Not so fast José! Resolution to open state ports for trade with Cuba delayed

Assemblyman José Rivera—sounding completely surprised—tells City & State that Brian Coyne, director of legislative operations for the Counsel to the Office of the Assembly Majority Leader, indicated that a resolution calling on the governor to open New York ports to trade with the Republic of Cuba would not be introduced Wednesday as previously scheduled. 

According to Rivera, the resolution's main sponsor, Coyne told him it was a policy-type measure and that it must go to the Committee on Corporations. Rivera said neither he nor any member of his staff had been warned about these potential challenges to moving the resolution forward.

"At no time were we told that we would have to have our resolution go to committee,” Rivera said.

City & State has reached out to Mr. Coyne but has yet to receive a response.

Republican Opposition 

A few days ago City & State learned of an exchange that took place in the Assembly Chamber between Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, a Staten Island Republican of Cuban and Greek descent, and Rivera, a Bronx Democrat who was born in Puerto Rico.

Rivera said Malliotakis told him that the resolution was a "tontería" (silly or foolish) and that she would be coming out against it. City & State wrote to Malliotakis to confirm what Rivera had shared. In a written response, she said "I disagree with resolution and will say so on floor. They should put forth a resolution calling on Cuba to improve human rights and fair pay for its people instead."

Yesterday afternoon, Rivera told us that after the original exchange, Malliotakis promised him, "I'm going to get that resolution pulled."

Stay tuned!