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ALBANY — Americans are sending Gov. Andrew Cuomo surgical masks by the thousands, the Governor revealed Wednesday, arguing that the display proves broad national support for sending more federal coronavirus funding to New York.
“I want to show you a self portrait that was done by American people. This is a self portrait of America, okay? That’s a self portrait of America and you know what it spells? It spells love,” the Democrat explained to reporters during his daily COVID-19 briefing, after unveiling a massive, colorful collage of handmade masks pinned to a wall.
“That’s what it spells. You have to look carefully, but that’s what the American people are saying,” the “Luv Guv” added.
He’s been sent some 2,000 cloth, surgical and N95 masks since the pandemic began, he said.
“We received thousands of masks from all across America. Unsolicited, in the mail, homemade, creative, personal, with beautiful notes from all across the country — literally — just saying ‘thinking about you,’ ‘we care,’ ‘we love you,’ ‘we want to help.’ ”
All told, 674 handmade cloth masks were gifted to the governor, some accompanied by thank you letters.
“New York has a special place in my heart. Why? In 1992 my family was brought over to the US, as refugees, we first touched the soil of freedom in N.Y.,” wrote Liyah from Twin Falls, Idaho, an immigrant from Armenia, who said her 10-year-old son Dominic and 8-year-old daughter Angeli helped her.
“Last night we were sewing till 4A.M. Our masks are not for sale. We are giving them away. So far the children have sewn and donated to New York alone, and we will keep sewing until we are told to stop,” she added.
Sabrina and Graciela of Jersey City, NJ sent Cuomo six embroidered face masks they made.
“We have been making these masks and for the past month, donating them to New York and New Jersey hospitals who have requested sewn masks in conjunction with medical grade ones,” the pair wrote.
“We wanted to take a moment to make some for you to let you know we appreciate the care and wisdom with which you have spoken during the difficult and confusing time.”
The display followed a lengthy tirade against the federal government, as the governor again slammed US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for suggesting states file for bankruptcy if they can’t handle the economic hit caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
He reiterated the desperate need for Congress to release unrestricted federal aid to state governments.
“This is just people’s way of saying ‘we care and we want to help.’ This is what this country is about and this is what Americans are about,” he added.
“A little bit more of this and a little bit less of the partisanship and the ugliness and this country will be a better place.”
Cuomo officials say the cloth masks will be distributed to local governments on an as-needed basis, and the medical masks and N95 respirators will be sent to hospitals and healthcare facilities.
New York also received 7 million cloth face-coverings from the federal government donated by the clothing company Hanes that will be distributed to local governments.
