7 BRONX WEEKLY March 22, 2020 www.BXTimes.com
COVID-19 to affect upcoming local primary elections
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
Councilman Ritchie Torres’ offi ce closed after he tested positive for the virus.
Schneps Media / Kyle Vuille
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.
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