South Queens, NY – Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) issued a statement regarding the passage of legislation that would revoke Governor Cuomo’s Emergency Powers. The statement is below:

“Last year, COVID-19 came to New York and hit us like a tidal wave, and a bipartisan majority in the legislature came together to grant the governor emergency powers to help streamline decisions to address this quickly escalating crisis. At the time, given how little we knew and the uncertainty around COVID-19, this was the right thing to do. A year later, after learning so much more about COVID-19 and having a significantly better grip on the pandemic – it is time to get back to a normal working order.

That’s why I voted in favor of this legislation that will revoke the governor’s emergency powers and ensure legislative oversight of changes to state laws or directives. This legislation will increase the control and power of local governments and implement checks and balances to make sure that all three branches of government work together with increased transparency.”