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Gov. Cuomo's Pandemic Response Figures Heavily into Race for 128th Assembly District

facebook.com/jacksonforthepeople; facebook.com/pamelahunter128

Governor Cuomo’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is figuring heavily into the race for the 128th assembly district, with both candidates leveling varying amounts of criticism for different reasons.  The district includes the southern and eastern portions of Syracuse, as well as Dewitt, Onondaga, Salina, and the Onondaga Nation.  WAER News caught up with incumbent Democrat Pam Hunter and Republican challenger Stephanie Jackson.

Jackson takes issue with the governor’s ongoing unilateral control of state government well after the peak of the pandemic.

"The elected officials in our communites are the ones who should be making those decisions.  I think Governor Cuomo has overstepped his power by a long shot by making over 200 different laws.  The way we're going to be able to recover from this is by being self-sufficient.  Farmers, small businesses...us getting out and getting open in Upstate New York is what has to happen in order to come out on the other side of this." 

Incumbent Pam Hunter doesn’t necessarily disagree.  She says at the beginning of the pandemic, lawmakers were willing to give the governor some flexibility.

"We needed to be sure our resources were allocated swiftly, and it made sense.  It made sense.  By allowing the governor to make these quick decisions, we were able to have a curve where other states didn't manage properly."

But now, Hunter says, schools and businesses are open and operating on some level. 

"I think it's absolutely crucial now for the legislature to come back.  We need to have a serious conversation about the state budget and allocation of resources.  Many not for profits, school districts, etc. are very concerned about funding cuts, and we need to be in the middle of having this conversation." 

Both Hunter and Jackson seem to be frustrated by the impact of ongoing pandemic restrictions on businesses.

"Let's be honest.  The restaurant and bar restrictions are beyond excessive.  We can't survive like this," Jackson said.

"I've heard from every corner, from a small business to a large business, restaurants, and social venues who are all very concerned about the bottom line.  But they're also concerned about safety, wanting to be good citizens by masking and social distancing.  But they're at 50 percent opening, and some of them aren't even at 50 percent capacity because people are still fearful about going out," said Hunter.

Hunter says we can’t allow everything to crumble before rebuilding.  That’s part of the reason why she disagrees with the governor’s strategy of anticipating federal aid before taking action on the budget.

"Hoping and waiting isn't going to get us the resources that our not for profits or government agencies need.  We need to have a very serious, specific conversation about that."

On the other hand, Stephanie Jackson feels the state hasn’t been fiscally responsible enough to deserve help, if it ever comes. 

"If we're not going to do the things that have been asked of us, why should we be entitled to a federal bailout?  We may have to look at this as a community to be self sufficient, and figure out how are we going to make it through this next year or two to stay afloat.  I don't think there's any other state  facing what New York State is facing at this time."

But Jackson says the state faces other challenges beyond the budget and economy.  She says Hunter supported bail reform, which Jackson and other republicans claim has led to the release of violent felons.  She also criticizes Hunter for getting behind the green light law, which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.  The measure also prohibits the DMV from sharing criminal records with federal immigration agencies.   Jackson says she’d make the GOP’s voice heard in the democrat-dominated assembly, while also working across the aisle.  She says balance is needed to hold the governor more accountable. 

"We'll be able to make some headway.  It really, truly matters.  We can't stay in this state of literal dictatorship and not being able to go anywhere because of the partisan activity happening in Albany."

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.