Resolution Supporting BLM Movement Rejected
By County Lawmakers
Sheriff Russo Strongly Objected To Legislation
by Doug La Rocque
There were actually two resolutions presented to the Tuesday, July 14 meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature, one initially sponsored by the six Democratic members with much stronger language then the amended version, from which three members, Carol Weaver, Bob Burns and Erin Sullivan-Teta later asked to have their names removed. Both were defeated by 16 to 3 margins. Minority Leader Peter Grimm objected to the original legislation being entered into the record and voted on, insisting only the amended version be acted upon. A motion to remove that legislation was also defeated.
Earlier in the day, Sheriff Pat Russo had a press conference where he brought forth a letter to the legislature, signed by himself and several other members of law enforcement, that labeled the legislation as “one of the most divisive, hate-filled resolutions directed at law enforcement and the criminal justice system in which we work that we have ever had the misfortune to read.” Speaking as to the original resolution, the Sheriff said the it “repeatedly refers to concepts of systemic racism, police brutality and white supremacy” while remaining silent on “the catastrophic violence perpetrated against black people in cities such as Atlanta, New York, Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago, Baltimore, etc.”
Peter Grimm Responds
Following the vote, The Eastwick Press reached out to Minority Leader Grimm, who said he was hopeful the amended version of the resolution would pass and noted his office had received 125 individual letters of support. He said the changes to the legislation were made after conversations with other legislators. In regards to Sheriff Russo’s comments, he told us “it was not an attack on local law enforcement, but was meant to help all agencies handle it (racism).”
Mr. Grimm also said “Black Lives Matter has enlightened all of us and it’s a calling to all county agencies to find a new way of doing things because the way we have been doing it isn’t working.
Investigate COVID-19 In Nursing Homes
The legislature also approved a resolution that calls for an independent investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo’s March 25 nursing home directive. The press release from the legislative majority office indicates that directive stated “No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the nursing home solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. Nursing homes are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or re-admission”.
A report by the NYS Department of Health indicated the high number of COVID-19 related deaths in nursing homes around the state was caused by transmissions from employees, not the governor’s directive.
Hoosick legislator Jeff Wysocki was one of the 13 lawmakers voting in favor of the resolution. He tells The Eastwick Press he supported the bill because “we need to know why people with COVID-19 related illnesses were placed in facilities that housed some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
The vote to support the resolution was along party lines, with the six Democratic members of the legislature opposing the measure, and the 13 Republicans in support.