Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,I,SAM-Meco) joined Assembly and Senate Minority members at a press conference calling for an end to the executive order that placed New York in a state of emergency following the COVID-19 outbreak. Smullen fully believes that with the major threat having passed, and both COVID-positive cases down to only about 7% between the Mohawk Valley and North Country, the need for an arbitrary emergency status has passed.

​“The people of New York have willingly followed health recommendations to the point where we have seen a dramatic change compared to last year,” Smullen said. “It is unconscionable to continue imposing any disaster emergency restrictions on the people when the numbers show there is no need for one. It would be a disservice to all New Yorkers to end session this week without fully removing the governor’s abused emergency powers once and for all.”