Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – September 25, 2020

What’s Inside

  • Governor Announces Task Force on Vaccine Safety, Distribution, and Implementation
  • Governor Rejects Long-Term Borrowing for Municipalities
  • Industry City Development Withdraws Proposal
  • Foreclosure and Commercial Eviction Moratorium Extended
  • Court Rules Census Cannot Be Stopped Early
  • Political Updates
  • Reminders, and Links
  • Coming Up

Governor Announces Task Force on Vaccine Safety, Distribution, and Implementation

The Governor announced that New York State will form an independent Clinical Advisory Task Force comprised of scientists, doctors, and health experts who will review every COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the federal government, and will advise New York State on the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. The Governor also announced a second Task Force on Vaccine Distribution and Implementation that is charged with developing a plan for vaccine administration.

Governor Cuomo said:

“The federal government’s response to COVID and the White House’s dispute with the FDA raises serious questions about whether or not the vaccine has become politicized. Frankly, I’m not going to trust the federal government’s opinion and I wouldn’t recommend to New Yorkers based on the federal government’s opinion. We’re going to put together our own review committee headed by the Department of Health to review the vaccine, and I’m appointing a committee that is going to come up with a vaccine distribution and implementation plan on how we will do it. New York’s response to COVID has been a model for this country, and we should also be the model vaccination program for the country.”

Governor Rejects Long-Term Borrowing for Municipalities

The Governor disparaged the idea of long-term borrowing by municipalities facing significant budget shortfalls during a recent press conference. New York City, as well as other localities, have asked state lawmakers to provide them with the authority to borrow to cover significant budget gaps stemming from the pandemic related economic downturn. The Governor cautioned that long-term borrowing was not fiscally prudent and not appropriate at this time, while it is still possible that federal relief could be provided. In the worst-case scenario, one in which federal aid is never forthcoming, the Governor said long-term borrowing would never be allowed without a state financial control board in place. The Governor did not close to door to certain short-term borrowing.

Industry City Development Withdraws Proposal

The developers behind Industry City’s rezoning proposal formally withdrew plans to expand the Sunset Park waterfront complex, after four Brooklyn members of Congress joined the opposition. The development project proposed a $1 billion investment, the promise of adding 20,000 jobs with a billion-dollar annual payroll, and more than $100 million in annual tax revenue for the city. Opposition was led by local city council member Carlos Menchaca over gentrification concerns. He was joined in opposition recently by members of Brooklyn’s congressional delegation including Nydia Velázquez, Yvette Clarke, Hakeem Jeffries and Jerrold Nadler. Supporters of the project pointed to the economic downturn as reason enough to move forward with the project.

REBNY President James Whalen said in a statement:

“New York City has been failed by its political leadership across all levels of government. With unemployment approaching Great Depression levels and private investment and tax revenue dramatically plummeting, now was the time for negotiations to yield a ‘yes’ on the Industry City rezoning. One is left to consider how bad conditions in New York City must get before our political leaders realize that our recovery must be premised on job creation and private investment that will yield the tax revenue to pay for government services.”

Foreclosure and Commercial Eviction Moratorium Extended

An Executive Order was issued, extending the state’s moratorium on COVID-related commercial evictions and foreclosures for an additional month, until October 20th. This Executive Order extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on business owners, including retail establishments and restaurants.

Governor Cuomo said:

“The pandemic remains far from over, and we need to continue protecting the business owners supporting their families amid restrictions necessary to protect the public health. That’s why it’s the right decision to extend the eviction ban for commercial tenants another 30 days.”

Court Rules Census Cannot Be Stopped Early

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction stating that the U.S. Census Bureau cannot stop collecting census information early. Data collection efforts for the 2020 Decennial Census must continue through October 31, as originally planned.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said:

“Once again, the Trump Administration’s unlawful attempts to undermine the census and manipulate the population count to the president’s liking have been stopped. We have repeatedly taken the president to court over his attempts to politicize the census, and we will continue to do so whenever he tries to put politics above the Constitution. We will do everything in our power to stop the president’s shameful actions and ensure that everyone is counted, that our states have proper representation, and that our communities receive funding based off an accurate count.”

Political Updates

Super Pac activates against State Senate Dems.

Cuomo suggests he may use the National Guard to staff polling sites.

Endorsements

Rochester Chamber of Commerce endorses Brouk and Cooney for State Senate.

Statewide coalition of police unions endorses second round of Senate Republican candidates.

Reminder and Links

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

City & State NY’s Brooklyn Power 50 here.

CBS 6 Albany, You Paid For It: Hidden Health Tax here.

Capital Tonight: A Conversation with Dr. Shaun Nelms on Systemic Poverty in Rochester here.

Coming Up

The Senate will hold a public hearing on access to capital for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic on October 14.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on October 15.

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on October 19 and 20.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on the Department of Transportation Capital Program on October 23.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on October 27.