ALBANY - Larry Schwartz, a longtime ally of Gov. Cuomo who ran the state's COVID contact tracing program and vaccination efforts during the past year, is stepping down.
The move comes a day after after lawmakers rolled back a rule exempting Schwartz and other volunteers who assisted the administration during the coronavirus crisis from the state's public officers laws.
In a statement provided by Cuomo's office, Schwartz said his "plan was always to step down in my volunteer capacity over the next few weeks as we achieved certain milestones."
Currently the chief strategy officer at OTG, an airport concessions company, Schwartz previously served as a senior adviser to Cuomo before being appointed secretary to the governor in 2011. He left the administration in 2015 but has serves on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board and was became a part of the Cuomo's COVID task force early on during pandemic.
© Provided by New York Daily NewsFILE - Secretary to the Governor Larry Schwartz, left, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Albany, N.Y.
FILE - Secretary to the Governor Larry Schwartz, left, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. (Mike Groll / AP/)
On Wednesday, the Democratic-led Legislature rolled back a handful of Cuomo's pandemic-era directives, including one that exempted top-tier state government volunteers from some of New York's ethics laws.
As a board member with the MTA, Schwartz is required to file a financial disclosure form with the state. However, the change means Schwartz would also be subject to a two-year lobbying ban that hastened his departure, according to The New York Times, which first reported his decision to leave his post.
Current secretary to the governor, Melissa DeRosa, heaped praise on Schwartz as word of his departure spread.
© Provided by New York Daily NewsFormer Secretary to the Governor Larry Schwartz, center, answers a question from Andrew M. Cuomo, Monday July 20, 2020 in Savannah, Ga.
Former Secretary to the Governor Larry Schwartz, center, answers a question from Andrew M. Cuomo, Monday July 20, 2020 in Savannah, Ga. (Stephen B. Morton/)
"I can't think of another public servant who has sacrificed more than Larry Schwarz in their entire career than he has over the last year as a volunteer," she tweeted. "Today I say thank you - and everyone else (esp those who stayed home while he showed up every day) should too."
During his tenure with the administration amid the pandemic, Schwartz faced scrutiny for allegedly calling county officials to talk about vaccine distribution and also seeking support for Cuomo as multiple women came forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against the governor.
Schwartz and Cuomo's office denied any wrongdoing as Attorney General Letitia James' office probes the matter. The governor's Acting Counsel, Beth Garvey, released a statement denying there was anything inappropriate about Schwartz's calls to county leaders.
© Mike GrollLarry Schwartz
Larry Schwartz (Mike Groll/)
Cuomo senior adviser Rich Azzopardi commended Schwartz for working "16-hour days to help manage New York's pandemic response."
"We are incredibly grateful for his dedication and service to New Yorkers in their greatest time of need," he said.