July 7, 2021
ALBANY, NY – FROM STATE SENATOR TOM O’MARA:
“Governor Cuomo is making it clear where New York State is headed under his continued reign – from one emergency disaster declaration to the next so that he and he alone can keep on issuing executive orders, controlling public policy, infringing on constitutional rights and individual liberties, dictating the allocation of taxpayer dollars, and running this entire state out of Albany. We saw the failures of state government by Cuomo executive order throughout the COVID-19 crisis and our local Upstate communities, economies, workers and taxpayers will be paying the price for years to come. The most serious state of emergency in New York is Governor Cuomo’s ongoing abuses of power for political and personal gain. It doesn’t take another Cuomo executive order to know that rising crime and violence, and weakened public safety and security, is the result of the pro-criminal policies being enacted and pushed by this governor and a State Legislature under one-party control. They have emboldened the criminal element throughout this state through failed bail reform, lenient parole policies, an out-of-control Parole Board, a growing ‘defund the police’ movement, and an overall careless approach to criminal justice.”
FROM SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO:
“The Governor’s declaration of a gun violence disaster emergency is a gross abuse of his executive authority and an attempt to politically capitalize on a problem that he helped create.
“Here in New York State, we saw crime rates begin to skyrocket in January 2020, immediately after the horrific criminal justice ‘reforms’ he helped spearhead went into effect. Along with other pro-criminal policies, vilification of our dedicated men and women in law enforcement and efforts to defund police departments, it is no wonder that criminals have been emboldened.
“Today’s event was nothing more than a publicity stunt and a desperate attempt to remain relevant in a Democratic party that is now led by the radical left.
“The Governor is right about one thing: we need real solutions and immediate action to stem this tide of violence he and his allies have unleashed on the state. However, unless and until we can separate political agendas from public safety, those efforts will be in vain.”
