Tweet on Twitter. In the wake of his yes vote on the overall agreement, Queens Sen. Mike Gianaris, who sponsored the rent moratorium legislation, raised the unlikely scenario that Cuomo may enact a freeze via executive order. Some context: the 2016 turnout in the state was 7.8 million, meaning that parties like, say, the Working Families Party that endorsed Cuomo’s rival Cynthia Nixon, would need 156,000 votes to maintain its existence on the ballot. As we reported earlier this week, Cuomo is determined to cut Medicaid in the midst of a massive public health crisis—even if it means risking federal funds designated to provide relief. To inspire.To ignite change for the common good. "New Yorkers shouldn't have to tighten their belts and prepare for austerity measures," Pearl argued. ', 'Insanity': Walter Reed Physician Slams Covid-Infected Trump for Recklessly Leaving Hospital to Greet Supporters, Peace Groups Blockade Creech Air Force Base to Protest 'Illegal and Inhumane Remote Killing' by US Drones, 'Halt This Reckless Supreme Court Process Now,' Says Schumer as GOP Advisers Float Plan to Let Infected Senators Vote in Person, As Covid-Positive GOP Politicians Enjoy Care They 'Would Deny Others,' Pandemic Again Makes Case for Medicare for All, In Address on Inequality Amid Pandemic, Pope Calls on Globe to Confront 'Destructive Effects of Empire of Money', Tens of Millions in PPP Loans Went to Corporate Polluters After Companies Were Fined $52 Million, Analysis Shows, Timeline of Illness Confounds Experts, But Critics Say What's Clear Is Trump 'Knowingly Exposed People' to Covid-19, The Man Who Would Be President: Mike Pence, Corporate Theocrat. Without Your Support We Simply Don't Exist. After September 11, 2001, New York’s billionaire mayor, Michael Bloomberg, successfully raised property taxes in New York City to fill budget gaps. As governor, Cuomo controls a significant number of purse strings: Of the DOE’s $34 billion budget, more than a third is provided by New York state. The Senate and the Assembly have passed laws to allow them to work remotely, but Lerner said they were flawed. “In the absence of federal funding to offset revenue losses, we’re concerned about funding for schools, hospitals, fire departments, and services supporting our most vulnerable neighbors, and that’s why we have been calling on the federal government for five months to act,” Klopott said. That’s one lever we have that’s off the table.” But the governor’s matter-of-fact recounting of the state’s situation, along with numerous initiatives aimed at promoting social distancing and increasing testing capacity, among others, have bolstered his political capital significantly. if( magazine_button_text_362523 !='' ){ Since earlier this summer, a corps of activists, policy advocates, and political leaders—including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and leading Democrats in both chambers of the state legislature—has been urging Cuomo to raise taxes on the rich. “It’s a big concern,” said State Senator John Liu, a Queens Democrat who chairs the Senate’s Committee on New York City Education. “This pandemic has put a harsh spotlight on a reality in which not enough has changed to meet the needs of today,” Niou said. (Bennett Raglin / Getty Images) Ask rich New Yorkers like me to pay our fair share, that’s all it takes. As Deputy Majority Leader, Gianaris likely didn’t want to undercut Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate’s leader, by voting no on a budget she negotiated. Governor Cuomo’s decision to block any attempt to close the state’s budget gap by raising taxes on the rich is going to result in budget cuts that leave all New Yorkers worse off. Or a new $100 commemorative coin celebrating that "Trump Defeats COVID." More recently, Cuomo, a Democrat, was out-progressive’d by at least one prominent Republican: Mike DeWine.