ALBANY, NY (WSKG) - As the New Year begins, New York state leaders face two major challenges. One is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as the infection rates spike again and a vaccine roll out begins. The second is the state’s related multibillion dollar budget deficit, which needs to be closed by spring.
Governor Andrew Cuomo, who’s been given special emergency powers from the legislature during the pandemic , will likely continue to be the major figure as state officials try to bring down the spiking coronavirus rate, and ensure a fast and efficient roll out of the vaccine.
“2021 is going to be literally what we make of it,” said Cuomo. “We’re coming out of probably the most traumatic year that we’ve had in decades.”
Cuomo is set to deliver his State of the State message on January 6th, and unlike in the past, it will be given without a large audience present, as most gatherings are banned in New York to curb the spread of the virus.
He’s already previewed some of his proposals. Cuomo says we can’t wait the six to nine months or longer that it could take for enough people to be vaccinated to re- open the economy.
On December 30th, he authorized a “pilot” program to allow 6700 masked, socially distanced, Buffalo Bills fans to attend the upcoming playoff game. They must agree to pay a fee of $63 to take a rapid test before entering, and provide information for contact tracing afterward.
The governor has received some blow back over the plan, from critics who say other segments of society should have a higher priority for re-opening. But Cuomo says it’s not just about football.
“If it works there, can you do (New York City’s) Madison Square Garden, could you do a theater on Broadway? Could you do a certain capacity in a restaurant so restaurants could start to re-open safely?” Cuomo said. “That is the road we are looking at.”
The governor says he also wants to help the state’s economy get back on track by extending eviction protections approved by the legislature in late December, so that they can also apply to small businesses unable to meet rent payments due to pandemic related financial losses.
The other major task facing state lawmakers is closing the multibillion dollar budget deficit. The governor’s budget office places the gap at $8 billion dollars, Cuomo says it could be closer to $15 billion.
More than 100 democratic lawmakers, who hold the majority in both houses of the legislature, have signed a petition to raise taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents, to help close the gap.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie says he’s ready to approve new income taxes on the richest New Yorkers as soon as possible. He’d even hoped to do it before the year ended, but a deal with the Democrats in the Senate and the governor never materialized.
“The members of the Assembly are perfectly fine raising revenues to help fill this budget gap,” Heastie said on December 21. “At some point we’re going to have to reconcile more than $10 billion dollars of a budget hole.”
Cuomo says taxes alone won’t be enough. He says spending cuts and borrowing would also be needed. He says he’d rather wait, though, to make any major decisions on the budget until President-elect Joe Biden, is inaugurated on January 20th. The governor hopes Biden can convince Congress to pass a financial aid package for states and local governments hit hard by the pandemic.
“I just hope Joe Biden gets in quickly, and sanity restores to the nation,” Cuomo said on December 21.
Other proposals for closing the budget gap include expanding sports betting, and legalizing the adult use of recreational marijuana, which could bringing revenue by taxing the sale of the drug.