Recent revelations regarding Governor Cuomo’s Executive Orders that may have contributed to the deaths of thousands of New York State’s elderly must be investigated immediately.

Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa admitted and apologized to Democratic lawmakers that the Cuomo administration withheld information about the death toll of thousands of nursing home residents. DeRosa stated in part, “We froze out of fear that the true numbers would be used against us by federal prosecutors.”

The admission is telling, however, a rush to judgment isn’t what’s needed here. A full, bipartisan investigation into these events must happen immediately.

This isn’t about political parties or affiliations; this is about grandma and grandpa. This is about brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles and friends and neighbors too. These people died while officials in the Cuomo administration apparently lied.

Many local officials including newly elected State Assemblyman Mike Lawler have called for an investigation.

It’s encouraging that freshman State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick and 13 other Democratic state senators have demanded that Cuomo’s Emergency Authority powers be curtailed. Joining Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, are Democratic New York State Senators Alessandra Biaggi, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Jeremy Cooney, Andrew Gounardes, Robert Jackson, John C. Liu, John Mannion, Rachel May, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, James Sanders, and James Skoufis.

More Democrats need to take a leadership role in demanding an investigation,

Notwithstanding public demand to investigate COVID deaths in Rockland nursing homes, this is a state-wide issue better addressed by New York State Attorney General Tish James and our elected representatives. The Democratic Party as the party in control at the state level in particular should demand transparency and accountability for all residents of New York State. In this age of rampant divisiveness perhaps a reminder in needed; Put partisan politics aside and serve the people; It’s called leadership.

Assemblyman Lawler has demanded an investigation; State Senators Reichlin-Melnick and Skoufis have demanded that Cuomo’s Emergency Executive power be withdrawn, however, absent from the call for transparency and answers are Rockland County’s own Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski and Rockland County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Kristen Zebrowski-Stavisky.

People and not partisan party politics must always come first.