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Residential gatherings will still be capped at 10 people, and certain restrictions on restaurants, like a capacity limit and 10 p.m. curfew, will also remain in effect statewide.
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz has announced he is opening an investigation into the matter.
“Now, the states will know what they’re getting every week for the next three weeks, and we’re getting 16-17% more.”
“We were told two weeks ago it was done, ready to go. I don’t know what the hold up is.”
“The state needs to step up and help us ensure that this industry is able to continue on and prosper. It is the lifeblood of New York state.”
If Cuomo doesn’t act on the bill by the end of the month, it will quietly disappear in the form of a pocket veto, which means lawmakers would have to pass it again for his consideration.
Governor Cuomo said the big problem across New York now is that hospitals can’t seem to vaccinate its own workers.
“What we still need is the Equality Act to be passed. Without that major legislation, we’re still subject to the whim of the president.”
Those conversations were about using the Justice Department to make it appear as though Georgia’s election results could be invalidated because of ongoing fraud investigations.
“These residents have been as isolated as ever before, many have not been able to see their parents, their families at all.”
The Cuomo Administration issued a controversial order on March 25th 2020, that required nursing homes to allow hospitalized residents sick with COVID re-entry into the homes.
Polls have shown that vaccine skepticism is relatively high in Black communities.
The state says local health officials should consider whether there has been a more transmissible variant of COVID-19 identified in the area, and local rates of COVID-19 transmission.
“Right from the very beginning of the parole process, which is the appearance in front of the parole board, there is no ‘right to counsel.’”
“We just need to keep the arrows pointed down, but, never get cocky with COVID.”
“The statement that the Biden-Harris administration released about Roe v. Wade shows that there is really no common ground.”
“I kept seeing these questions over and over: How do I run for school board? How do I help candidates run for school board?””
It would lead taxes to skyrocket for some of the wealthiest taxpayers, “which would be the highest income tax in the nation.”
“The public comment period just makes it clear that Pennsylvanians are really clamoring for concrete action to reduce climate pollution.”
NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks to Republican Rep. Tom Reed of New York, co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, about where GOP lawmakers may find common ground with President Biden’s agenda.
“The president is not just another person on Twitter, normally. The president is a leader, a tone-setter.”
It was discovered the Board failed to process over 2,400 voter registration applications that were filed on time through the state DMV website.
“These are our freedom providers and just showing again that freedom is not free, we lost three great Americans today in the service of our country.”
“We need Joe Biden to demonstrate that he truly is a man that believes in science and believes in honoring the commitment to protect future generations.”
In a conservative congressional district in upstate New York, NPR reporter Brian Mann says some Trump supporters say they’re ready for a fresh start under President Biden.
Cuomo said if Biden and the Democratic-led Congress don’t come through with the full amount he’s seeking, he will commence litigation.
Cuomo, during his address on the state budget Tuesday, said the potential tax revenue from the cannabis industry would likely help garner support for legalization this year.
“It’s like fighting a battle and knowing that your weapon can help destroy the enemy, but you’re short on the weapons.”
Dr. Rachel Levine is currently the secretary of health in Pennsylvania, where she leads the state’s fight against COVID-19.
New York NOW’s Dan Clark hosted live coverage of the address along with analysis of the address with David Lombardo, host of The Capitol Pressroom on public radio, and Amanda Fries from the Times Union.
“We’re going to act swiftly and decisively to provide direct federal aid so state, county and local governments can save tens of thousands of vital public service jobs.”
The governor in his State of the State address on January 11, said without a bailout, the choices to close the deficit are grim, and they include tax hikes, and cuts to schools.
The state Capitol was on high alert after a report indicated armed groups were planning to gather at state capitols.
“The federal administration essentially opened up a floodgate while cutting our supply — leading to confusion, frustration, and dashed hopes.”
Although the trend is heading in the right direction, John Barry, Executive Director of the Southern Tier AIDS Program, said the state’s ballooning budget has impacted some harm reduction programs and resulted in new infections.
Concrete barricades have already been put in place to close off a portion of the street next to the Capitol. National Guard members were on site.
The Governor’s disclaimer recommends people eligible for the vaccine directly contact their local pharmacies, doctors’ offices and hospitals.
Kelles spoke as Governor Andrew Cuomo lays out his vision for the state this week
“We were waiting for this for a long time and everything. It’s like a big sigh of relief for me.”
The state attorney general’s office says it has received “more than 1,300 complaints and pieces of evidence” about the police response to the protests in New York City.
“We will make these investments at a time when the interest rates are low, and when New Yorkers are looking for work.”
The choice for 10 Republican members to split from their party to vote to impeach Trump could mean political blowback with their state’s Republican Party come the next election.
“For the taxpayers, this is going to help fund a lot of their municipalities’ costs in recovering this material.”
One would require appellate-level judges, like the state Supreme Court, to be elected by district rather than statewide.
“To allow the president of the United States to incite this attack without consequence is a direct threat to the future of our democracy.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio said that President Trump “incited a rebellion” and that New York City “will not be associated with those unforgivable acts in any shape, way or form.”
The New York Democrat shared that she felt unsafe in the secure room where she was held with other lawmakers while the Capitol was under lockdown.
Plans include new solar farms and off shore wind turbines, and more transmission lines across the state.
“We cannot wait until summer to turn the lights back on the arts and provide a living wage for artists. We will not let the curtain fall on their careers, or on the future of our cities.”
Of the 149 projects granted money from the Growing Greener program, 43 in south central Pennsylvania will get $12 million.
“The dose of reality is, ‘great, now we have 7 million people eligible.’ And we still have a drip, drip, from the faucet of federal dosage availability at 300,000.”
The Republican has been a part of Mayor Rich David’s administration since 2014.
“A basic high-speed internet plan costs on average more than $50 per month. For too many families, this just isn’t affordable.”
“We’re more than willing to look at taxing millionaires and billionaires, because again, we need to rebuild our economy, we can’t just wait for Washington.”
First responders, people 75 and older, educators, and grocery store workers can now begin to schedule their vaccine appointments. But the wait to get the shot could take a while.
Republican state lawmakers were vocal in their criticisms, saying the Cuomo administration was unprepared.
“Hopefully if there’s protests, they’re peaceful. But you can’t take any chances, especially after what we witnessed in Washington, D.C.”
“We are at war — a war that started last year when we were ambushed by the COVID virus, and a war that continues today,”
“We’re all ready to go, but we can only give out the vaccine that we actually have in our hands.”
“I am absolutely floored by how inaccessible this is to an ordinary person. The learning curve has been really, really steep.”
The Governor hopes the federal government will help New York close what Andrew Cuomo said is a $15 billion budget deficit.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, bowing to pressure from local governments, is agreeing to expand the state’s vaccination sites for front-line health care workers.
The retiring Pennsylvania senator joins his Republican colleague Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in calling for President Trump to resign. House Democrats are aiming to hold an impeachment vote this week.
“I call on every New York federal official to call on president Trump’s resignation. Don’t put the country through impeachment. Don’t wait for any cabinet action. Call for him to resign as his own act.”
“We saw in the first big wave here in New York that the people who bore the brunt, the sacrifice and health problems, were the people who had to go to work.”
“The question is whether or not the evidence can be linked to a particular individual and what is the proper jurisdiction to bring those charges.”
“I’m confident we’re going to get through the next 13 days in a safe and secure fashion”
“What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president.”
As the New York state legislature resumes session today (Wednesday), advocates and some legislators are calling for limits on solitary confinement in state prisons.
“We must emphatically reject these horrible instances of physical attacks on our governing institutions and let democracy proceed.”
“They lied about the results of the election. They lied about voter fraud.”
Extremists emboldened by President Trump sought to thwart the peaceful transfer of power by staging a violent insurrection inside the U.S. Capitol.
“The challenge is being able to pivot when we need to pivot.”
“We need to get serious about making sure that everyone shares the burden,. We need to ask more of the millionaires and billionaires who have gotten even richer during this pandemic.”
“We stand here today with the largest majority in the almost 250 year history of the New York State senate of any party.”
Hand admitted she stole around $24,000 by depositing checks payable to the school district into bank accounts she controlled.
“I’ve tried to pass it, but this is the year that we need the funding and a lot of New Yorkers need the funding.”
“It would be one thing if he was making split-second decisions about procurement (of medical supplies), but I think we have moved well beyond the time when that resolution was necessary.”
They said Cuomo and the state health department are not providing data that they need and are leaving them out of key meetings.
“This is really a very important step forward in fighting COVID and in fighting any other kind of illness.’
“Our hospitals and health care systems continue to be significantly challenged.”
Reed said voting to uphold the election results is his duty.
The governor said the man, in his 60s, works in a jewelry store, N. Fox Jewelers, in Saratoga Springs and that three other employees have also tested positive for the virus.
A change at the state level is blocking funding for a type of one-on-one therapy when conducted at clinics rather than in the home.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said testing for COVID-19 was more readily available in richer, whiter communities in the state. He added: “This can’t happen again, and it can’t happen with this vaccine.”
Cuomo says the underperforming hospitals will face sanctions, including a fine of up to $100,000 if they don’t use up all of the vaccine they have in store by the end of the week.
The Empire State Trail is now complete in New York state. It includes 750 miles of hiking and biking trails from New York City to Canada, and Albany to Buffalo.
There are several new tip credit rates covering various employees who typically receive a tip as part of their service.
Eco-advocates say there are a lot of opportunities for lawmakers to act on the environment and climate change in the 2021-22 session. The question is whether they have the will to do it.
“2021 is going to be literally what we make of it. We’re coming out of probably the most traumatic year that we’ve had in decades.”
Large and medium businesses must pay their employees if they are out because of their own illness, or to care for sick family member.
“You have these climate events happening, and we have systems that are built for things that happened 100 years ago, not what’s happening now. We need to shift focus to that.”
“There will be a New Year, I can’t say that it won’t be worse, because now, I don’t know.”
The religious groups that brought the case said that the rules violate the First Amendment and discriminate against them.
“I don’t think an anti-vaxxer would have a good claim if they were fired for refusing to take a vaccine.”
Good government groups across Pennsylvania fear that if Harrisburg Republicans get their way in the coming legislative session, the commonwealth could end up with a high court system that is one of the most partisan in the country.
“We recognize that visitation is a vital part of family reunification and therefore, we will resume it when safe to do so.
The New York State Legislature places a moratorium on pandemic-related evictions, but admits it’s only a stopgap measure.
New York state’s positivity rate for the coronavirus jumped to 8.3%, according to the latest numbers released Monday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
If you’re wondering when your check will arrive, what’s up with your unemployment, or what else taxpayers should expect from the new program, here’s what you need to know.
More than 300,000 people in Pennsylvania have been filing for continuing claims, according to federal data.
SYRACUSE, NY (WRVO) – The federal government is directing more than $1 billion worth of COVID relief funding passed earlier this year to offset losses incurred by ambulance providers. It’s welcome news in New York. “Emergency medical service providers across the U.S. have been struggling to stay afloat as the COVID-19 health crisis has raged on. Nowhere is that more true than here in New York, one of the hardest-hit states during the pandemic,” said Jeff Endler, a spokesperson for the United New York Ambulance Network. Lon Fricano, director of operations at TLC Emergency Medical Services that covers Auburn and Onondaga and Cortland counties, said every year in this business is tough, but COVID has doubled down on difficulties they face.
ALBANY, NY (WCNY) – Tenants in New York will be granted another reprieve in the new year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, with an extension of an executive order that prevents landlords from evicting tenants who’ve faced financial hardship both during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. The extension, however, may be moot: Democrats in the state Legislature are considering a special session next week to codify and expand a moratorium on residential evictions. Details on what the Legislature may pass haven’t been released, and legislation hadn’t been introduced as of Wednesday afternoon. But Democrats who control both the state Senate and Assembly have been hinting at an end-of-year return to Albany for weeks now. Some of the state’s current protections for tenants expire on Jan.
Collins’ former colleague, Rep. Tom Reed, said Trump had the right to grant Collins’ pardon.
A flood watch is in effect across the region Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.
PHILADELPHIA, PA (WITF) – It’s not easy to recognize important historical moments while they’re happening. But 2020 has been a year marked by disaster and debacle. It has featured a deadly global pandemic, a reckoning over racism in the wake of several Black Americans killed by police, and a tense, litigious election. Looking back, historians, political insiders, and on-the-ground organizers agree that the last 12 months or so will leave an indelible impression. “I don’t know a historian right now who isn’t still kind of in shock,” said Timothy Lombardo, a Philadelphia-born historian of conservative politics.
“It’s not a stimulus bill. It’s an emergency survival bill and we’re going to fight for more dollars later,.”
“They’re leaving a place they consider to be their home and all of their belongings are in their home but their homes aren’t as secure as our homes are,” said Deb Wilke.
There is “universal support” overall, but some disagreement on specifics.
Broome County announced a travel ban for all non-essential vehicles early Thursday morning. It will continue indefinitely until the roads are cleared.
Hospitalization rates are steadily rising. More than 6000 New Yorkers are in the hospital with COVID-19, and more than 1000 are in intensive care.
It’s unclear just how many hundreds of challenge ballots there are, but with only 12 votes separating the candidates, the court’s rulings on them might determine the race’s outcome.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 154 COVID-19 deaths in the county.
“If we do not change the trajectory, we could very well be headed to shutdown, and shutdown is something to worry about.”
A separate bill for $160 billion links state, local and tribal aid to an agreement on liability provisions.
“This pandemic, these masks, this physical configuration are a stark reminder to the nation that government matters and leadership matters.”
The Assembly Leader said it would be ideal to approve tax hikes on the rich before the start of the year instead of waiting to address the issue as part of the state budget in March.
“I know how horrific it was. It was a modern day battlefield. What you do, showing up every day, you really are heroes.”
“I mean it’s huge for us. We have been trying to recover from the damage from 2017 and 2019 so to know that this will help alleviate the chances of flooding for 2021 means a great deal.”
“Apparently, the law specifically says meet in person at the state Capitol. There’s been so much litigation about the election, we don’t want to test the law.”
Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on the State’s COVID-19 Response and Makes an Announcement
Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled details of what he calls the “winter plan” for limiting the spread of COVID-19 in New York State.
The new public health measures come as COVID-19 cases near all-time highs and hospital intensive care units are nearing capacity.
“I look forward to this becoming an actual discussion, where our questions are answered, where we have actual talks about how we can imagine public safety because this ain’t it.”
A panel tasked with drawing new legislative districts for members of Congress and the state Legislature still hasn’t received funding allocated in this year’s state budget.
Possessing a voracious appetite, the biggest concerns with the spotted lanternfly are their impacts on fruit trees, maples, and especially on vineyards.
“This is an important step in the worldwide campaign to stop investments in fossil fuels in order to prevent the worst of global warming.”
Garnar said that 30 percent of the ICU beds in the county were available and open as of Wednesday.
“I believe we’re going to have to raise taxes at the end of the day, in any event, but the question is, how much in taxes?”
Cuomo says undocumented immigrants who receive a vaccine will not have to release any personal data that might trigger deportation.
U.S. employers will be able to require their employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine unless the employee has reasonable medical or religious objections.
“We realized that it would be beneficial for the Board to be smaller so they can make decisions in a quicker fashion.”
“I think the time might’ve come to change the Electoral College, and I would support that change.”
Restaurant owners are finding Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new criteria difficult to decipher, and worry it will mean more eateries will soon be out of business.
As the Democrats’ leader, she’ll be responsible for putting together Democrats’ legislative strategy for next year’s session.
“Lighthouse said all along that we would comply with New York State guidelines, but the county insisted that we go well above and beyond those guidelines as a condition of reopening.”
“Overwhelming the hospital system means people die on a gurney in a hallway, and the life you could’ve saved you can’t save because you don’t have the staff, you don’t have the doctors, you don’t have the nurses.”
The proposed $765 million loan to Kodak was announced last July as part of the company’s plans to make ingredients used in generic pharmaceuticals.
“Nobody’s giving us any direction. We don’t have the unemployment thing in place, we don’t have the other supports that were in place the last time they shut us down, they’re just like, ‘You gotta close.’ ”
“We know that we can’t depend upon the federal government, given the fact that we’ve been waiting for them to respond to this crisis for months now.”
“Increasing access to food has not been a bipartisan goal. And it’s really troubling, because the need is so great. And obviously it’s not about whether you’re a Democrat or Republican when you’re hungry.”
“It doesn’t come near to the need. It would be a short term bill until March. I would urge them to get this first down payment bill before they leave.”
“I would consider it shameful that our federally elected representatives have not been able to come together to provide some type of meaningful assistance.”
Retired nurses could relieve some stress and handle any holiday-related increase in cases of the coronavirus and in distributing vaccines should they become available.
“Most of the inmates are isolated from each other,” Harder added. “They’re not allowed out of their cells. They’re basically quarantined to keep the spread down.”
“They need to continue because the money for those has already been allocated which is important, but also those are supporting downtowns and small businesses and jobs.”
Front line health care workers and nursing home residents will be among the first to receive it.
“Just like we went through with the COVID tests, they’re underserved by health care facilities and their rate of skepticism is higher. It’s going to be an extensive effort to outreach to Black, brown and poor communities.”
The Thruway converted to all cashless tolling in mid-November, after work crews mounted cameras on 70 steel gantries that span the lanes at 58 locations on the toll road.
The state’s average test positivity rate is nearly 12%
Their plan is a temporary four month emergency relief package only meant to last from December 1st to March 31st.
The task force, also called ETE, had the ambitious goal of ending the epidemic in the state by 2020.
Over 20 state representatives signed on to a co-sponsorship memo for a resolution calling on state leaders to delay vote certification — which occurred last week in the presidential race.
“We are not going to live through the nightmare of overwhelmed hospitals again.”
The Thruway Authority Board of Directors is poised to approve a 30% increase for cars without the electronic toll pass at its Dec. 1 meeting. The increase would become effective in January.
“A lot of the landlords are small business owners or just mom-and-pop folks who may have a couple of that they picked up and they’re using it for side income.”
“Even in a pandemic, the constitution cannot be put away and forgotten.”
“If you happened on that monument in public, you may only look at the names that are on the plaque.”
“I didn’t want to disappoint my mother, 89 years old. She’s thinking how many Thanksgivings will I get, you start to think that way. But it’s hard. But sometimes hard is smart.”
“The president has been saying that ‘he won, he won, he won,’ and ‘fraud, fraud, fraud. And a lot of people who support this president, agree with him.”
The attention has raised his political profile along with questions about whether he’ll run for statewide office in two years.
There are 580 active cases of the virus in Broome County and 29 hospitalized residents.
With more than 19,000 mail-in ballots returned to Broome County this year, there were bound to be a few errors. In those cases, election workers were tasked with curing the ballot.
“These numbers have kept me awake for many, many , many nights. People get infected, they go into the hospital, they go into the ICU.”
New York’s rate of the virus has been creeping up through the fall, though the state is still at a significantly lower rate than most of the nation.
Part of Manhattan, Staten Island, Rochester, Syracuse, and Long Island could face new, or stronger, restrictions if the positivity rates in those areas don’t decline in the coming days.
That means Democrats would have more leverage in negotiations on controversial measures next year, when conversations are expected to center largely around the state’s budget deficit.
“We need to be ready, and this project is going to be an important tool that we have to address this crisis.”
While the unemployment rate in the five boroughs dropped to 13.2% in October, the rate outside New York City went up from 6.6% in September to 6.9% in October.
Under the settlement, NYSEG would halt a proposed pipeline expansion in the Southern Tier and would stop promoting the use of natural gas and commit to net-zero growth in gas sales.
The GOP-backed resolution means counties will turn over voting data within the next 45 days..
“Let’s not do these massive shutdowns of gyms or shopping malls or restaurants. That will just crush the economy more.”
Cuomo has set a limit of 10 or fewer people at in-home gatherings. But some county sheriffs in the state have said they don’t plan to enforce those rules, saying it’s a violation of people’s privacy.
As coronavirus cases soar in Pennsylvania, state lawmakers face a looming deadline to spend $1.3 billion in federal pandemic relief that the commonwealth received in early spring, but still hasn’t used.
The budget is about a 6 percent decrease from 2020.
“You can just go online and just fill out the application. Which is especially helpful with COVID, thinking about ways to give survivors access to resources in a faster way.”