Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

April 30, 2021

What’s Inside

  • Legislature Repeals Executive Orders
  • Senate Investigations Committee Announces Probe on the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
  • Walk-In COVID Vaccination Appointments Available to all Eligible Adults
  • New York’s ‘Vaccine Czar’ Steps Down
  • JCOPE Hires New Executive Director
  • Census Results in Loss of One New York Congressional Seat
  • Political Updates
  • Reminders and Links
  • Coming Up

Legislature Repeals Executive Orders

The Senate and Assembly passed resolutions to repeal certain directives contained within some of the Governor’s pandemic related Executive Orders. This is the first time the legislature has repealed any of the Governor’s directives despite having authority to do so from the onset of the pandemic. The following directives were repealed:

According to a report from the Albany Times Union, additional directives are under consideration for repeal including a directives that set a curfew on bars and restaurants.

Rich Azzopardi, Senior Advisor to the Governor said:

“With the numbers steadily decreasing, lifting this COVID-related restriction was something we were in the process of implementing in the coming days. We are pleased that the Legislature agrees that we have made enough progress on COVID that New York is in a position to repeal this provision.”

Senate Investigations Committee Announces Probe on the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge

Senator James Skoufis, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, announced this week that the committee has issued information and document requests to Tappen Zee Constructors LLC, the company that built the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The Senate committee plans to review the bridge project that has been the subject of reporting regarding a higher than typical rate of bolt failure which was covered up by engineers and administration officials.

Senator Skoufis said:

“The Senate’s Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, in partnership with the Committees on Contracts and Procurement; Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions; and Transportation, issued an information and document request to Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC on Friday, April 23. Additionally, the Thruway Authority has been cooperative with our inquiry into the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and has shared significant documentation over the past seven weeks.”

Walk-In COVID Vaccination Appointments Available to all Eligible Adults

One week after announcing the availability of COVID vaccination walk-in appointments for those 60 and older, the Governor has announced that walk-in appointments would be open to all eligible adults. Begging yesterday, all people 16 years old and over can walk-in to any mass vaccination site and receive their first dose. An appointment for the second dose will be scheduled automatically. Mass vaccinations sites can be found here.

New York’s ‘Vaccine Czar’ Steps Down

Larry Schwartz, who has served as Secretary to the Governor under both Governor Patterson and Governor Cuomo, has stepped down from his volunteer role overseeing the state’s vaccination effort. Schwartz, who been privately employed by an airport concessions company for several years, will return full time to his position with the company. The timing of his departure comes immediately upon legislative repeal of certain Executive Orders, one of which would prohibit Schwartz from lobbying for a two year period.

Mr. Schwartz said:

“At the request of Governor Cuomo I returned to public service over a year ago as a volunteer to help in the battle against Covid. It started with ensuring the State had enough PPE for front line health care workers, to ventilators and beds for covid hospital patients, to a new contact tracing program to overseeing the administration of the State vaccine program. My plan was always to step down in my volunteer capacity over the next few weeks as we achieved certain milestones. As a lifelong resident, I take pride in helping my fellow New Yorkers.”

JCOPE Hires New Executive Director

This week JCOPE announced the hiring of a new Executive Director, Sanford Berland. The position has been vacant for two years after the most recent Director, Seth Agata, accepted a position in the private sector. Mr. Berland is a former Court of Claims and State Supreme court judge from Long Island. This will be the first Executive Director of JCOPE that has not worked directly for Governor Cuomo in the past. To hire an executive director, JCOPE’s 14 commissioners must provide at least eight votes for a particular candidate. The law also contains special voting rules, which require two of the governor’s six appointees – one Democrat and one Republican – to sign off on a hiring.

JCOPE Chair Camille Joseph Varlack said in a statement:

“Judge Berland will be a strong and independent voice to lead the staff of JCOPE and work alongside my colleagues and I. I welcome Judge Berland to the commission, and look forward to the next chapter at JCOPE.”

Census Results in Loss of One New York Congressional Seat

The U.S. Census count will result in the loss of one congressional seat for New York, according to data provided by the Census Bureau. The loss of the congressional seat is due to slower population growth relative to other states. The margin by which New York lost a seat was slim, missing the retention of all current congressional representation by only 89 people. The Governor called on the Attorney General to review all legal options to challenge the results. New York has lost 18 congressional seats since 1950.

States gaining representation include:

Texas – 2

Florida – 1

North Carolina – 1

Colorado – 1

Montana – 1

Oregon – 1

State losing representation include:

New York – 1

California – 1

Pennsylvania – 1

Michigan – 1

Ohio – 1

West Virginia – 1

Illinois – 1

Political Updates

Cuomo addresses controversies, insists he’s done nothing wrong.

Days after event with Cuomo, Stewart-Cousins reaffirms call for him to resign.

GOP, Democrats already looking ahead to 2022 gubernatorial race.

State of Politics: Are we saying goodbye to Tom Reed’s district? Not so fast.

NYC Council expels Chaim Deutsch following his tax fraud plea.

Democrat, Republican seek to unseat Stefanik.

Chartock interviews Jay Jacobs, Chairman of the NYS Democratic Committee.

Stringer loses more backing as he tries to rally support.

Reminders and Links

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

City & State NY’s 2021 Non-Profit 40 Under 40 here.

NY Times: Cuomo Aides Spent Months Hiding Nursing Home Death Toll here.

New York’s total capital gains tax rate could top 50% under Biden plan.

Coming Up

The Senate will hold a public hearing on to examine S1553A (Automatic Expungement) and underscore how important the “Clean Slate” bill is on May 6.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on East Side Access/East Side Tunnel project oversight (MTA/Amtrak) on May 7.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on electronic and remote notarization on May 7.

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on May 10 and 11.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on May 13.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on the implementation of the Climate and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) on May 13.

The Senate will hold a roundtable discussion to evaluate the State’s response to COVID-19 at residential facilities for developmentally and intellectually disabled individuals on May 20.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on May 25.