Council Member Costa Constantinides (Photo: CM Constantinides)
April 9, 2020 Staff Report
Council Member Costa Constantinides penned a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo last month calling for him to suspend the requirement that couples seeking a marriage license must go to the clerk’s office in person.
Constantinides said that the in-person requirement has stopped couples from being able to marry since the clerk’s office–marriage bureau has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The closure, Constantinides says, is particularly problematic in these perilous times, since marriage can bring economic benefits such as access to health insurance.
“Sadly, the most sacred compact we can have with another person has also been put on hold by the virus’ spread. Couples hoping to enter into a union are now left in limbo because clerks’ offices are closed for at least the next several weeks,” Constantinides wrote in a March 31 letter to Cuomo.
“Those recently unemployed might be deprived of their spouse’s benefits — something we should not overlook amid the rising in positive cases throughout New York City.”
Constantinides requested the Governor use a recent amendment to New York State’s Executive Law to suspend the requirement that marriage licenses be administered in person.
He also wrote that clerk’s offices should come up with a plan to issue marriage licenses digitally, in recognition of the challenges brought about by the coronavirus.
Governor Letter_Marriage Li… by Queens Post on Scribd
4 Comments
Focus on making funeral costs cheaper. Many bodies are not being claimed by anyone and this is partly due to the expensive cost of burial. Its sad but people are making choices between feeding themselves and honoring loved ones. Why must a proper send off be only for the rich. Low cost or free funerals should be mandated in all public and private sectors to include all funeral homes and flower shops to help the poor and lower working class.
Sounds like he is trying to do anything to get his name in the paper. I can understand though. For few, getting married would make a wonderful Facebook or Instagram post that news media might pick up on. If he wanted to reach out to more younger voters he should focus on making filing for a divorce cheaper and easier because that it is where most married couples are headed after this lockdown is over.
My fiance and I can get married because of the in-person requirement, and so I can’t put her on my health insurance. People’s lives are at risk.
“He is trying to do anything to get his name in the paper” typical Trump lover response, childish personal insults.
Then how does a clerk supposed to verify that both parties are willing to create a union? These local political stooges are all about making the law easier to break.