Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2021 State of the State address, which began the first of four installments on Monday, spoke more to the federal shortfalls that left New York with a $15 billion deficit and a broad vision of the future after Covid-19.
While plans to harvest revenue from legalized marijuana and sports betting continue to be on the agenda, Cuomo was not explicit as to whether spending cuts are in the cards for 2021 to close the budget gap, but held the onus of providing relief on the federal government for what he charged once again as negligence in preparing for the threat of Covid-19.
“We must plan and start our post-Covid war reconstruction now to seize the advantage and I will be outlining initiatives to do just that over the coming days. The truth is, we cannot stay closed until everyone is vaccinated. The economic, psychological, emotional cost would be incredible,” Cuomo said. “We must begin increasing economic activity and using science to do it, making Covid testing and vaccinations available, so that we can reopen restaurants and art spaces and theaters and commercial businesses.”