“Yesterday, Governor Cuomo used his daily briefing as an opportunity to attack me to distract from the fact that he wants his state bailed out by Florida taxpayers. He also claimed that those of us who care about how American taxpayer dollars are spent are somehow attacking states with significant cases of coronavirus. That’s a lie and simply meant to distract from the woeful fiscal policies of Governor Cuomo and other liberal governors around the country. Florida has made the tough choices that New York has refused to make for decades and can get through this crisis without a bailout. The federal government should continue to reimburse states and local governments for expenses related to coronavirus response. But it’s irresponsible and reckless to take money from American taxpayers and use it to save liberal politicians like Cuomo from the consequences of their poor choices. Floridians shouldn’t have to backfill New York’s state budget and pension fund. American families make responsible budgetary decisions every day. Florida’s done it for years. It’s time for New York to do the same,” Scott said on Thursday.

Scott had questions for Cuomo including how to “explain the fact that New York has 2 million fewer people than Florida and a budget twice the size of Florida’s;” “what concrete steps has New York taken to address its underfunded pension system;” “why do you continue to conflate federal taxes paid and benefits received (e.g., Social Security and Medicare) by individuals with state budgets. Is it because you assume the American people and the media are stupid and won’t understand the difference?”

Many people are reporting increased levels of stress and anxiety related to COVID-19. Those feelings, along with feelings of loneliness, grief, anger, helplessness, and exhaustion, are all normal responses to traumatic events such as those resulting from this current pandemic. Our sense of wellness and emotional balance may look very different during this time, and it is important to evaluate our needs as they relate to this crisis.

With a focus on social distancing and doing our best to maintain our physical health, other areas of our wellbeing may suffer. Many of us are feeling grief and loss as we shelter in place and lose connection to friends, family, hobbies, and routines. We may find ourselves preoccupied with the latest news and information being released about COVID-19 or feel disconnected from it entirely as we try to find ways to manage our anxiety. Relationships may also be presenting their own challenges as many are now having to balance family, work, school, and self-care all under the same roof.

Not all of us face the same challenges, but there may be actions we can take to help us cope:

If the feelings become overwhelming or you are concerned about a friend, loved one, or neighbor, the Crisis Center has phone counselors available 24/7. The Crisis Center is always here and ready to listen.

Alachua County Crisis Center

352-264-6789

Alachua County Critical Information Line

311 or 352-264-6557

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Resources:

24/7 Hotlines

1-800-273-TALK

Ayuda en Espanol

1-888-628-9454

Options For Deaf + Hard of Hearing

1-800-799-4889