STATEMENT FROM SENATOR SUE SERINO REGARDING GUBERNATORIAL TRANSITION

HYDE PARK, NY – Senator Sue Serino today released the following statement regarding the Gubernatorial transition:

“Today, we close a dark chapter in New York’s history, and together, we look optimistically toward a brighter future.

For months, working with Governor Cuomo had been nearly impossible as he sought to rewrite pandemic history time and again, left serious Legislative inquiries unanswered, allowed basic government functions to fail, and refused to take a critical look at our state’s pandemic response.

 With Kathy Hochul now set to take the reins, we have an important opportunity to truly hit the ‘reset’ button with the Executive Chamber.  While we may not always see eye to eye on matters of policy, I am hopeful that Governor Hochul’s leadership style will vary drastically from that of her predecessor.

As we move forward, we must not forget the mistakes of the past, but use them as an opportunity not only to learn, but to improve. There is immense work to be done to effectively restore public trust and ensure accountability for the victims of harassment, and for all those who have been impacted by the Governor’s actions during the past 18 months—especially New York’s nursing home residents and their loved ones.

It is my hope that Governor Hochul will truly govern by listening, and that starts by sitting down with the many New Yorkers who lost loved ones to COVID-19 in our nursing homes, hearing their concerns and experiences, and doing all that she can to ensure they receive the transparency and justice they deserve from the State of New York. 

As we swear in the first female Governor of New York, I am acutely aware of how historic this moment really is, and I look forward to working with Governor Hochul as we redouble our efforts to move our community, and our state, forward.”

Throughout the pandemic, Senator Serino sent over 30 letters to Governor Cuomo on everything from infectious disease policy in New York’s nursing homes, to the failing unemployment system, to inquiries seeking clarification for local business owners whose establishments were negatively impacted by out-of-touch state policy. Nearly every one went unanswered.

Senator Sue Serino is the first female State Senator elected to serve the 41^st Senate District.

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