Cuomo’s shameful meddling at DOH

It has been just a year since sexual misconduct allegations against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo became known, and the recent Assembly report revealed even more difficult information to digest. His alleged conduct was terrible, and his resignation was just. Though the pain and distress felt by the women remain, I think his abuse of the mission of the state Department of Health is among his most egregious actions.

The department has responded to past infectious-disease events nobly and professionally. The department has been primed to work closely with county health departments and to implement statewide public health response and standards. Yet, as reported by the Assembly, Cuomo almost immediately instructed the department not to communicate with New York City health officials, pushing his office into leading the state response.

Cuomo then instructed the Health Department to obscure the true number of nursing home resident deaths. Instead of allowing the department to activate its well-rehearsed vaccination response program with local health departments, Cuomo pushed the vaccine coordination effort to major hospitals, which were unprepared and ill equipped for such a role. As a result, the initial vaccination response was slow, compounded by the state’s ill-designed vaccine appointment website.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has instituted expertise and sanity in all areas of state government, including the Health Department. She is a leader we all need at this time, one who is prepared, who listens and who understands the necessary and proper role of county government. She is our hope for the future.

Timothy Perry-coon

Latham