The Governor announced the State is working closely with public health experts to craft a Fall Action Plan to address the potential for seasonal COVID-19 surges later this year, as well as strategies to allow students to return safely to school this fall. The Governor also announced a Request for Proposals has been released for an independent After-Action Review to assess the State’s COVID-19 response, identify what worked and what did not, and serve as a guide for all local governments planning emergency response efforts.

The review will focus on the following major areas of the State’s COVID response, including but not limited to:

• Review policies and guidance on the management of hospitals and in-patient facilities in light of the pandemic’s demands, including which medical procedures could and should continue.
• Review policies and guidance for the transfer of individuals, particularly the most vulnerable individuals, into congregate settings, including homeless shelters, group homes, nursing homes, jails and prisons, and which entities are most qualified to make those decisions and the efficacy of infection controls within those entities.
• Review policies and guidance for the shutdown and reopening of educational institutions, and how early childhood, school age, special education and post-secondary educational programs were handled during COVID-19 and how they should be handled in a future emergency.
• Factors for determining which businesses, industries, and functions should be considered essential and for what purposes.
• The securing and procurement of essential goods and services to meet New Yorkers’ needs.
• The protection needed for essential workers in the workplace, and programs and services needed by these workers, who are often from low-income communities of color.
• Coordination among and between the State and its federal and local counterparts, including relationships with mayors, county leaders and other elected officials.
• Effective education and communication with the public, including the sharing of data and other information.
• Staffing and expertise needed to plan and implement emergency procedures and specific functions that must be fulfilled.

Governor Hochul said:

Governor Announces Steps to Combat Wage Theft

The Governor announced that the Wage Theft Task Force, a coordinated effort between the New York State Department of Labor, the New York State Attorney General, and District Attorneys, has recently secured felony convictions and agreements from more than a dozen businesses and 265 individuals to pay nearly $3 million in wage restitution and contributions owed to New York State since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor also announced new efforts to double down on the success of the Task Force, launching a new hotline and developing an online wage theft reporting system to create more opportunities for workers to report wage theft and receive what they are owed while protecting their privacy and safety.

Governor Hochul said:

Governor Nominates President and CEO of the New York Power Authority

The Governor recommended Justin E. Driscoll to serve as President and CEO of the New York Power Authority. Upon appointment by the NYPA Board of Trustees and subject to confirmation by the Senate, Mr. Driscoll will continue to lead NYPA, where he has served as Interim President and CEO since October 2021.

Justin Driscoll said:

Governor Announces New Administration Appointments

The Governor announced new administration appointments this week, including:

Stacy Lynch, Chief of Staff to the Governor – Ms. Lynch has served in the Executive Chamber for nearly a year, first as Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor and more recently as a Senior Advisor to the Governor. Previously, Stacy served as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the New York City Mayor’s Office.

Minelly De Coo, Deputy Director of Infrastructure – In this role, she leads statewide coordination and implementation of various Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded programs, as well as provides strategic support on priority construction projects. Prior to joining the State, Minelly served as Director of Capital Projects at the New York City Mayor’s Office, where she managed the delivery of complex, multi-stakeholder projects for the City.

Sita Fey, Deputy Secretary for Appointments and Human Resources – Sita most recently served as the Deputy Appointments Secretary. She joined the Executive Chamber as a Senior Advisor for the Executive Transition Team. Previously, Sita was the Director of Policy at the Department of Agriculture and Markets. She entered state government through the Empire State Fellows Program and served as a Senior Advisor to then-Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.

Nicole Migliore, Chief of Staff to the Director of State Operations – In this role, Nicole will support the Director of State Operations in managing 12 policy portfolio teams and more than 70 state agencies and authorities. Before joining the Executive Chamber, Nicole was the Deputy Campaign Manager on a New York City mayoral campaign and has previously served as a Policy and Intergovernmental Advisor in the New York City Mayor’s Office and as Chief of Staff to a New York State Assemblymember’s Office.

Edgar Santana, Deputy Secretary to the Governor – Edgar previously served as Director of Downstate Regional Affairs in the Executive Chamber. Prior to joining the Executive Chamber, he served as Director of Political and Governmental Affairs for the Laborers Eastern Region Organizing Fund. Earlier in his career, Edgar was the Deputy Executive Director for the New York State Democratic Committee and the Northeast Political Director for Hillary Clinton for President in 2008.

Todd Westhuis, Deputy Director of State Operations – Most recently, Todd was Chief of Staff at the New York State Department of Transportation. In this role, Todd helped manage an agency with staff of 8,200 providing oversight and guidance to support the operations. As Regional Director of the Hudson Valley, he served as the leader and administrator of NYSDOT’s largest region, and he was responsible for overseeing and managing NYSDOT programs in Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Columbia, and Ulster Counties. In addition to his statewide roles, Todd has also served in the U.S. Army as a Cavalry Officer.