MANH Lawmakers on the Move, May 4, 2020

Espaillat Urges Investigation of NYS Nursing Homes

Last Friday, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) called on the State to conduct a comprehensive investigation of its nursing homes.

Espaillat released the following statement amid allegations that the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan has been underreporting COVID-19 deaths among its residents.

“Thousands of families place their trust in nursing home administrators to safely care for their elderly and/or ailing loved ones, the most predisposed to COVID-19’s potentially fatal impact.

“Isabella Geriatric Center’s disregard for transparency and its fundamental failure to keep patients’ families abreast of the conditions in which their loved ones live, is unacceptable and only adds to the already intense stress brought on by this pandemic. Likewise, to keep the government agencies elected officials leading the COVID-19 response in the dark is inadmissible.”

Espaillat also sent a letter to New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), which is available here.

Johnson: Samaritan’s Purse Needs to Go

Council Member Corey Johnson (Credit: Jeff Reed)

Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) released a statement last Friday calling on Samaritan’s Purse to leave New York City.

Last month, Mt. Sinai partnered with the evangelical nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse to set up an emergency hospital in Central Park. The partnership was met with significant backlash due to the group’s notoriously anti-LGBTQ views.

Johnson conceded that we had no choice but to accept their help when the crisis was at its peak. However, now that we’ve flattened the curve, we no longer have an excuse to keep them around.

“I am aware that our battle against COVID-19 is still ongoing, and that our health care system – and the amazing workers who have been the heroes of this unprecedented time in our history – still needs support,” said Johnson. “At the City Council, we are committed to supporting those workers and protecting our city’s public health. But as a city that values diversity and compassion for all, we cannot continue to allow a group with the track record of Samaritan’s Purse to remain here when we are past the point they are needed.”

De Blasio, Johnson Name First Streets to Be Used for Social Distancing

Mayor Bill de Blasio (Credit: William Alatriste) — Mayor Bill de Blasio

Last Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) announced the first group of streets that will open to pedestrians and cyclists, starting this week.

The streets, combined, span over seven miles and reach all five boroughs. The announcement was part of the Open Streets initiative, which will make social distancing in public easier. Ultimately, the City projects that the initiative will open at least 40 miles worth of streets during the month of May.

“New Yorkers deserve safe ways to enjoy the warm weather while we fight through this crisis, and I’m proud of my team for jumping into action with this first group of open streets,” said de Blasio. “Our parks have played a critical role in maintaining public health during this crisis. But we cannot afford to have a high demand for open space create unhealthy situations. That’s why we’re opening streets and offering more options for New Yorkers to get outside safely.”

James Sues EPA Over Replacement of Clean Water Rule

Last Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its rollback of Obama-era water regulations

The Navigable Waters Protection Rule, enacted on Apr. 21, instates a new definition of “waters of the United States” that excludes smaller bodies like creeks and wetlands. In doing so, it excludes them from the protections offered by the Obama-era Clean Water Act. Detractors, including James, have dubbed it the “Dirty Water Rule”.

“Trump’s ‘Dirty Water Rule’ is a reckless rollback of clean water protections,” said James. “EPA’s new rule ignores science and the law by stripping our waters of basic protections under the Clean Water Act, putting our communities and our wildlife at risk. My office will work with attorneys general from across the nation to challenge this illegal and harmful regulation and continue the fight for our environment.”