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O’Mara on new Cuomo task force: Don't Forget Upstate
April 20, 2020
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ISSUE:
- COVID-19
!["Upstate New York deserves and needs to be fully included in this ‘reimagining’ of state government," said Senator O'Mara. "Upstate New York deserves and needs to be fully included in this ‘reimagining’ of state government," said Senator O'Mara.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/capitolpanorama_0_1_4.jpg?itok=fI1rlXfl)
Albany, N.Y., April 20—At his daily COVID-19 press briefing at the Capitol earlier today, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the creation of a “Reimagine New York Task Force” to begin working on restructuring New York State government in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cuomo said the new task force will be charged with developing plans for public transportation, housing, public safety, health care, social equality, and the use of technology.
State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) urged the governor to include the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and all of Upstate New York, in the planned restructuring of New York government.
O’Mara said, “I encourage the governor to keep looking ahead and recognizing that a restructuring of New York State government is at hand, because I’ve recently called for that very same post COVID-19 future for New York government. But it baffles me why Governor Cuomo would only include downstate New York? Upstate New York also deserves better public transportation, better housing, better public safety, better health care, better technology and all of the other areas the governor highlighted today for the future of downstate New York. Believe me, from high taxes to unfunded state mandates, Upstate New York deserves and needs to be fully included in this ‘reimagining’ of state government. This restructuring is long overdue. Clearly, we will need to keep reminding the Governor and the downstate-controlled State Legislature that Upstate’s still here and there’s a few things we can imagine too. I look forward to helping make sure we will not be forgotten moving forward.”
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!["Endless executive orders have failed New Yorkers in egregious ways. Governor Cuomo can no longer be allowed to sit in Albany and issue directive after directive after directive without any regard for legislative checks and balances, or local input. The latest Albany Democrat scam being approved on Friday will keep it all in place until who knows when,” said Senator O'Mara. Endless executive orders have failed New Yorkers in egregious ways. Governor Cuomo can no longer be allowed to sit in Albany and issue directive after directive after directive without any regard for legislative checks and balances, or local input.”](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/floor-candid_0.jpg?itok=AiiyH58q)
!["Now is no time to ignore funding for critical public health responses. Thousands upon thousands of New Yorkers suffer from Lyme Disease annually, yet Governor Cuomo's proposed budget fails to offer a penny of funding to help combat the spread of this disease. That's unacceptable and this Legislature must act in the absence of executive leadership," said Senator O'Mara. "Now is no time to ignore funding for critical public health responses. Thousands upon thousands of New Yorkers suffer from Lyme Disease annually, yet Governor Cuomo's proposed budget fails to offer a penny of funding to help combat the spread of this disease. That's unacceptable and this Legislature must act in the absence of executive leadership.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/talkticks.jpeg?itok=PVd-GXAe)