New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has failed to properly distribute federal pandemic emergency relief funds authorized for the state, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) and numerous state and local lawmakers charged recently.
“Local governments across the state are facing an immediate crisis that must be addressed now. They have few options to raise additional revenue and will soon be forced to cut essential services such as fire departments and law enforcement staff. We cannot allow this to happen,” Rep. Reed and his colleagues wrote to the governor in a June 8 letter.
“Governor Cuomo, you have been given federal resources intended to help these local governments avert this immediate crisis and yet our local governments have not received this aid,” the lawmakers wrote.
Despite receiving nearly $5.1 billion for New York State as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Rep. Reed and his colleagues told Gov. Cuomo that he has failed to distribute federal funds as Congress intended, including $164 million in Child Care Development Block Grants and billions in direct aid for state and local governments.
“If these funds are not delivered, it is not just the governments themselves that will be impacted — but the constituents in these areas will suffer life-threatening consequences as a result,” wrote Rep. Reed, a senior Republican on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, and numerous lawmakers. “The funds are there — it is your responsibility to distribute them fairly.”
The lawmakers added that Cuomo must quickly share New York’s portion of the federal emergency relief funds with local communities.
“If we are going to reopen our economy and move forward from this crisis, local communities should receive these funds immediately,” Rep. Reed and his colleagues wrote. “There is no excuse. Our local counties, cities, towns and villages cannot wait any longer.”