County leaders in New York state say Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, has been more available and responsive to their immediate needs during the coronavirus pandemic than Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Schumer held a conference call with the New York State Association of Counties and county executives Monday night to inform the local leaders about the recently passed coronavirus relief packages and to discuss topics related to a future stimulus bill.
The New York senator, according to one source who heard the call, requested that county executives make sure financial institutions are doing the job of processing small-business administration loans and asked for suggestions on what is needed in the next stimulus.
Schumer, in a conference call with reporters Monday, announced that he tapped a former adviser to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Bharat Ramamurti, to be on a special congressional panel that will oversee the distribution of $500 billion in federal loans to businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.
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“[Cuomo] hasn’t had a single conference call with NYSAC and county executives. Counties are on the front line and are keeping this thing together. State response has been all over the place and not very effective,” Rensselaer County chief Steve McLaughlin told the Washington Examiner, confirming that Schumer has done more outreach to the counties.
The rivalry between the two powerful New York Democrats could be seen in a subtle Cuomo dig at Schumer. He said the state’s congressional delegation “was no help” in getting coronavirus tests back to New York.
Cuomo made the comment the same day Schumer took credit for helping to lead efforts on Capitol Hill against the COVID-19 crisis.
The Washington Examiner requested comment from Cuomo’s office but has not heard back.
