After months of never making a wrong move (which made me the envy of all my non New Yorker friends), why in the world did you decide to open up COVID vaccine registration to age 65 before all of the essential workers and those over 75 had been able to even make an appointment?

It almost felt like I was standing in quicksand when, after filling out the same questionnaire a zillion times, I would click “save appointment” and less than a nanosecond later the dreaded red sentence “sorry this appointment is no longer available” would pop up. Governor, please try to imagine how, I, and many of my fellow “older” New Yorkers feel after wasting long fruitless days searching every possible website in growing despair and frustration because of your decision.

Finally this past Tuesday I achieved what I was beginning to believe was the impossible dream, an appointment at the Mt Sinai satellite in Chelsea for 10:45 this morning. I was thrilled! I printed out my two confirmations, one received yesterday and one this morning, called an Uber and happily set off on a $20.00 ride downtown. After presenting my normal-temperatured and double masked self at the reception desk as ordered, I was told the Chelsea location “doesn’t give vaccines” and that even if they did the City of New York has none left!! I, of course, asked to speak to the Supervisor who, upon seeing my two confirmations was most puzzled and apologetic. She explained that after you, Governor, opened up the next category their website, in essence, had a nervous breakdown (my interpretation of her words)!

Andrew how could you do this to me (to us)? I am beyond disappointed in you and your decision, therefore, difficult as this is, I’m breaking our engagement and sending your ring back.

Below is his reply which makes me wonder which “appropriate staff member” handles his broken engagements? (note not even “Dear Florence”)

Thank you for your email. To build a stronger, better New York, we need the participation of citizens like you – sharing your ideas, comments, and concerns. Your input is invaluable to our mission to create a government that works for its people, and I appreciate you taking the time to contribute your feedback.

I want to assure you that your letter has been received and that it will be read and shared with the appropriate members of my staff.

I encourage you to visit my website, www.governor.ny.gov, where you can review my Administration’s initiatives and familiarize yourself with my office and your state government. You can also follow us on Twitter at @NYGovCuomo and Facebook at www.facebook.com/GovernorAndrewCuomo for the latest updates.

Thank you again for sharing your perspective and for joining in the effort to build a new New York.

Sincerely,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

I’m listening to the members of The House of Representatives discuss moving forward with Articles of Impeachment and shaking my head in disbelief. Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma, ranking member on the House Rules Committee, opened the debate by saying the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol is “the darkest day” of his career in Congress. And then he argued that pursuing impeachment “would only further divide the country”….. “I can think of no action the House can take that is more likely to further divide the American people than the action we are contemplating today.” Is he serious?!!

I held myself back from writing about the terrifying and heartbreaking events in Washington a week ago because I saw no reason to add to the “noise”. Mr. Cole’s speech however, also the rallying cry of many of his Republican colleagues in the House, was a bridge too far. Weren’t you there in the Halls of Congress last Wednesday as an angry mob brandishing weapons stormed in causing you and your colleagues to fear for your lives? Have you not seen the video of the President emboldening the crowd saying “you will never take back our country with weakness” or watched the terrifying violence that took place on the Capitol steps immediately afterwards?

Are we so brainwashed by Trumpism that we are willing to let bygones be bygones and allow the President of the United States to incite insurrection then all join hands and sing Kumbaya?  Please explain to me Mr. Cole, when and under what circumstances it is ok for anyone, let alone the President of the United States, to encourage an angry mob to storm our Capitol, threaten to kill the Vice President and the Speaker of the House and terrorize, not only an entire branch of the Government, but the whole country?

In your opinion and those of your colleagues like Jim Jordan and Matt Gaetz, if we impeach Mr. Trump with only seven days to go in his term, we will further divide the American people. I say seven more days of this is much too long!

Where were you when we were warned about Donald Trump’s corruption or when we saw and heard his rallying cries to his base, not just last Wednesday, but over the past four years through not-so-subtle dog whistles?  Whose fault is it that in a few days there will not be a peaceful transfer of power and instead, thousands of troops are now on high alert, not only in Washington, but in every Capitol city around the country? How is this acceptable under any condition let alone when incited by the angry words of the head of our government who led the charge?

I fear that by doing nothing our country and the entire world, friends and foes alike, will see us tolerating the same behavior we rise up against when it occurs in other countries. How can we ever take the moral high ground again if our Representatives in Congress turn their backs on these egregious acts. Congress must vote to impeach thus sending a message that, although bruised and battered, we are still a Democracy.