Cuomo Urged To Make New York Houses Of Worship ‘Essential’ To Administer Vaccines

New York City clergy members and activists called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week to designate houses of worship as essential.

Bertha Lewis, CEO of the Black Institute, a progressive think tank, also called out the governor for using minority churches as “props.” Lewis was reportedly referring to news conferences Cuomo has held in minority communities that have excluded the press amid his nursing home and sexual harassment scandals. According to reports Across the state, 17 “pop-up” vaccination sites have been set up in houses of worship. Several of the rally speakers stressed the importance of designating churches as essential so they could open up and be long-term vaccination sites in minority communities in the city.