Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

February 12, 2021

Coverage of Albany and New York State Government

What’s Inside

  • Leaks from Cuomo Administration Meeting with Legislative Members
  • Speaker Pelosi Responds to Governor Cuomo’s Criticism
  • Governor Announces Limited Re-Opening of Sport and Entertainment Venues
  • Governor Announces Proposal to Establish the New York State Cares + Baby2Baby Diaper Bank
  • JCOPE Chair Resigns
  • Brindisi Concedes to Tenney
  • Reminders and Links
  • Coming Up
  • Budget Hearing Schedule

Leaks from Cuomo Administration Meeting with Legislative Members

Audio leaks to the New York Post of a closed door meeting between members of the Governor’s administration and several lawmakers have led to calls for investigations, impeachment, and the repeal of the superpowers granted to the Governor during the height of the pandemic. The report outlines comments made by administration officials explaining to legislative members the reasons for delay in producing data and answering questions submitted by those members. So far, 14 members of the Senate Majority have announced their support for clawing back the Governor’s emergency powers. According to reports, the Assembly Majority would be conferencing the issue of removing the Governor’s pandemic powers as early as today. The Senate announced they had already conferenced the issue, but, in light of recent reports, would revisit the issue.

The New York Post article can be found here.

Response from the Governor’s Administration here.

Response from Senate Majority Leader’s Office here.

Response from Speaker Heastie’s Office here.

New York Times coverage of the story here.

New York Daily News coverage here.

Speaker Pelosi Responds to Governor Cuomo’s Criticism

Speaker Pelosi responded to a letter sent by the New York Congressional delegation at the behest of Governor Cuomo to dispute the claim that New York is being shortchanged in the upcoming federal relief bill. In her letter addressed to the New York delegation, Speaker Pelosi said “New York state will receive over $50 billion in state and local funding, and more than $20 billion in additional funding to support families’ health, financial security and well-being…please know that your concerns are being addressed in ways that you have advanced and with the enthusiastic advocacy of Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.”

Governor Announces Limited Re-Opening of Sport and Entertainment Venues

The Governor announced that sports and entertainment events in major stadiums and arenas with a capacity of 10,000 or more people can re-open with limited spectators beginning February 23. In order to re-open, venues and professional sports, sites must:

  • Obtain DOH approval for both venues and events
  • Institute a 10 percent capacity limit in arenas and stadiums
  • Ensure all staff and spectators receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the event
  • Mandate face coverings, social distancing and temperature checks for all those in attendance
  • Mandate assigned, socially distanced seating
  • Collect contact information from all those in attendance to help inform contact tracing efforts
  • Meet enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards
  • Ensure retail, food services and athletic activities abide by all state-issued guidance

Governor Cuomo said:

“While we continue to fight COVID on multiple fronts, we must also get this economy re-opened intelligently and in a balanced way. Live sports and entertainment have long been engrained in the fabric of New York and the inability to hold events has only added to the isolation we have all felt at the hands of this virus. Thankfully, our pilot program to reopen Buffalo Bills games to fans was an unparalleled success and now we are taking that model and expanding it to other large venues across the state to not only reinvigorate local economies, but also help bring some fun and joy back into people’s lives as safely as possible.”

Governor Announces Proposal to Establish the New York State Cares + Baby2Baby Diaper Bank

The Governor announced a proposal to establish the New York State Cares + Baby2Baby Diaper Bank. Through a partnership with Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit that provides basic essentials for children under the age of 18, 20 million donated diapers will be made available to New York’s Emergency Feeding Programs for distribution to food banks throughout the state.

Governor Cuomo said:

“COVID-19 has piled challenge after challenge onto hardworking New York families, including the ability to afford the products they need to care for their children. Even before the pandemic, an astonishing one in three families struggled to cover the cost of diapers, and the pandemic has only exacerbated this issue. As we begin laying the groundwork to rebuild in a post-COVID world we must find ways to level the playing field and reduce the burdens this virus has placed on families in every corner of the state. This program will help give parents the peace of mind they deserve during this tumultuous time, and we thank Baby2Baby for their partnership in helping make this important program possible.”

JCOPE Chair Resigns

Michael Rozen, chairman of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, resigned from the position Wednesday and will be replaced by a former staffer to Governor Cuomo. Camille Joseph Varlack has been named by the governor as a new commissioner and chairwoman of JCOPE. According to the Albany Times Union, Varlack is a partner and the chief operating officer of the law firm Bradford Edwards & Varlack. She previously worked for more than three years in Cuomo’s office as deputy director of state operations, chief risk officer, and also as deputy director for ethics, risk and compliance.

Brindisi Concedes to Tenney

Anthony Brindisi has officially conceded to Claudia Tenney in the race for New York’s 22nd congressional district. Tenney will reprise her former role as congresswoman of the 22nd district after a long fought and messy recount process. Calls for the Governor to remove the commissioners of the Oneida County Board of Elections as a result of the issues discovered during the absentee counting process are mounting, though it is unclear if the Governor will act.

Reminders and Links

City & State NY’s Weekly Winners and Losers here.

Coming Up

*POSTPONED – TBD* The Senate hold a public hearing to examine key issues that impacted the 2020 Primary and General Elections, including the overall administration of elections, early voting, absentee, ballots, and board of elections reforms on January 29.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on February 23.

*RESCHEDULED* The Senate will hold a public hearing to hear about the difficulties of taxi drivers and livery drivers across New York State on March 4.

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on March 15 and 16.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on March 18.

Budget Hearing Schedule

Economic Development

Tuesday, February 23 – 9:30 A.M. (Direct requests to testify to Senate)

Taxes

Tuesday, February 23 – 1:00 P.M. (Direct requests to testify to Assembly)

Health

Thursday, February 25 – 9:30 A.M. (Direct requests to testify to Senate)