“Today the Minority Conferences in the State Assembly and Senate held a press conference calling for an end to the ongoing statewide emergency declaration. It is past time to remove the state of emergency for New York state. COVID-19 hospitalizations and positivity rates are under control. Western New York has reduced our rate to the lowest it has been since the very beginning of the pandemic 0.5%.

“We cannot continue fearmongering and needlessly restricting the freedom of New Yorkers and it would be nothing short of blatant refusal of duty on the part of the Majority lawmakers if this issue is not addressed before the end of Legislative Session this week. Do your jobs, remove the emergency declaration and let us get back to living our lives.”