Press Club Calls on Governor to Include News Media in Essential Workers Monument
The Press Club of Long Island Board of Directors recently reached out to Governor Andrew Cuomo urging him to include the news media in the monument to essential workers that is being planned in Battery Park City.
The governor’s office had stated that the monument is for “all essential workers,” but journalists and the other professionals who bring the news to readers and viewers were not listed among the 19 groups of essential workers that were identified.
Throughout the pandemic, the work of the news media has been vital to keeping the public informed on matters of public health. Many journalists have put themselves at risk of exposure to get the news out and to tell the stories of both the heroes and victims of this crisis. If the news media is excluded from the essential workers monument, the monument will be incomplete.
PCLI’s letter to the governor follows:
July 3, 2021
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Cuomo:
The recent announcement that the Essential Workers Monument will be located in Battery Park City stated that the design will honor “all essential workers.” However, among the 19 groups mentioned, each represented by a red maple tree, there is a glaring omission: the news media.
Journalists have been essential workers from day one of this pandemic, getting vital information on health and safety out to the public and, at times, putting themselves at risk of exposure to do so.
The Press Club of Long Island requests that this oversight be corrected.
Sincerely,
Brendan J. O’Reilly
President
Press Club of Long Island
