NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Charges of systematic racism in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccine distribution and nursing homes, have prompted calls for a federal civil rights probe of city and state actions.
As CBS2’s Marcia Kramer reported Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo was singled out for harsh criticism.
City and state officials have gone to great lengths to showcase efforts to get members of the minority community vaccinations, even though new statistics show the hardest-hit neighborhoods have the fewest number of vaccinations.
And that’s just one of the reasons key elected officials are demanding a federal civil rights investigation about how New York has handled the pandemic.
“From infection to injection, I believe the governor has failed in almost all the decisions that were made,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said.
COVID VACCINE
- New York State book online here or call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX
- New York City book online here or call 877-VAX-4NYC
- Track NYC Vaccinations By Zip Code
- Nassau County more info here
- Suffolk County more info here
- Westchester County more info here
- New Jersey book online here or call 1-855-568-0545
- Connecticut book online here
Williams was joined by members of the City Council Black, Latino and Asian Caucus in seeking a federal probe on grounds of systematic racism.
“We are demanding immediate attention to the situation. We have watched our community members die,” Councilwoman Adrienne Adams said.
The governor was also singled out for withholding information on nursing home deaths.
RELATED: REPORT: Early In Pandemic, Over 9,000 COVID-19 Patients Sent Into New York Nursing Homes
Officials want Cuomo’s nursing home decisions investigated. He said there is no reason for a probe, adding only at the lack of information on nursing home deaths created pain for those who lost loved ones.
“My administration created a void and that I feel bad about it. It’s not illegal, not unethical, but just failed people in that moment,” Cuomo said.
The governor said repeatedly that there is a need for vaccine fairness. He announced 13 new community-based vaccine pop-up sites and four new Federal Emergency Management Agency sites, like the one at the National Guard Armory in Yonkers.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
- Ask CBS2’s Dr. Max Your Vaccine Questions
- COVID Vaccine FAQ From CDC
- Vaccination Sites In New York City | Call 877-VAX-4NYC
- Track NYC Vaccinations By Zip Code
- Find A New York City Testing Site Near You
- Check NYC Testing Wait Times
- Explanation Of N.Y.’s Yellow, Orange, Red Zones (.pdf)
- Resources: Help With Unemployment, Hunger, Mental Health & More
- Remote Learning Tools For Students And Parents At Home
- Complete Coronavirus Coverage
The governor also harshly attacked one of his most persistent critics, Assemblyman Ron Kim, whose uncle died of COVID in a nursing home. Cuomo attacked Kim’s ethics, charging the lawmaker took political donations from nail salons while working on legislation that was supposed to crack down on salon abuses.
“I do believe Ron Kim acted unethically, if not illegally. I do believe he has a continuing racket where he raises money from the owners of salons,” Cuomo said.
“The governor can smear me all he wants in an effort to distract us from his fatally incompetent management. But these facts are not going away,” Kim responded.
Assemblyman Kim has introduced legislation to cancel Gov. Cuomo’s executive powers.
from CBS New York https://ift.tt/2Izr88c
