Michael Cardinal, FISM News
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo caught many by surprise in what appears to be a reversal of policy, urging the relaxation of New York’s strict shutdowns and a reopening of the economy.
In a tweet on Monday, Cuomo said that New York businesses “simply cannot stay closed” and that, if shut-downs continue, there will be “nothing left to open.”
We simply cannot stay closed until the vaccine hits critical mass. The cost is too high. We will have nothing left to open. We must reopen the economy, but we must do it smartly and safely.#SOTS2021
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 11, 2021
Throughout the pandemic, New York has enforced some of the strictest COVID-19 regulations in the country and Cuomo has continually been a strong proponent of strict measures in combating the virus. This sudden about-face in policy comes in the midst of a spike in COVID cases, leaving many to wonder “why now?”
Cuomo assuredly has a lot to gain by lifting regulations as the state’s economy posted it’s largest deficit of all time. New York follows only Washington D.C. with the highest percentage of people leaving the state, motivated by high taxes and the loss of jobs. Cuomo is also the focus of a law-suit from 70 New-York based restaurants due to his overreaching restrictions on their businesses.
The timing of Cuomo’s change of heart is in question as it comes only days before Biden’s inauguration. This has many speculating that the true motivation for the change may be politically motivated.
DeSantis was absolutely excoriated for saying almost exactly this months ago (putting politics over lives!) while Cuomo was shutting down restaurants and letting schools inexplicably close. https://t.co/N7r5PWaROV
— AG (@AGHamilton29) January 11, 2021