Cuomo Threatens PSEG License; 107 School Districts Submit No Plan

NEW YORK, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday threatened to revoke the licenses of two major New York utilities in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias, which left hundreds of thousands in the dark for days. Additionally, he said more than 100 school districts have not submitted plans to reopen in the fall and will not be allowed to if they fail to submit them.

Cuomo's news conference came as about 73,000 homes and businesses in New York were still without power Monday, including 25,000 on Long Island and 20,000 in the Hudson Valley. PSEG and Con Edison did a "lousy job" preparing for the tropical storm, Cuomo said. Isaias lashed the region Tuesday, downing, uprooting and toppling numerous trees, many of which were massive and stood for decades. On Long Island, over 400,000 people had no power in the days following the storm.

Cuomo said the state's Public Service Commission is investigating the utilities' response to the storm and is still obtaining the facts about what happened. But even so, he stressed he was "personally disappointed with them," and that he has instructed the commission to be "as aggressive as the law will allow." This includes levying fines, penalties and ordering restitution.

"Because New Yorkers are fed up," Cuomo said.

The essential service of a utility is preparing for and recovering from major storms, he said.

"I want the utilities to know we do not abide by the concept that anything is too big to fail," Cuomo said. "I am not bluffing. I don’t bluff. Your franchise can be revoked. I am serious as a heart attack."

Additionally, 107 school districts have not submitted reopening plans amid the coronavirus era, and many submitted incomplete proposals, Cuomo said. Those that don't have their plans submitted by Friday won't be allowed to reopen.

"Maybe they just determined they don’t want to open, which is the logical conclusion" Cuomo mused. "But if they want to open, they need to submit."

A list of those districts was released Monday, though many on Long Island told Patch they submitted plans.

Cuomo repeated his belief that parents and teachers, not the state, will be the ultimate arbiters of whether districts have safe reopening plans.