Morning Edition

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, facing a state budget deadline in less than a week, is out with a new proposal to try to cope as the state faces a multibillion-dollar budget gap and much uncertainty, with the economy shut down due to coronavirus.

Due to the spread of the coronavirus, New York state's court system is "on pause," not taking any new case filings except for emergency matters. A nonprofit that offers legal services to low-income residents in central New York is also reorganizing its efforts to serve its clients' most pressing needs.

Now working remotely, the staff of 40 attorneys at Legal Services of Central New York is helping people get access to resources such as food stamps, healthcare, and housing.

The Rescue Mission of central New York, which provides shelter and meals to the homeless, has had to lay off 285 employees from its thrifty shopper stores and other departments, as all nonessential workers have to stay home and businesses have had to close. Dan Sieburg, CEO of the Rescue Mission, said its stores account for 60 percent of its annual revenue. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he’s been working closely with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and top White House aide, Jared Kushner, to get New York ventilators as the number of coronavirus cases continues to escalate. 

Cuomo said procuring enough ventilators is “the single greatest challenge” and he said Kushner, who is also a New Yorker, has been “extraordinarily helpful” in assisting with the search. 

It’s becoming clear that some of our most vulnerable populations are some of the most affected during the coronavirus outbreak. In the case of Farnham Family Services, Oswego County’s largest provider of outpatient treatment for substance use disorder, even a day without services can have detrimental effects.

State lawmakers have just one week until the state budget is due, and despite the coronavirus outbreak, they say they intend to meet the deadline and will use precautions to avoid meeting in large groups.

They face a daunting task of putting together a spending plan while a multibillion-dollar deficit grows each day. 

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said on March 17 that the state’s $6 billion deficit could grow by $4 billion to $7 billion. Now, even those numbers appear outdated.

For the first time, the Syracuse Common Council held its study session online with video conferencing. The council’s legislative priorities may have to wait as the city deals with the fallout from the coronavirus.