NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A day after announcing that staffers implicated in the independent report of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's alleged sexual misconduct would be removed, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office said Larry Schwartz — a Cuomo ally and former COVID-19 vaccine czar — will step down from his MTA board position.
"Larry Schwartz will be resigning, effective when the Senate confirms his replacement, and the Governor is grateful for his public service,” said Hochul spokesperson Hazel Crompton-Hays in a statement.
The New York Post reports Schwartz's name was mentioned 29 times in Attorney General Letitia James' report — allegedly using his position to contact county executives and gauge their support for the now-ousted governor.
Those alleged calls are under investigation in a seperate investigation by James' office and by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, the Post reports.
Schwartz, a former Cuomo top aide, was forced to resign in May from his voluntary role after the state legislature repealed a measure that permitted volunteer appointees to help assist with the COVID-19 response.
MTA spokesperson Tim Minton praised the efforts in which the new administration is working to collaborate.
“Under Gov. Hochul’s leadership, the MTA board is operating in a collaborative manner and in light of serious challenges, financial and otherwise, faced by the Authority, it is useful to have as close to a full roster as possible of board members,” he said.
Crompton-Hays said the Hochul administration trusts the advice from experts, advocates and impacted communities in deciding who will best fill seats with an opening.
“We look forward to working with the legislature to confirm those appointments at the next legislative session and deliver the modernization, reliability, and enhancements New Yorkers deserve,” she added.
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