COVID-19 to affect upcoming local primary elections
Councilman Ritchie Torres’ offi ce closed after he tested positive for the
virus. Schneps Media / Kyle Vuille
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BY KYLE VUILLE
The COVID-19 pandemic
has severely impacted the upcoming
primary season. This
year’s local races for congress,
state senate, assembly, judgeships
and district contests
have all been effected.
The time period to collect
signatures to qualify candidates
for the Tuesday, June 23
New York state primary was
abbreviated by the NYS legislature.
The last day to gather
names was at 5 p.m. Tuesday,
17, almost four weeks earlier
than the usual time period. To
compensate for the reduced
time frame, candidates only
had to submit 30 percent of
the required number of signatures
to gain a spot on the primary
ballot.
The hotly-contested race to
secure the coveted Democratic
ballot line to replace Congressman
Jose Serrano, was
seriously impacted when one
of the challengers announced
he tested positive for coronavirus.
Councilman Ritchie Torres
allegedly was infected by
a top-level staffer. His offi ce is
now closed.
Some elected offi cials, like
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz,
have requested additional
absentee ballots for New York
voters.
In a press release, Dinowitz
said, “I submitted a bill on
Friday, March 6 which would
allow registered voters in
New York to request an absentee
ballot due to concern about
coronavirus. This would apply
to the April and June primary
elections. We have already begun
the process to amend our
state constitution to allow absentee
voting for any reason,
and I believe this is a natural
extension of that concept.”
Assemblyman Michael
Blake said he is focusing on local
small business relief and
working with the federal government
to fi nance a $1 billion
stimulus, which, according to
Blake is a part of a 15-point
plan.
Blake also said he is working
with a company, World
Central Kitchen, to provide
5,000 meals to Bronx residents
daily.
“This is why you elect us,”
Blake said. “To be responsive
in challenging times.”
Another Bronx assembly
member Natalia Fernandez
helped pass A.9953 earlier this
month approving a $40 million
surge into the medical
fi eld to ensure suffi cient supplies
and training for healthcare
workers in the case of an
wide spread outbreak.
“The money will be used to
purchase medical equipment
and supplies as well as hire
and train additional health
care workers to ensure New
York State is fully prepared in
the event this virus spreads,”
Fernandez said in a statement.
Senator Alessandra Biaggi,
who is also encouraging absentee
ballotting issued the following
statement: “There are
many older New Yorkers and
those with underlying health
conditions in my district who
are at a heightened risk from
the virus – they should not
have to choose between safeguarding
their own health
and fulfi lling their civic duty.
Nor should New Yorkers who
are in quarantine be denied
their right to participate on
Election Day.”
For some New York congressional
clallengers like Michele
Caruso-Cabrera, who is
running for the Democratic
Party designation against Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez, they
are determined to not let the
pandemic hinder their political
efforts.
“The American political
system must press on. I
am committed to participating
at the Parkchester Debate
against my opponent Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez April 7, 6
to 8 p.m. at Community Board
9. Our debate should use the
same COVID19 precautionary
measures as the recent Presidential
debate,” said Caruso-
Cabrera in a press release last
Sunday.