There is a truth that the media and others who fawned over Governor Cuomo did not want to hear: that his executive orders were one of the biggest reasons why so many of our parents and grandparents died of COVID in their elderly care facilities.
We lost more COVID seniors to nursing homes than 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina combined. This includes my husband’s parents, Mickey and Dee Newman. Why did this not provoke indignation?
Now we finally know why, and that’s what we suspected for many months: because this government has done everything it can to keep that information hidden, accusing, intimidating, lying and covering up.
I was personally attacked by the governor’s spokesmen, as well as my family and the other courageous people who dared to go against this government. I was told that I had no credibility at all, except in the weather and that I was part of a death cult that continued to stalk Cuomo or his office. I was told to “take care of my back” and “be careful”. He was very powerful, revered and feared by those who covered him and worked for him.
In the meantime, our bereaved families continued to watch the mainstream media flatter him and never ask the questions we so wanted to know: why did he write that executive order to bring infected patients to nursing homes and why was he covering the total number of elderly people who died, including those who died in the hospital?
We never hear the answers. Instead, we saw him promote and celebrate, write his book on leadership and win an Emmy Award.
It was annoying. Frustrating. Soul crush. And despite all my attempts at accountability, I was beginning to believe that perhaps we would never see the day that this governor and his government would be called upon to take office.
So far. A 76-page report from the New York Attorney General’s Office that finally gave us reason to believe that the nightmare we were experiencing was very real.
Our feelings of hurt, discouragement, anger, betrayal by this leader and his Health Department were valid. What we knew in our hearts was the truth.
In his report, James wrote:
“While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost in this crisis, this report seeks to provide the transparency that the public deserves and to encourage increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents.”
That’s the part that made me cry. Because we can’t bring my husband’s parents back, but I believe they helped give me the strength not to give up.
I called my husband and his sister and told them that Mickey and Dee wouldn’t give up. They helped us to continue.
Because those we lose are the ones we fight for.
This report is a door opening, with a glimpse of light appearing. Perhaps there is justice and their deaths have not been in vain.
I hope we will see a full investigation into the massacre of the nursing home here in New York. These deaths could have been prevented. This may be the beginning of protecting other families in the future.
But first, we need the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This governor, his Department of Health and all those who helped to cover it up. Because we deserve it. My husband’s parents deserve this.
Governor Cuomo said this week in an interview on one of the channels that he never asked questions about the tragedy of the nursing home:
“Incompetent government kills people. More people died than needed to die in COVID. That’s the truth.”
It turns out that he was talking about himself.
Janice Dean is the senior meteorologist and anchor for Fox News.