23 September 2021: Reaction to Health Commissioner Howard Zucker's Pending Resignation Announcement

Reaction to resignation by DOH Commissioner Zucker

This report provides the following excerpt from NY Health Commissioner Howard Zucker's letter announcing his pending resignation:

Zucker, in a letter he submitted to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announcing his resignation, he said it was time to move on from his top position leading the state's health department after nearly 7 ½ years in which he served with with a "fierce dedication to the public's health."

"Perhaps in this era of social media and distrust in government, the countless unfounded criticisms have been met by conscientiousness and competence, tenacity and audacity," Zucker said in his letter to Hochul.

That comment is more than a little tone-deaf given the circumstances forcing his resignation.

This report mainly picks up on the reaction of Republican Party members of the NY Assembly and State Senate to NY Health Commissioner Howard Zucker's announced pending resignation, but since we have a second article that focuses on their responses, we've extracted remarks from a Democratic Party member for our featured excerpt:

Bronx Democrat Sen. Gustavo Rivera said Zucker's ability to serve was "hindered beyond repair" because he allowed the agency to "become a political tool for Cuomo and his allies."

"His resignation is warranted and another step toward ensuring we hold those who neglected their duties under the Cuomo administration accountable," Rivera said in a statement.

The report notes that most other Democratic Party members in the state legislature are remaining silent on Zucker's resignation announcement.

State, local leaders weigh in on Dr. Zucker’s resignation

This report captures the reactions of a number of upstate New York state senators and representatives, all of whom are Republican Party members, and also the statement of Democratic Party member and New York State Attorney General Letitia James. We're presenting NY State Senator Patrick Gallivan's comments as generally representative of the Republican Party members reaction:

I look forward to new leadership at the Department of Health to better serve the residents of our state. In the meantime, many questions remain about the department’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Investigations currently underway must continue and Dr. Zucker should be held accountable for decisions made on his watch.

Most the Republican party members of the NY Assembly and Senate emphasized they've been calling for Zucker's ouster from office for some time. By contrast, Democratic Party member Tish James' comments were more circumspect:

Dr. Zucker’s resignation marks the end of a difficult chapter for our state. While I thank him for his service, we need more transparency and accountability at the Department of Health as we continue to battle COVID-19. I look forward to working with the next health commissioner, who must safeguard the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers, especially the most vulnerable, and must do so with openness and great care.

Howard Zucker, NY health commissioner who oversaw Cuomo nursing home scandal, resigns

This report starts with replacement Governor Kathy Hochul's announcement of Howard Zucker's pending resignation as New York's state health commissioner, but quickly gets to NY Assemblyman Ron Kim's (D-Queens) reaction:

“I think it’s the first step; but, just like with Andrew Cuomo, a resignation does not equate to accountability and Howard Zucker and all of Cuomo’s enablers must be held accountable,” said Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens), a progressive lawmaker who was among Cuomo’s most vociferous critics on the handling of nursing homes.

The report also captures the reaction of victims of the Cuomo administration's COVID nursing home scandals:

“Zucker orchestrated the nursing home cover-up and my advice to him would be to retain a lawyer,” said Danielle Messina, whose dad, Samuel, died of COVID in a Staten Island nursing home last year.

Tracey Alvino, whose dad, Daniel, died after contracting COVID in a Long Island nursing home, told The Post that “Howard Zucker should have been fired the minute Kathy Hochul became Governor.”

“He needs to be prosecuted for his role in the Cuomo Crime Syndicate,” he added.

This final report also provides a good general overview of the COVID nursing home scandals, which describe the circumstances that are forcing Zucker's resignation.