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Senator Rob Ortt calls for DOL unemployment response to be addressed

Posted at 11:11 AM, Apr 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-22 11:11:52-04

Senator Rob Ortt and his colleagues are calling on the Department of Labor's response to unemployment to be addressed.

"The only ones not shocked by the Department of Labor’s botched unemployment system are the elected officials, small businesses, and constituents who have had the misfortune of dealing with the DOL in the past," said Senator Ortt. "Gov. Cuomo must step in and address the mess that is his Department of Labor. Make no mistake about it: COVID-19 didn’t cause the DOL’s failure, it only exposed it.”

"This ongoing problem needs to get fixed, fast," said Senator Daphne Jordan. "Whether it’s through surging more state employees to help with the unanswered claims, or continuing to improve the website, the Department of Labor needs to step up and get folks the help they need.”

“Across New York State, families are struggling to put food on the table and pay their bills because of continued delays with unemployment. The Governor today described these delays as an “annoyance.” To many, these delays are the difference between being able to keep their lights on and rent/mortgage paid," said Senator Pam Helming.

Desperate and frustrated constituents have been calling my district offices seven days a week to plead for help in the face of repeated, failed attempts to file their unemployment claims through a system unable to handle the demand," said Senator George Borrello.