The New York State Assembly took steps toward impeaching Andrew Cuomo as more details emerged about the governor’s alleged actions toward a female aide in an incident at the Executive Mansion in late 2020.
Governor Andrew Cuomo
Cuomo Apologizes, Calls for Independent Review Following Second Sexual Harassment Allegation
On Feb. 27, a second former aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo said she was sexually harassed by the governor while serving as an executive assistant and health policy adviser from March to November 2020.
Leaked Audio Has Cuomo’s Top Aide Admitting Nursing Home Numbers Cover-Up
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s secretary, Melissa DeRosa, admitted the Cuomo administration withheld the state’s nursing home death toll out of fear that the numbers would “be used against us” by the Department of Justice in an investigation, according to an audio recording obtained by the New York Post.
AG’s Office Reports State Undercounted COVID-19 Deaths in Nursing Homes
On Jan. 28, New York State Attorney General Letitia James released the findings from her office’s ongoing investigations into nursing homes’ responses during the pandemic. Collected data from 62 facilities — 10 percent of New York’s total facilities — during specific time periods suggests that New York’s Department of Health (DOH) undercounted COVID-19 resident deaths associated with nursing homes by 56 percent.
State Assembly Members Turn to Biden for Nursing Home-Related COVID-19 Death Data
Two New York Assembly members have already written to President Joe Biden, seeking his assistance to obtain data on nursing home deaths caused by COVID-19 in the state.
Local Catholic Schools Request to be Included in Vaccine Distribution
Local school superintendents have asked that Catholic school educators be included when city public school educators eventually become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This comes as vaccine distribution continues to be criticized for its slow rollout at the city and state levels.
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Diocese of Brooklyn, Citing Gov. Cuomo’s Executive Order Violated First Amendment Rights
The Diocese of Brooklyn received a majority victory early Thanksgiving morning when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s restrictions on attendance at religious services violates the First Amendment.
Local Catholic Schools Continue In-Person Learning as Public Schools Go Remote
On Nov. 18, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced New York City public school buildings would temporarily close and move to remote learning the following day. The percentage of citywide positive tests exactly hit three percent that morning, using a seven-day rolling average.
Red and Orange Zone Schools Must Have Mass COVID-19 Testing, Prior to Reopening, Governor Says
On Oct. 30, Governor Andrew Cuomo released new guidelines for schools in red and orange zones that would allow them to reopen for in-person learning. The guidelines state that mandatory mass testing in schools must be conducted before they can reopen, followed by daily symptom and exposure screenings.
Catholic School Parents Voice Frustration During Schoolyard Protest, Following Gov. Cuomo’s Announcement
On Oct. 5, Gov. Cuomo announced all New York City schools within nine hotspot ZIP codes will physically close and pivot to remote learning on Oct. 6. This came after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a proposal on Oct. 4 to shut down schools and non-essential businesses within the areas with high positivity rates.