New York officials said an additional $60 billion in federal funding is needed in the next coronavirus care package, with Long Island congressional representatives fighting for more money for local municipalities.
Last week, U.S. Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), Peter King (R-Seaford), Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City), Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) and Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans) held a virtual meeting to address the need for federal aid for Long Island’s villages and towns.
Suozzi, a former Glen Cove mayor, said he relates to the challenges a smaller municipality undergoes, despite never dealing with a pandemic before.
“As a former mayor, I understand the pressure the cities and villages are under as they try and address local concerns while facing declining revenues from stalled building construction, slowing tax collections and other reduced activity,” Suozzi said.
Rice and Meeks stressed the urgency for getting federal funding to villages and towns throughout Long Island before budgetary and health concerns become a harsh reality for residents.
“Securing direct federal assistance for New York State and our local municipalities is my top priority in the next coronavirus relief package,” Rice said.
“There is an urgent need for Congress to pass local aid immediately in the next relief package, so our local municipalities are properly funded in their response to coronavirus, otherwise, we’ll have a bad problem become worse,” Meeks said.
Ed Lieberman, the mayor of Sea Cliff and president of the Nassau County Village Officials Association, touted the bipartisan work of the five representatives from Long Island.
“On behalf of the numerous mayors on Long Island we greatly appreciate the ability to have this opportunity to speak with our congressional delegation,” Lieberman said. “Especially since it greatly impacts the economic future and well-being of our communities.”
The five representatives have sent several letters to congressional leaders and the federal government to ask for aid to prioritize New York state’s government, hospitals and residents in the coronavirus relief efforts.
“Direct funding would help support first responders, teachers, nurses, sanitation workers, transit workers, and many more, all of whom are vital contributors to our communities,” according to a bipartisan letter sent to federal officials last week. “We needed them before the pandemic, we need them now, and we will continue to need them as we get through this together.”
New York has the highest infection rate in the country at 27.13 percent of national cases, as well as the most positive cases with more than 337,000, according to figures provided by the state’s Department of Health. The death toll of 24,560 in New York is more than the next six states combined.
As of Monday, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nassau County had reached 38,337, according to the department. Of that total, 1,973 had died.
The state’s request for $60 billion is part of a $500 billion request by the National Governors Association to address the “immediate need” for fiscal assistance throughout the 50 states, according to Freeman Klopott, a spokesman for the New York Division of Budget.
Klopott told Newsday that the $60 billion in unrestricted aid would be nearly double the Medicaid reimbursement rate and that the federal government would pay the state’s 25 percent share of funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Efforts to reach Klopott for further comment were unavailing.
New York’s funding would be spread over three fiscal years, and could potentially be used for revenue shortfalls throughout the state, according to the association.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who serves as the association’s vice chairperson, and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, chair of the association, issued a statement last week outlining the need for the federal funding.
“We must be allowed to use any state stabilization funds for replacement of lost revenue, and these funds should not be tied to only COVID-19 related expenses,” the statement said. “Congress must amend the CARES Act to allow this flexibility for existing federal funding.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act package, the largest relief legislation ever passed by Congress, failed to address the shortfalls of budget revenues for states and local municipalities, according to the association.
The statement said “the recently passed federal CARES Act contained zero funding to offset these drastic state revenue shortfalls. To stabilize state budgets and to make sure states have the resources to battle the virus and provide the services the American people rely on, Congress must provide immediate fiscal assistance directly to all states.”
