Cuomo urges Republicans to press for federal aid for state, local governments
‘If we don’t get state aid from Washington it’s going to be a very bad situation for this state.’ – Gov. Cuomo
Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged Republican elected officials at all levels to be vocal in calling on Congress and President Trump to approve an aid package for state and local governments.
Cuomo said the state is projecting a $14 billion revenue shortfall due to the Covid-19 pandemic plus $5 billion in unplanned expenses in responding to the pandemic.
Local governments – schools, towns, villages and counties – also face reduced reimbursements and other aid from the state without federal funding. The local governments also are facing steep drops in sales tax revenue.
“I call on all Republican electeds in this state to stand united with the people of the state in urging support for New York State,” he said this morning on a conference call with reporters. “We know we would have to have drastic budget cuts without this aid.”
The governor also said he is concerned for people on unemployment who could see the end of the extra $600 in weekly federal aid for people on unemployment. That is due to expire on July 31.
“That will really cause havoc and tremendous distress for people,” Cuomo said if the $600 a week isn’t renewed.
New low for hospitalizations for people with Covid-19 in NY
The governor also announced 637 were hospitalized with Covid-19 on Saturday, the lowest in the state since March 18. The state also had three deaths from Covid-19.
There were 53,568 tests on Saturday for Covid-19, and the state reported 536 confirmed cases, a 1.0 percent positive rate.
“That is just really, great, great news,” Cuomo said about the Covid-19 data.
He remains concerned about the rising Covid-19 infections in other states and a lack of compliance in New York, especially with bars downstate. He said the State Liquor Authority issued 105 violations to bars in New York City and downstate.
Cuomo said the state doesn’t plan to change the criteria for the travel advisory for people coming from other states, who must quarantine for two weeks once in New York. There are 31 states on the quarantine.
These are states have a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or they are states with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.
“We’re not going to change the formula,” Cuomo said. “We just need the nation to get the virus under control.”
Many of the new cases in New York are linked to people coming from other states, Cuomo said.
“They are a major cause of our new cases,” he said. “We will continue to be cautious.”
