Senator O'Mara statement on the resignation of NYS Health Commissioner Howard Zucker

Elmira, N.Y., September 23— State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), ranking member of the Senate Investigations Committee, today released the following statement on the resignation of New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker:

“It was clear to many of us, as far back as early last year, that the Cuomo administration was in full damage control on the nursing homes cover-up.  Former Governor Cuomo, Commissioner  Zucker, and their inner circle had a story, they were sticking to it, and they wanted their version of this tragedy to be the final word.  Their story is that they did everything right and wouldn’t change a thing.  That will not be the final word on this tragedy.  They stonewalled the Legislature, stonewalled government watchdogs, stonewalled reporters and, most egregiously, stonewalled the families of nursing home residents.  There still has not been an adequate opportunity to fully interrogate and question them about their actions.   Andrew Cuomo, Howard Zucker, and others from that inner circle can resign, but there still needs to be accountability for the thousands of lives lost.

“I continue my calls for the Senate Investigations Committee to issue subpoenas for Zucker to testify under oath and to the dozen or more Department of Health executives that resigned, in apparent protest, following the Cuomo-Zucker deadly nursing home order.

“Zucker should not stay one more day.  He should have been gone on Day One of the Hochul administration if she was truly serious about cleaning out Cuomo’s trash.”