NEW โคYORK – Formerโฃ New York Governor andrew โขCuomo publicly apologized to Jewish New โฃYorkersโค on October 26, 2023, โacknowledging โคthat his governance’s COVID-19 lockdown rules โdisproportionately impacted their communities and “caused pain.” The apology, delivered at a private event in New York โCityโ and afterward reported by multiple news outlets,โค marks a meaningful moment ofโข accountability for policiesโ widely criticized during the pandemic.
The restrictions, โimplemented in late 2020 and early 2021, specifically targeted areas withโ high rates of COVID-19 transmission, often โฃcoinciding with neighborhoods with largeโข Orthodox Jewish populations. These measures included limitations onโ gathering sizes for religious services and school closures, sparking accusations of discrimination and โfueling tensions between the Cuomo administration and community leaders. While officials atโ the timeโ defended the โคrules as necessary to protect public health, โฃthe former governor stated he should have โdone more to address the โฃconcerns โคand sensitivities of the โaffected communities.
Cuomo stated, “I should have done better. Those โdecisions caused pain, and I apologize for that.” He acknowledged the frustration and anger felt by manyโ Jewish New Yorkers, adding thatโค he now understands the impact of the policies was not equitably distributed.โ The โapology comes as Cuomo seeks to rehabilitate โคhis public image following his โresignation in August 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment.The former governor’s acknowledgement ofโค the impact โofโฃ the COVID-19 restrictionsโ on the Jewish community mayโ be a stepโฃ toward reconciliation, thoughโ community leadersโ have indicated that further dialog and action โare needed to address โthe lasting effects โคof the โคpandemic policies.