Friend: Participation in Independent Redistricting Hearings Critical in Shaping Fair Legislative and Congressional Representation
Jul 20, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is encouraging voters to participate in an upcoming virtual public hearing to be held by the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) on August 9 at 2 p.m. Those interested may register or submit testimony...
Friend Co-Sponsoring Bill to Prohibit Mask Mandates for Children
Jun 9, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is co-sponsoring legislation which would prohibit state agencies from imposing mask mandates on children unless they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. The assemblyman points to the state’s successful...
Regional Lawmakers Urge Governor to Allow Full Reopening of Local DMV Offices
May 10, 2021
Elmira, N.Y., May 7—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia), Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,C-Olean), and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today sent...
Friend Calling for DOH to Align Covid-19 Guidance on Group Homes and Day HAB Programs with the CDC
May 7, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is urging the state Department of Health (DOH) to align their COVID-19 guidance for group homes and day habilitation programs with that of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Currently, state policies...
Friend Votes Yes On Actions Taken By Legislature To End Several Of Cuomo’s Orders
Apr 28, 2021
“Finally, the Legislature is acting to curtail the governor’s excessive executive orders as I have been arguing for over the past year. Today we’re ending restrictions on healthcare facilities and providers in helping to administer the COVID-19...
Friend Calls Out Majority Members for Rejecting A $71 Tax Cut for Elderly Veterans After Just Approving A $2.1 Billion Stimulus for Illegals
Apr 19, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is disappointed by the Assembly Majority who just rejected a bill which would give veterans 85 years and older a modest $71 personal income tax exemption to help make living in New York more affordable...
Assembly Minority Request Required Justification for Cuomo’s Continued Curfews on Restaurants and Bars
Apr 13, 2021
Members of the Assembly Minority Conference today wrote to Speaker Carl Heastie and colleagues in the Majority Conference seeking the official notification from Gov. Cuomo and certification from Dr. Howard Zucker, Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner,...
Friend Opposes $212 Billion Budget That Puts Illegal Immigrants Before Struggling Small Businesses
Apr 6, 2021
“The budget agreement being passed now has the largest spending this state has ever seen – $212 billion with $5 billion in new taxes despite the significant federal aid New York just received. This budget is irresponsible and doesn’t prioritize...
Area State Legislators Renew Call to Reopen Schools
Apr 6, 2021
Elmira — State lawmakers from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions today renewed their call for Governor Andrew Cuomo to give the go-ahead to allow all schools to return to full-time, in-person classroom instruction. The move has also...
Friend Calling for Release of $1.3 Billion in Fed Aid Given to NY to Help Renters and Small Rental Property Owners
Mar 31, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling on the governor to send a message of necessity to allow the Legislature to approve the appropriation bill which would release $1.3 billion in federal aid passed by Congress in December 2020....
Area State Legislators Get Behind Call from Area School Superintendents to Reopen Schools
Mar 22, 2021
State lawmakers from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions are getting behind area school superintendents and joining the call for the Cuomo administration to give the go-ahead to allow all schools to return to full-time, in-person classroom...
Friend Calls Governor’s Persistent Restaurant and Bar Curfew Nonsensical
Mar 18, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is disappointed by the governor’s announcement that he plans to keep in place the 11 p.m. curfew for restaurants and bars, along with the food requirement with alcoholic drink purchases. These mandates...
Friend: Assembly Majority Still Want to Hike Taxes by $14.6 Billion Despite NY Receiving $24 Billion in Federal Aid
Mar 15, 2021
“Assembly Majority can’t seem to help themselves. We just received nearly $24 billion from the federal government in aid and $5.7 billion in increased tax receipts, yet, still, Assembly Majority members want to impose another $14.6 billion in taxes...
Friend Rejects Assembly Majority Bill Which Extends Governor’s Special Powers
Mar 5, 2021
“Assembly Majority need to come clean – the bill they claim strips the governor of his emergency powers actually extends it for as long as he sees fit. They have been lying to the press, New Yorkers and themselves, taking a victory lap on what is...
Friend Again Calling for The Resignation of Gov. Cuomo for Administration’s Role in Lying to Public About Nursing Home Deaths
Mar 4, 2021
“The Cuomo administration has gone through great efforts to mislead the public about the magnitude of deaths at nursing homes during the pandemic. It is shocking, but hardly a surprise, that the governor’s top aides interfered with and rewrote the...
Friend: Assembly Majority Cut Governor A Sweetheart Deal with Indefinite Extraordinary Powers
Mar 3, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling out Assembly Majority for misleading the public on their supposed deal to “strip” the governor of his extraordinary powers when in fact it essentially extends them. Majority announced...
Friend: Assembly Majority Should Be Ashamed of Their Daily Enabling of Governor
Mar 2, 2021
“Assembly Majority leaders should be ashamed of the great lengths they are taking to protect the governor and the extraordinary emergency powers which he squandered by lying to the public about there being more than 15,000 nursing home deaths. My Minority...
