Ryan urges pressure on Senate
Ulster County executive wants federal aid for local governments
Breaking from a purely local focus on the coronavirus’ impact on Ulster County, County Executive Pat Ryan urged citizens to join him in an effort to put pressure on the U.S. Senate leadership for federal assistance to local governments.
Ryan, a Democrat, said at a Facebook Live Town Hall Tuesday that the House of Representatives, which is controlled by Democrats, passed significant aid for state and local governments on May 15 in the HEROES Act, which would provide direct relief for counties. But he said there is growing concern that the Senate coronavirus relief bill may not include that same local support. The Senate is controlled by a Republican majority.
The HEROES Act would provide a second stimulus package to Americans and to businesses impacted by the coronavirus. The Sen
ate version is currently being negotiated.
In a prepared statement Tuesday, he said “a failure to act by the United States Senate would devastate local governments across the country as they continue to fight daily to save lives.”
During his 20-minute Facebook Live presentation, Ryan praised New York’s Democratic senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer for their support of aid to local governments, but said Ulster County and others have received “zero direct federal support at a moment when we desperately need that support.”
He blamed the lack of aid on the refusal of Senate Republicans, and particularly Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, to consider it.
“One hundred senators have to act,” Ryan said, urging Ulster County citizens to contact McConnell, who he said “has delayed and stalled” needed aid to local governments. “Hold Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans accountable,” Ryan said. “I wish we were through it but we are not. Hospitalizations and fatalities are spiking nationally.”
Ryan provided viewers with McConnell’s phone number and email address and urged them to reach out. “At this point it’s an existential situation in Ulster County and we need direct relief. … I do try to keep it local, but [federal aid] has very direct impact,” he said.
In an April op-ed in the Albany Times Union, Ryan wrote about the importance of federal relief for counties “on the frontlines of the pandemic.”
“Across the United States, and especially here in New York, counties are serving as the first line of response to the COVID-19 epidemic. As the nation grapples with the far-reaching effects of coronavirus, local health and emergency management departments form the backbone of our response. Heroic public servants are administering life-saving care to those fighting the virus, running 24/7 emergency operations centers, testing thousands of residents, standing up medical treatment sites, and much more,” he wrote.
Ryan’s remarks Tuesday mirrored those of Kingston Mayor Steve Noble who made a similar plea for federal aid in July 7 letters to President Trump and Schumer.
“Unfortunately, to date, the federal government has provided absolutely no relief to local government for our lost revenues resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, which account for the vast majority of the COVID-caused budgetary harm in the City of Kingston’s budget,” the mayor wrote in his letter to Trump.
•••
In the past 48 hours, Ryan said there had been two deaths from COVID-19 in Ulster County, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 90. He said the fatalities demonstrate the real “and sometimes deadly risk” of the virus and urged continued vigilance.
He said the past four or five days have been “some of the most positive and encouraging” since the pandemic began in March. Only one resident is currently hospitalized in Ulster County, the lowest level since mid-June, Ryan said.
There are now 121 active cases of the virus in Ulster County and there have been a total of 1,920 cases and 1,709 recoveries, according to the Ulster County Covid-19 Dashboard.
In Dutchess County, there are currently 227 active cases of COVID-19. There have been 4,376 confirmed positive cases in Dutchess and 3,996 recoveries. One hundred and fifty three Dutchess County residents have died of COVID-19, according to the Dutchess County Covid-19 Dashboard.
•••
Ryan reminded also residents that the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is available to eligible applicants in need of rental assistance. Applicants must have lost income during the COVID-19 crisis beginning April 1.
Applications are due by July 30 for one month or up to four months of assistance, which will be paid directly to the applicant’s landlord.
Applications are available online at the NYS COVID Rent Relief website at https://hcr.ny.gov/RRP. Questions may be answered at the New York state call center, (833) 499-0318.