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...
Friend to Assembly Majority Leadership: Do Your Job
Mar 1, 2021
“The Assembly Majority leadership needs to do their job. We are meant to lead in times of great difficulty, not run from it. My Minority colleagues and I have been trying to hold the governor accountable for his actions. Last week, they would not debate...
Friend: Governor Must Step Down to Allow NY to Move Forward
Feb 25, 2021
“The allegations outlined by the governor’s former aide, Lindsey Boyland, are highly detailed and must be thoroughly investigated. While there is always a presumption of innocence, it is in the best interest of the state that Gov. Cuomo resigns immediately....
Southern Tier and Finger Lakes State Representatives Urge State to Update Guidelines on Performing Arts Education Based on New Scientific Recommendations
Feb 19, 2021
Sen. Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Sen. Fred Akshar (R,C,I,Rfm) and Assembly members Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning), Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flatts), Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) and Joseph Angelino (R,C,I-Norwich) issued a letter to Gov....
Friend: FBI Investigation into Cuomo Welcome News to Grieving New Yorkers
Feb 18, 2021
“It is a sad day that it even got to this point, but the announced FBI probe into the Cuomo administration is welcome news to many concerned and grieving New Yorkers. The loss of 15,000 lives in our nursing homes is an utter tragedy, made worse by the...
Friend Calls for Federal Investigation into Nursing Home Death Cover-Up
Feb 12, 2021
“I would like to say that I am surprised the Cuomo administration had been actively covering up nursing home deaths but, quite frankly, the public and diligent reporters knew all along. Attorney General James found that the numbers were not adding up...
Friend Encourages Majority to Join in Push for Bipartisan Investigation into Nursing Home Deaths
Feb 12, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) applauds the efforts of his Assembly Minority colleagues on the committees on Aging, Health and Oversight, Analysis and Investigation who recently issued letters and a petition to fellow committee members...
Friend Calling for Broader Guidance for Performing Arts Venues to Help Upstate Artists and Communities Recover
Feb 11, 2021
Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling on the Cuomo administration to provide guidance so established arts venues may safely reopen to hold live performances. The Assemblyman supports the push to reengage the arts; however, he...
Friend: Cuomo’s Oppressive Unfounded Restrictions on Businesses Should All Be Lifted
Feb 5, 2021
“I applaud Judge Timothy Walker’s ruling to temporarily lift the 10 p.m. curfew on restaurants. However, the ruling only applies to restaurants in Erie and Monroe counties. It is time this rule and others be lifted statewide. We have seen the governor...
What the New Rental Laws Mean for Southern Tier and Finger Lakes
Feb 3, 2021
The pandemic response made profound changes to our economy and the earnings of families. Along with our colleagues at the federal and state level, we have been looking at a number of ways to provide relief or remove stumbling blocks to our recovery. Together,...
Friend: AG’s Report Confirms Heartbreaking Truth About NYS Nursing Homes During Pandemic
Jan 28, 2021
“Attorney General James’ investigation confirms a fear many of us held - that COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes were far greater in number than what was being reported by the governor and the DOH. This makes an altogether heartbreaking tragedy all...