Cuomo says the federal government should offer hazard pay for frontline workers
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recommendeda 50 percenthazard from the federal government pay bonus to frontline workers, saying these are workers are disproportionately people of color and women.
"I would propose hazard pay for front line workers. Thanks is nice, but recognition of their efforts and their sacrifice is also appropriate," he said.
The front line workers include first responders, transit workers, cleaning service, delivery workers and health care workers.
"Pay them what they deserve," Cuomo added.
Up until now, three different coronavirus relief bills have been passed and signed into law, but none of them delivered hazard pay specifically to those who operate daily on the frontlines.
Last week, Senator Chuck Schumer and otherDemocrats floated the idea of a "Heroes Fund" to essential workers, however, he did not detail the plan's cost.
During his daily briefing, Cuomo reported that there were 1,380 new hospitalizations with a total of 16,103 hospitalized statewide, which shows numbers leveling off.