January 25, 2021 – New York State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D, I-Utica/Rome) sent a letter to Governor Cuomo and New York Department of Health Commissioner Howard A. Zucker expressing her disappointment that no site in the Utica-Rome area was selected to serve as a pop-up site for COVID-19 vaccine kit distribution despite the diverse makeup of the local community.
“I am deeply disappointed that a community site within the Utica-Rome area was not selected as a pop-up distribution,” Buttenschon stated. “As a representative of one of the most diverse areas in New York State, I’m concerned about the numbers of COVID cases in our communities and about the difficulty our community members have had with getting vaccinations. Our community is diverse in terms of racial, ethnic, and cultural makeup, and a significant portion of our neighbors struggle with their English language skills and/or digital fluency. It is unfathomable that the Governor speaks of aiding the health and safety of those of color and yet fails to make them a priority when COVID-19 popup sites are established. I urge immediate action to alleviate this oversight and urge the Governor and his team to prioritize the Utica-Rome area for future pop-up vaccine distribution sites.”
The full text of Assemblywoman Buttenschon’s letter is below:
January 25, 2020
| Hon. Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor, State of New York Executive Chamber, State Capitol Albany, NY 12248 |
Howard A. Zucker, MD, JD
Commissioner, NYS Department of Health Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza Albany, New York 12237 |
Dear Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Zucker:
The COVID-19 vaccine has finally allowed us to see a light at the end of this very long tunnel. The steps that New York has made to ensuring fairness and equity in the vaccine distribution will work to dramatically reduce vaccine skepticism and ensure all in our communities are able to get vaccinated.
I am writing to you today to express my deep disappointment that no site in the Utica-Rome area was selected to serve as a pop-up site for COVID-19 vaccine kit distribution despite the diverse makeup of our community. As of the 2010 Census, the Utica-Rome Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of close to 300,000. Of this area, the City of Utica had a population of around 60,000 with 42% of that population being a member of a race other than white. In addition to this, the City of Utica has a large community of immigrants and refugees with approximately 20% of the population being foreign-born.
These demographics show that the Utica area is the right hit to host a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine kit distribution site. It is vital that all steps be taken to ensure that our diverse community is not missed when it comes to vaccine distribution and education.
I urge immediate action to alleviate this oversight and ensure that the Utica-Rome area be prioritized for future pop-up vaccine distribution sites.
Sincerely,
Marianne Buttenschon
Member of Assembly
119th District
