S5269

The New York State Senate passed legislation authorizing the creation of COVID-19 memorials throughout the state, with a vote of 57-0. Senate Print 5269, sponsored by Sen. Bailey, would amend the State Finance Law to establish monuments commemorating the pandemic and those who died from it. Sen. Bailey explained his vote by noting that New York was hit particularly hard by COVID-19, with essential workers and everyday New Yorkers dying from the virus. He spoke emotionally about the personal toll of the pandemic, including the death of his mother-in-law, and stressed the importance of creating physical memorials so that future generations remember those lost. "We need to make sure that this is memorialized," Bailey said. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.