Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has called out the executive order signed by Gov. Cuomo that requires the National Guard to transport extra ventilators from hospitals in upstate New York and bring them to downstate hospitals. He is also fighting against the increased transport of COVID-19-infected patients from downstate to upstate hospitals.

“I am absolutely dumbfounded at the steps the governor has taken today to leave upstate New York as vulnerable as downstate has been during this health crisis,” Hawley said. “Not only will upstate hospitals now be left with fewer ventilators for our citizens who need them, but an increase in transport of coronavirus cases to upstate almost certainly means the virus will spread even quicker in our districts. It’s the worst possible management of this crisis I have seen thus far, and I am asking the governor to rescind his Executive Order. Upstate and Western New York lives matter.”