Nassau pol Lafazan must be really really scared of Covid as he runs for Congress

                                                                          

Josh Lafazan

Only a month after Nassau Legis. Josh Lafazan squeaked out a victory in his November bid for re-election, he changed his voter registration from blank to Democrat and announced he was running for the Democratic nomination to Congress -- for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi of Glen Cove.

Since then,  Lafazan has rarely been seen at the county legislature.

Instead, he has attended all of this year's twice-monthly meetings of the full legislature remotely.

Remote attendance allows county lawmakers, who earn nearly $80,000 a year, to be almost anywhere to do county business, needing only to press the right key on their internet connection to say "Aye" or "Nay" when appropriate.  

Lafazan last appeared in person in the legislative chambers in Mineloa on Jan. 11 to be sworn in to a third term.

Democratic lawmakers being sworn in Jan. 11. Lafazan on far right.

The Woodbury Democrat must be really afraid of catching Covid-19, since that's the only reason why New York elected officials are allowed to avoid public meetings and participate remotely.

The state Open Meetings law requires lawmakers to appear and vote in person, in full view of the public, so that residents will know that their elected representatives were taking action on their own free will, ie. They would know that nobody was holding a gun to their lawmaker's head in a backroom. 

In-person attendance also allows constituents to confront their elected officials.

But former Gov. Andrews Cuomo waived that requirement in March 2020 when he declared a state of emergency in New York because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Cuomo's emergency ended in June 2021.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, the state's former lieutenant governor who ascended to the state's top job after Cuomo resigned last August, immediately declared a new state of emergency in New York.

She said remote attendance was extended "to allow public business to continue while protecting public health by eliminating the need for congregation."

And while the pandemic has pretty much ended, Hochul has extended the emergency declaration every month since then. It now ends May 21* -- conveniently close to the June 28 primary for governor and Congress.

However, today's decision by the state Court of Appeals, throwing out new Congressional boundaries, will likely push back the Congressional primaries til August.

Three other county legislators also are running for office this year: Democrats Legis. Siela Bynoe of Westbury and Carrie Solages of Lawrence are both seeking the Democratic nomination for the 4th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice. Republican Steve Rhoads of Bellmore is challenging incumbent Democratic State Sen. John Brooks of Seaford.

Solages sometimes attends the legislative sessions remotely but also shows up in person. Bynoe and Rhoads regularly appear in person.

Reports from people at the meetings indicate that Lafazan has attended remotely more than any other lawmaker.

Oddly Lafazan's fear of covid has not stopped him from appearing in person at news conferences or other events, even events he hosts in legislative offices, according to his own social media posts.

Funny how the fear of covid seems to come and go.

 

 

*Month Corrected