Cuomo, De Blasio Press Congress For Coronavirus 'Ambush' Relief

NEW YORK CITY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo's and Mayor Bill de Blasio's bickering is legendary, but the two political leaders agree on at least one thing: New York is in "dire" need for federal aid amid the coronavirus crisis.

That's the message in a joint letter the pair, along with state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, sent to New York's congressional delegation.

Congress is considering a $908 billion COVID-19 relief package. The letter warns of catastrophe if the state and city doesn't receive help.

"New York’s need is dire," the letter states. "If the MTA does not receive $4.5 billion this year, 9,000 workers will be laid off, and subway and bus fares and tolls on crossings will be increased beyond the level of inflation. If New York State does not receive a minimum of $15 billion in aid, or if New York City does not receive a minimum of $9 billion in direct aid, then tax increases, layoffs of essential workers, and significant borrowing will all be necessary. This is no time to be imposing more burdens on hard-working New York families, nor is this the time to lay off essential workers, moments before we undertake a complicated and labor-intensive vaccination program."

Cuomo, during his daily coronavirus briefing, argued the relief should be based on a state's "need." And no other state needs as much help as New York because the federal government failed to alert or protect it from the virus that came from Europe, he argued.

New York was "ambushed," he has said.

De Blasio, appearing with Cuomo by a spotty Zoom connection, agreed. He said it would be an "insult" to families who suffered during the pandemic if the state doesn't receive aid.

"State and local aid is absolutely necessary or else we are ignoring the pain and the death and the suffering that went on in this city, in this state," he said.

Read the full letter here.