Gov. Andrew Cuomo is right to pan the idea of suspending the current state legislative session out of coronavirus fears — for several very distinct reasons.
First off, it would look awful: Elected leaders shouldn’t keep themselves safe while constituents ride mass transit to work.
Second, the Legislature’s not that large: just 213 members when all seats are filled. Any gathering will be far smaller than the “large crowds” health officials warn against.
In fact, most lawmakers don’t even have to show up at the Capitol right now. While they’re supposed to pass a budget by April 1, that requires just one long night of voting.
Meanwhile, all the actual negotiating is done in one very small group: the infamous “three men in a room” — actually, two men and a woman, now that Andrea Stewart-Cousins leads the state Senate majority.
Even if Stewart-Cousins, Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie have a few advisers on hand, that’s a low-risk gathering.
For all the difference it would make, the other lawmakers could self-quarantine (videoconferencing for leadership and committee meetings) until that deal’s worked out.
All that said, the COVID-19 crisis is good reason for modest legislating: Until things are back to normal, New Yorkers don’t need any unpleasant surprises.
By all means, fix the disastrous no-bail law — but otherwise keep the budget as simple as possible. Save ambitious changes for later.



