calling on the new Congress to act. That includes direct help to the state, as well as an end to a $ 10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions.
“New York is hurting and New Yorkers are tired of being abused and New York demands that Washington stop doing the damage,” Cuomo said.
Visit the NY1 News page with our special coverage on the coronavirus:
Coronavirus outbreak
– .
