On Friday, New York State’s Senate voted on legislation that prevents Governor Andrew Cuomo from issuing new coronavirus-related emergency orders, which was seen as a stinging rebuke from the Democrat-controlled body.
Cuomo finds himself at the nadir of his governorship and faces two scandals that pose a threat to his administration. He is accused of sexual harassment by multiple women, and his top aides are accused of trying to hide COVID-19 deaths tied to nursing homes in the state.
Cuomo has rejected growing calls to resign, and the state eventually acknowledged that at least 15,000 nursing home residents died, a significant jump from the 8,700 figure they had been publicizing, according to the Associated Press. There is currently a federal probe.
The bill limits the emergency powers handed to him in March 2020 at the onset of the outbreak.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat from Yonkers, said Sunday that Cuomo needs to resign:
“Every day there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government… We have allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment, the loss of credibility surrounding the COVID-19 nursing home data, and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project.
New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health and economic impacts of it. We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state, Governor Cuomo must resign.”
