ALBANY, N.Y. – Sen. Jim Tedisco, R-49, has joined other state leaders in launching an online petition pushing for an independent investigation into nursing home deaths during the pandemic.
The petition demands bipartisan legislation that would allow investigators to get “the real” number of residents who died from coronavirus in nursing homes regulated by the state.
“We’ve had hearings and my legislative colleagues and I have repeatedly asked Commissioner Zucker for the real number of New Yorkers who lost their lives in our nursing homes and we’ve gotten no answers,” said Tedisco. “We’re launching this petition drive to harness the power of the citizenry to pressure the Majorities to bring forward bi-partisan legislation for an independent investigation to subpoena the Health Department so we can provide a measure of closure to the loved ones of those who died and prevent this from happening again.”
The state says 6,400 people died from COVID-19 inside nursing homes since March, but Tedisco and others want an independent source to confirm that, not just the state.
Tedisco says officials need to know the accurate number to better prepare for a second wave, or a future health crisis.
To view the petition online, click here.
