As a New Yorker, Cuomo's powerful attempts to maintain secrecy, consolidate power, severely limit any requirements to keep records of his administration available to the public and serve bloc voting communities demonstrate to me that he is a political animal with no soul to discern. I encourage him to prove me wrong.
5
Why does no one point out the fact that both the NJ and NY State legislatures passed legislation that would have overhauled the Port Authority. It was passed unanimously in both states, but both Cuomo and Christie vetoed it. Collusion? And a better question is: why didn't the legislatures override the vetoes?
7
Of course Cuomo’s men knew that Baroni’s testimony about the “traffic study” was a lie, and the only possible reason for keeping mum was Cuomo’s orders.
Now, if Cuomo runs again, I’ll have to vote for him. That’s how crazy and stupid the Republican party has become.
Now, if Cuomo runs again, I’ll have to vote for him. That’s how crazy and stupid the Republican party has become.
3
Where would all those centrist Republicans come from if you refuse to consider voting for one on principle?
1
If Gov. Cuomo's involvement in the Bridgegate scandal is conclusively established, then for him, Bridgegate will resemble the Watergate scandal in one aspect; the political pointlessness of it. There was no reason to think that Rob Astorino posed any serious threat to Gov. Cuomo's re-election in 2014 - just like there was no reason to think that George McGovern posed any serious threat to President Nixon's re-election in 1972. Unlike President Nixon, Gov. Cuomo is eligible to seek a third term in 2018. We'll just have to see what this does to his prospects on that front.
The Times has done an excellent job of revealing Cuomo's questionable doings. Sadly, it was laudatory to Christie--including a puff piece cover story in the Times Magazine--long after New Jerseyeans knew he was a serial liar and bully.
4
New York State has been rocked by Mr. Cuomo's abrupt dismantlement of the Moreland commission, and the Bruno, Silver, Skelos convictions. A reasonable person can conclude that Cuomo tried to stop prosecution of Silver and Skelos, and it didn't succeed. An inquiry by the United States attorney’s office in Manhattan into Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s interference with the panel concluded there was not enough evidence to bring a criminal case to court against him -- he dodged that bullet. I refuse to vote for him now.
But that is quite different than Christie and Bridgegate. Any reasonable governor of New York would have tried to stay out of a battle with New Jersey and its governor.
Patrick Foye reopened the lanes ... it's up to New Jersey to discipline Wormtail. I cannot understand why Christie remains un-impeached, but he is. Not New York's fault.
But that is quite different than Christie and Bridgegate. Any reasonable governor of New York would have tried to stay out of a battle with New Jersey and its governor.
Patrick Foye reopened the lanes ... it's up to New Jersey to discipline Wormtail. I cannot understand why Christie remains un-impeached, but he is. Not New York's fault.
5
Cuomo's silence in the wake of the lane-closing revelations speaks volumes. He obviously knew what was going on. He just didn't have the backbone or decency to say anything. Yet another blowhard public "servant."
10
Did Justice question Gov. Cuomo and his PA men about their complicity in the Bridgegate cover up? Did they lie to federal agents, like Martha Stewart? The Justice Dept. owes us an explanation.
8
Corruption now taints all of Andrew Cuomo's close associates and political projects, making it hard to believe that Cuomo is innocent of any wrongdoing.
And while Cuomo still refuses to adequately fund the MTA, an integral part of the New York economy, he is still plowing hundreds of millions of dollars in government-backed venture in upstate New York, notwithstanding that the billion already spent has produced no economic return and led to charges of corruption.
These facts may not have cost Cuomo support with other voters, but he no longer has mine.
And while Cuomo still refuses to adequately fund the MTA, an integral part of the New York economy, he is still plowing hundreds of millions of dollars in government-backed venture in upstate New York, notwithstanding that the billion already spent has produced no economic return and led to charges of corruption.
These facts may not have cost Cuomo support with other voters, but he no longer has mine.
14
C'mon. All politicians are corrupt.
1
Andrew Cuomo is corrupt? I'm shocked.
1
A governor, and any elected official, should not be allowed NOT to use email, or snapchat.
You represent, thus you must agree to leave a trace.
You represent, thus you must agree to leave a trace.
2
Cuomo and the Democrat swamp that is the legislature in Albany make Christie look like a choir boy in comparison. I'm frankly surprised that federal prosecutors have not been able to indict Cuomo for actions similar to those that brought Sheldon Silver down. It may have to do with Cuomo's aversion to e-mail as a communication method, which is a smart move in light of how e-mail has wreaked havoc on the Clinton campaign.
10
Curious that Democrats, E. Warren [Sp?] in particular, called for ouster of WF CEO for his handling of thousands of staffers actions but nary a word about these "top aides" [e.g. direct reports if one will] somehow distanced from NY's esteemed governor. If the article is correct his ratings have actually increased [ "slightly up from the summer."]
Just goes to show Simon Cameron may have been on to something when he said "An honest politician is one who, when bought, will stay bought." Apparently the Democrats in New York are confident believers in this adage.
Just goes to show Simon Cameron may have been on to something when he said "An honest politician is one who, when bought, will stay bought." Apparently the Democrats in New York are confident believers in this adage.
1
Although bully Christie was likely the vengeful instigator of Bridge-gate, Cuomo knew full well what was going on. Both are liars and hypocrites, the hope being that justice will catch up to both and drive them out of office, with an intermediate step to send a message of future malfeasance, jail.
7
What's taken so long to include Cuomo in this scandal? Perhaps, Cuomo thought he was being helpful and didn't know the depths of what was occurring when he got a call from Christie. Shouldn't have taken that call...
It was essentially to protect their hold on the Port Authority, which is in effect an additional 'state' making it really "The Quad State Area".
2
Of course Cuomo’s men knew that Baroni’s testimony about the “traffic study” was a lie, and the only possible reason for keeping mum was Cuomo’s orders.
Now, if Cuomo runs again, I’ll have to vote for him. That’s how crazy and stupid the Republican party has become.
Now, if Cuomo runs again, I’ll have to vote for him. That’s how crazy and stupid the Republican party has become.
Because politicians these days know to have meetings off the books (no phones, no emails, no texts and preferably it should be a quick standing in a hallway after or before a different meeting) there appears to be no "smoking gun" message that connects Cuomo to decisions made about the bridge. Now status quo politics in 2016.
2
I've been waiting to see when someone would start to ask questions about Cuomo's involvement or knowledge of this whole affair. For a non-partisan, bi-state organization, the Port Authority has shown a lamentable amount of deference to Christie in doing what it did in Fort Lee. Citizens should not have to fear that their mayor's stance on a governor or any government official will be a motivation to clog their roads, deny them services, or any other machinations devised by said agency or government group.
Christie, the head of the Port Authority, Cuomo, and others should be on that stand explaining exactly how much influence they have. If Christie knew about and encouraged this, he should be charged. And, I hate to say it, but the same applies to Cuomo. What was done was unacceptable.
Christie, the head of the Port Authority, Cuomo, and others should be on that stand explaining exactly how much influence they have. If Christie knew about and encouraged this, he should be charged. And, I hate to say it, but the same applies to Cuomo. What was done was unacceptable.
23
As a New Yorker, I have to question why Cuomo felt he had to support Christie unless he was colluding with him. Cuomo's loyalty must be to New York State, and not a New Jersey governor and his hacks.
33
Whenever I'm stuck in traffic trying to cross into NY from NJ on the GW I wonder why Fort Lee residents have 3 lanes dedicated to their use. Why inconvenience thousands for a few spoil, pampered residents? I suggest all 3 lanes are closed and the road widened to make the bottlenecks less. And to the residents of Fort Lee who will be treated like all the other commuters it would be about time.
3
I have a question I can't find the answer to. If everyone in the Bridget Kelly et all. trial is citing Chris Christie as knowing about the whole affair, how come he hasn't been called to testify during the trial?
32
Maybe defense thinks it is more effective to point to the "empty chair" and let the clients assert that he knew. Creating reasonable doubt would be the key, not resolving ambiguity, perhaps?
2
Mr Cuomo and Mr Christie are like Soprano characters - Chris is Tony running NJ and Andrew is Johnny "Sack". And the PA is their patronage allocation company to reward sycophants, political favorites and pay for play.
There is a fine line between what one "knows" and what one can "prove." I am not sure if the DOJ can prove it case against Christie ... nor Cuomo in Buffalo, etc. But we know these men are at least close to corrupt as they legally can be.
Our democracy is in trouble. We live in our own echo chambers blind to our party's candidates webs of deception. She/He may be a bad gal/guy but she's/he's our bad gal/guy ... this runs right up to Hillary and Trump.
This bridgegate to some may seem trivial nonsense. But see the big picture. The political mafia silences those below them ... men and women of good will, perhaps like the major of Fort Lee, want good government and public policies, but are forced out or don't participate in politics because of this type of mafioso activities.
I am sure Coumo knew of the events. He turned away so that Christie would not support any Rep challenger to Coumo. Classic quid pro qou.
When you ask yourselves how we got Hillary vs Trump, look at how Ft Lee was treated. And how two Govs concluded. That's our system.
There is a fine line between what one "knows" and what one can "prove." I am not sure if the DOJ can prove it case against Christie ... nor Cuomo in Buffalo, etc. But we know these men are at least close to corrupt as they legally can be.
Our democracy is in trouble. We live in our own echo chambers blind to our party's candidates webs of deception. She/He may be a bad gal/guy but she's/he's our bad gal/guy ... this runs right up to Hillary and Trump.
This bridgegate to some may seem trivial nonsense. But see the big picture. The political mafia silences those below them ... men and women of good will, perhaps like the major of Fort Lee, want good government and public policies, but are forced out or don't participate in politics because of this type of mafioso activities.
I am sure Coumo knew of the events. He turned away so that Christie would not support any Rep challenger to Coumo. Classic quid pro qou.
When you ask yourselves how we got Hillary vs Trump, look at how Ft Lee was treated. And how two Govs concluded. That's our system.
33
I too always believed that Cuomo was complicit ini this stupid caper, but let's not sink all Italians with a Soprano allusion. And I 'm not even Italian.
2
Gee, a Democrat and a Republican working together instead of being at loggerheads. Trouble is, they're doing it to help themselves, not their constituents.
30
There's more to reveal about Cuomo's corruption.
Cuomo refused to endorse Barbara Buono, Christie's Democratic opponent in 2013. A year later, Christie returned the favor, his position as chairman of e Republican Governors'Association, and it being his JOB, notwithstanding.
In 2014, Cuomo pledged to the Working Families Party to work toward a Democratically controlled State Senate, as a "concession" in order for the WFP to endorse him over Zephyr Teachout. Once that endorsement was secured, he reneged on that promise within 24 hours.
Then he dismantled the Moreland Commission after it implicated Dean Skelos and Shelly Silver, but before it could reach him.
Anyone who thinks Cuomo *genuinely* is campaigning for a Democratically controlled $tate $enate is either willfully naive or delusional. In fact, a mysteriously shadowy Super PAC called "the Committee for Balanced Government" is spending extensively on ads in my $tate $enate race, currently held by a Republican now running for Congre$$, to try to link the Democratic Candidate, Adam Haber, to some plot supposedly led by Bill de Blasio to raise taxes and spending. Would it surprise me to find a Cuomo connection to that Super PAC? Not in the least.
Cuomo refused to endorse Barbara Buono, Christie's Democratic opponent in 2013. A year later, Christie returned the favor, his position as chairman of e Republican Governors'Association, and it being his JOB, notwithstanding.
In 2014, Cuomo pledged to the Working Families Party to work toward a Democratically controlled State Senate, as a "concession" in order for the WFP to endorse him over Zephyr Teachout. Once that endorsement was secured, he reneged on that promise within 24 hours.
Then he dismantled the Moreland Commission after it implicated Dean Skelos and Shelly Silver, but before it could reach him.
Anyone who thinks Cuomo *genuinely* is campaigning for a Democratically controlled $tate $enate is either willfully naive or delusional. In fact, a mysteriously shadowy Super PAC called "the Committee for Balanced Government" is spending extensively on ads in my $tate $enate race, currently held by a Republican now running for Congre$$, to try to link the Democratic Candidate, Adam Haber, to some plot supposedly led by Bill de Blasio to raise taxes and spending. Would it surprise me to find a Cuomo connection to that Super PAC? Not in the least.
34
Whenever I see the word "Authority" attached to the end of an agencies name, I think of it as nothing more than a tax payers siphon with minimal accountability and even less public input. A lot of well paid Directors Assistant Directors, Presidents and Vice Presidents. Multiply with the Port Authority, New York City Housing Authority, MTA, Long Island Power Authority. Think cushy pensions and life time perks next time you pay your peasant tax.
15
Throw all the current snakes in the Hudson and East Rivers after encasing them in concrete.
Then go and elect a brand new group of snakes. At least it will take them time to learn how to hurt the general population.
bb
Then go and elect a brand new group of snakes. At least it will take them time to learn how to hurt the general population.
bb
8
The NYT endorsed Cuomo even though it knew about his ethical lapses, like shutting down the Morehead commission. And now,the NYTis shocked, shocked by the revelations. The apple (Andrew) fell very far away from the tree (Mario). And we are the worst for it.
35
Three men in a room making all policy decisions with no written record, no email use - only Blackberry's they can delete. Andrew Cuomo's little fiefdom he has worked so hard to create will still come crashing down due to his and his cronies' corruption. He is corrupt and he will always be an asterisk on his father's legacy.
34
Et Tu, Andy? This may not put your reelection in danger here in New York but you can kiss any national ambitions goodbye. Just look at what Bridgegate has done for President Christie.
21
This was broken by other media outlets as news over a week ago
Yet the nyt is only now just covering this
This is the governor of our home state...a state government well known for corruption
The nyt loves to cover any innuendo on blasio but it creates a shadow of non coverage on cuomo. What gives?
You do a similar thing with hrc. Intense coverage of her rival and then defense or non coverage of her. Do you see what you're doing?
Cover all these politicians equally. Don't fall in love with any of them. Their politicians! Skepticism is a must
Yet the nyt is only now just covering this
This is the governor of our home state...a state government well known for corruption
The nyt loves to cover any innuendo on blasio but it creates a shadow of non coverage on cuomo. What gives?
You do a similar thing with hrc. Intense coverage of her rival and then defense or non coverage of her. Do you see what you're doing?
Cover all these politicians equally. Don't fall in love with any of them. Their politicians! Skepticism is a must
21
The port authority has been abused as a place to hire political hacks by governors of both states for years. It reflects a history of seriously bad public service for the residents of both NY and NJ. Gov. Cuomo needs to vociferously speak out for cleaning up the PA by demanding solid mgmt hires and accountability and refusing to plug political operatives into important civic roles. Shame on him for not demanding a higher level of service for his NY constituents
11
Sounds similar to Obama's mantra "... don't know anything more than the newspapers..... " Aren't these professional politicians supposed to be on top of things in their administration?
2
A not so subtle way of adding Pres. Obama to the conversation. That didn't take long.
11
When Bridgegate first broke I wrote a comment here detailing Cuomo's likely involvement, speculating that he was in water over his gunwales. Now he's bailing furiously. The bit about both governors ignoring their legislatures (and constituencies), and colluding to maintain the PA as their personal fiefdom should tell everyone exactly what's going on. Cuomo now has one foot in this swamp and another in the quicksand in Buffalo. With the recent corruption arrests and/or convictions of members of both the NY state legislature and his own team, I think there's a fair chance he'll finally be exposed. Both gov's are adept at sidestepping troubles and manipulating perceptions, but I'd sure like to see them sharing a cell at Club Fed. A close look at the Tappan Zee bridge project might be all it takes.
45
You want to find Cuomo and Christie in the corruption soup, the bridge to look at is the Bayonne Bridge. The shortest PA crossing, and the only North-South one, is having its roadway raised, while keeping its already obsolete, 87 year old steel arch. This restricts it to its current four lane width, and precludes the sensible extension of the Hudson Light Rail Line to the Public transit underserved West Shore of Staten Island (on which rock I was born and raised).
The cost ( without overruns) is budgeted at $2.2 BILLION, despite the fact that it is about 1/6 the length of a fully new Tappan Zee Bridge, and is more expensive than replacing the span entirely.
Who is profiting from this boondoggle, and how do they relate to Christie and Cuomo?
The cost ( without overruns) is budgeted at $2.2 BILLION, despite the fact that it is about 1/6 the length of a fully new Tappan Zee Bridge, and is more expensive than replacing the span entirely.
Who is profiting from this boondoggle, and how do they relate to Christie and Cuomo?
17
Your comment is serious, but - imagining the torture they would put each other through sharing a cell is priceless. Two ballooning egos; both ruthless towards enemies, which they are adept at making; each totally unable to concede a millimeter when faced with challenges to their authority. And with no one to bully but one another. Priceless.
3
The Tappan Zee Bridge is part of the NY Thruway, and is Administered wholly by the NYS Thruway Authority, having everything to do with Cuomo, and nothing to do with Christie, Eric.
1
The port authority is nothing more than a political patronage machine used by the governors to reward their wealthy real estate donors. It should be greatly diminished as soon as possible
39
"Is it wrong that I'm smiling,"
This classic statement will also spoil the beans for Andrew Cuomo. Bridget Kelly has all the info.
This classic statement will also spoil the beans for Andrew Cuomo. Bridget Kelly has all the info.
4
It seems that as the cost of gas goes up in NJ - the cost of lying goes down - on both sides of the bridge.
6
This acorn has fallen far from the mighty oak tree. How long can this hyper-ambitious, charmless, sharp-elbowed schemer glide on his father's good name?
53
The Port Authority is a cash cow that is milked by both governors. The tolls on the GWB and other Hudson river crossings are insanely high. Yet as taxpayers we have no recourse as shown when both Governors rejected Port Authority overhaul.
48
This is how a two party system works?
17