I used to love Mario Cuomo. However, Andrew is a huge disappointment to both progressive politics and NYC youths. Before retiring, I was a NYC BOE school secretary. I live in Manhattan's Hell Kitchen and worked very close to where I live. Most of our students were from poor neighborhoods in the Bronx and needed a metro card in order to get home. However, the kids were complaining to me that their city issued school metro cards were not working and they were forced to jump the turnstile in order to get home. I didn't know whether to believe them, but they were kids who were poor and minority, so I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. Sure enough, their school issued cards did NOT work! The kids were being arrested, many were over 17, for trying to get home. Cuomo could have helped the kids by allowing them to use other proof proving that they were students trying to get home. Andrew Cuomo is awful, a Republican in sheep's clothing. Shame on him. Vote him out.
8
Ms Fernandez is all in for more government--turning to Cuomo to rescue her from the despicable City-rot that plagues her and millions of others. Dream on Ms. Fernandez, you know not what you wish for.
With Cuomo, there's no there there. Reminds quite a bit of the guy in the White House.
3
Cuomo is the mirror image of DJT - with the the trappings of a spiteful, angry thug replacing the trappings of a spiteful, angry boor/clown.
I'm disgusted that the once great Empire State - which was once a beacon to America and gave this nation Cleveland, TR, FDR, LaGuardia and Dewey - is the home state of these two abominations of elected "leaders". Both should be kicked out of office - the sooner, the better.
8
Unfortunately, Andrew Cuomo's Democratic challenger has come out swinging with very personal, mean-spirited insults and taunts, including being called a bully. If the Governor responds in kind he will immediately be attacked as sexist, misogynist. It was be great for New York, the Democratic party, the progressive agenda, democracy, and perhaps even the cause of women and equality, IF Cynthia Nixon could find something to be positive and constructive about, offering ideas and solutions, not just mud and threats.
7
Always remember that Cuomo invited Klein into budget negotiations and not Stewart-Cousins which smacks of racism and sexism. Always remember that Cuomo could have ended the IDC anytime he wanted to but chose to dilute the power of NYC Democrats in favor of the suburbs and John Flanagan. Always remember that it was Cuomo that didn't allow NYCHA to make the repairs that it wanted instead focused on playgrounds and landscaping. Always remember that Cuomo is a "progressive" only when it's free. Proclamations cost him nothing. He allocated 7 million dollars for early voting and nothing to get it passed.
8
While I support the right for anyone to run for elective office, Nixon’s candidacy only makes Cuomo look better to voters.
Give me a Democratic Congress and I will vote for DJT over Corrupt Cuomo every time.....can’t believe I just wrote that....
1
Cuomo for President, no. The only thing I like about Cuomo is that he hates DiBlasio. Nixon for Governor, no.
7
The qualities of a bully, a coward, and a sneak are almost always found together in the same personality type.
So too their opposites: a brave man is almost always forthright, and a defender of the weak.
Cuomo, like all pols desirous of glory yet fearful of failure, is decidedly in the former camp.
4
If Cuomo were a progressive instead of an opportunist, he would have put the kabosch on the IDC years ago. The 8 IDC members ran as Democrats and then supported Republican control of the Senate, as a result of which truly progressive legislation was killed in committee- and he had deniability because he could blame the Senate Republicans.
The Reproductive Health Act (which would repeal NY’s laws criminalizing abortion - key if Roe v. Wade is overruled) is just one example, and tells us all we need to know about Cuomo and women’s rights. He doesn’t want that bill passed because it would kill his presidential chances in the Bible Belt. The Senate also killed the NY Health Act, the NY Dream Act, and most importantly for Cuomo, ethics reform, because the biggest growth industry in his administration has corruption in Albany. Make no mistake- his denials to the contrary, the IDC is there because he wants them there. They are now supposedly coming back into the fold, because after Nixon’s hounding him on the issue, he made it happen. In the past, he wouldn’t lift a finger to make them act like Democrats.
He’s also grossly anti-democratic with a small “d.” He prevented two special elections from going forward before the budget was passed, because he wanted to make sure he had a Republican budget. How is that different from Scott Walker of Wisconsin doing the same - and being smacked down by a court for violating the constitution? Cuomo’s no progressive.
5
Amazing!!! Mr. Cuomo's sudden discovery of the plight of those living in public housing in New York!! Wasn't he the head of HUD under the Clinton administration? Has he just awakened to the sorry conditions under which those people have been living for years? No, they are just another vehicle for him to use in advancing his run for the WH.
9
"Despite the aura of insincerity that some feel surrounds the governor generally ..."
This prompts me to work on my own aura.
6
If we've learned anything from Hillary Clinton's humiliating loss in 2016, it's that the rest of the nation is especially wary of any candidate who has held elected office in the State of New York -- i.e. a member of an elite group who is, by definition, a beneficiary of Wall Street largesse. For the good of the Democratic Party, both Cuomo and Gillibrand should just hang it up right now.
12
This self-proclaimed social democratic Democrat likes Andrew Cuomo a lot. He gets things done when they need to be done if they are possible in the first place. He started political life very young as an enforcer for his father so got the reputation as ruthless. My interpretation is that among other things he has the underrated stamina to keep people more or less cooped up until they agree to his terms for generally good goals,, e.g. no fracking among the less heralded, the new bridges in Westchester/Rockland and Queens/broolyn among the more touted.
As far as the corruption in Albany, a large part of the problem is that legislative offices are a very bad job economically speaking. It would be a very slight total expense to raise salaries to nearly the level of members of Congress. Then one could live on them in any part of the state, although modestly in parts of NYC. Until legislators do not need outside income to afford their families an upper middle class lifestyle the clandestine ways to get that money will be with us. Because of public attitudes Cuomo is powerless to effectively intervene and he knows it even if most New Yorkers don't understand that. Certainly Nixon and Treachout don't.
8
indeed,di blasio has done nothing but talk and posture. cynthia nixon is aentotked celeb who thinks her opinions (actually good) and celebrity qualify her. NO MORE CELEBS for public office. do some work in the public sphere . get some experience first
5
There's ample evidence to support the argument that Albany's State Capitol is the most corrupt of the 50. Consistently so.
Beyond the bullying, the arrogance, the condescension and the assorted hypocrisies, the disconnect that a citizen -- this one, at least -- finds in the current governor is the reputation he touts as being hands-on and detail-oriented. Some political observers go as far as calling him a control freak.
Yet despite the stench of corruption that has reached his innermost circle and donor base, his response invariably is plausible deniability. Which seems more and more implausible.
The governor abruptly pulled the plug on an anti-corruption commission, never has time for ethics reform, and had a longtime confidant/enforcer/"body man" -- recently convicted of three bribery felonies -- who worked close enough to him to detect the scent of his perspiration. Hardly a pattern that instills trust.
The biggest favor that Donald Trump ever did for Andrew Cuomo was firing Preet Bharara. Because based on the indictments and convictions late in his tenure, it was clear that the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, even from 150 miles away, was reacting forcefully to the smell in Albany.
18
It's the mid-1980s and Andrew Cuomo, recently minted attorney has become an Assistant DA. Suddenly he's a partner at Weiss, Blutrich and Falcone. Going from criminal law to real estate law, is a bit like being an MD and suddenly going from podiatry to gastroenterology. Not to mention, he's barely out of law school (25 years old) and is suddenly partner. And then there's another little fact: Blutarch and Falcone acquires bank business--eg handling closings for Citibank etal. That's a gold mine that lawyers get through political connections.
Just a little something to consider about the nasty, vindictive political leader of NY State
16
What begins as a mockery of Cuomo's feminist credentials moves to his well-documented conflict with the NYC mayor followed by the "disgrace" of public housing, etcetera, etcetera. This article is a potpourri of snippets of what-everybody-already-knows served up as Bellafonte's having to meet her deadline. The headline that has nothing to do with the column sums up a confusing mess of what's-this-all-about anyway.
23
I agree. This is a biased article. I guess it's some sort of opinion piece masquerading as news. I live in Connecticut so I don't have any stake in this story, except that I value quality news, and I don't see it here in the Times.
2
It's a puzzling headline and theme. If Cuomo is a "femnist," it is contradictory for him to draw his sword against other men? Perhaps being a feminist means he has to focus more on male targets. So he's better off attacking de Blasio instead of Nixon, who was/is a supporter of de Blasio. But that seems to me necessary politics.
Cuomo is a loser and has no chance to run or succeed in 20202 thank goodness.
4
Cuomo sees himself as a serious contender for the White House yet his unknown and unfunded opponent in 2013 garner 1/3 0f the primary vote - the Republicans have not dumped dollars into campaigns, his own party both abhors him and fears him .... he is the emperor without clothes, no one is willing to tell him - the progressive left (think Cynthia Nixon) and the center of the Democratic Party, think Speaker Heastie, as well as the Afro-American part of the party - all, would happily see Cuomo go down to defeat .... he is just not a nice guy and no one believes he is dedicated to progressive values, only looking at polls ....
11
Generally Andrew Cuomo is a conniving immortal politician. He’s got nothing to offer either as Governor or President. Too bad, I was a big fan of his dad. I’ll give Nixon backed by Zepher Teachout a shot, Yes, I think I like her.
18
This man is unfit for public office as a function of his character and lack thereof, and if there is such a thing as a personality that is separate from character, that, too, marks him as unfit. HIs ilk have given liberalism a bad name, largely because they really are corporatist neo-liberals. Surely we have had enough of these narcissistic politicians of both parties.
4
Ginia's last paragraphs should have been the first. It is de Blasio and a long list of former mayors whose direct responsibility it has been who have so badly damaged NYC public housing. It is de Blasio's person at the housing authority who lied about lead testing but that's okay with him. And where has the inert City Council been for the last four decades? No help there. Andrew Cuomo has finally stepped up but, sorry, the reporter doesn't like him?
13
As you say, "finally stepped up" 8 months before a re-election campaign and in advance of a run for the White House. Where has he been for eight years regarding NYCHA housing? Ms Fernandez and her neighbors have been suffering for 30 years! Where was Mario Cuomo on the subject? I am no fan of Bill DiBlasio but all these politicians ignore the working class until the elections.
1
As much as I despise Trump, I will vote for him in the next election if his opponent is Cuomo.
5
Insightful piece but perhaps too kind to the Governor? A right-wing neoliberal politician fueled by insider experience during his father's gubernatorial service. Fixer for his father once but now the product of fixers. Utterly lacking in popular appeal yet used his father's reputation as a New Deal Democrat as his credential. He purportedly longs to represent the poor, the oppressed, victims of injustice, yet in action a proven coward, for he has never taken even a minor stand on behalf of the poor against the millionaires and billionaires who fund him. Worse, not just a coward but a bully, for his petty scorekeeping and relentless retaliation against those who cross him. Now corruption scandals have crossed his doorstep to within his executive chambers, with criminal convictions. (He's reportedly always on a phone but no public records of phone calls. Hmm.) At bottom, a disgraceful and ultimately tragic figure, malevolent, and so very worthy of the "Prince Andrew" moniker. Worse for us, the nepotism and corruption of the Cuomo catastrophe seem revealing of our devolving American moment -- a local echo (or even a presage) of the feculent Trump White House. The Governor's effort to pander to the feminist vote seems way too calculated, way too "on message." Cynthia Nixon projects a clean break with all of this and that is her strength.
13
Just curious: what has Cuomo done to restore honest government in Albany? Getting rid of corruption was part of the original mandate, right? As for Gillibrand, she was silent on Esty in Connecticut. Al Franken, may or may not have deserved to stay in the Senate. He certainly wasn't the worst of the bunch. And he certainly didn't deserve to get run out of town without due process.
9
"Rose Fernandez, who grew up in the Amsterdam Houses on the West Side of Manhattan and has spent 33 years in the Carver Houses in East Harlem". Wow. Why is it that the taxpayers have had to pay at least part of her rent for perhaps four decades? Five decades? What incentive is there to make better choices in life (get a different job, live somewhere cheaper, whatever...) if there is no cost to making poor ones? To live 33 years partially on someone else's dime...unreal.
14
I agree. It would be useful if the NYT did an investigation on how or whether people transition from public housing to other forms of housing.
3
How is it that on the eve of the election il Duce is engaging in a flurry of activity? Where was he for the last seven years?
14
Of course Andrew Cuomo wants to be president. So does Bill de Blasio. As per Ginia Bellafante, Andrew Cuomo is a first-class phony. And a rather vicious one at that. Bill de Blasio is all that and more. The more being that he clearly should have been indicted and then convicted for his bent pf having his hand out to rake in the cash and then seeing to it that those putting the money in his hand got what they needed or wanted from his office. This is not to say that Andrew Cuomo is himself above those kind of problems.
Kudos to the Democratic party for fastening its wagon to the lying, corrupt, scandal-ridden Hillary Clinton in 2016 and thereby treating us to Donald Trump in the White House; the party which is now the object of presidential courting by the "emasculator" Andrew Cuomo and the thoroughly corrupt and inept Bill de Blasio. Cynthia Nixon in the Democratic governor's primary will be interesting to watch. Thanks to Christine Quinn for giving us a change in the old slogan, "Our crooks are better than their crooks." Now, it's "Our lesbian is more qualified than their lesbian."
10
Look at the State agencies as an example of this show for diversity. It is one thing to say you support women it's another to show it. Most boards are loaded with white males. If you think that changes as you go further down the chain of command you would be woefully disappointed.
5
As a percentage of residents' income, New York collects more in taxes than any other state (see https://taxfoundation.org/state/new-york/ ). If, despite this massive river of cash, it remains impossible to maintain government-owned housing, maybe it is time to question the assumption that the government should own housing?
6
Perhaps it's time to question a system that allows able people and their progeny to live in public housing for decades.
3
From Ms Bellafante's telling Andrew Cuomo is a failure as Governor either because he doesn't like New York City Mayor de Blasio or because he has the audacity, as a male, to claim he is feminist. So yes, to me, certainly Cuomo as a Liberal Governor of one of our nations largest Blue States is good at self promotion and does not hesitate to trumpet his accomplishments, including his bono fetes in promoting women's rights and causes. But no, is this behavior any different than any modern politician from a Blue State who knows that at least half of his constituent's are females-And that a good number of them may be upset with any male politician who may seem indifferent to Women's causes? And yes, Cuomo certainly has differences with New York Cities Mayor de Blasio, seemingly stemming largely-from Ms.Bellafonte's telling- because, de Blasio can't seem to get a handle on New York Cities Housing Authority, and can't seem to make it work to it's best potential, for the benefit of the lower income citizens of New York City.
However, to attempt to portray Cuomo as a loser simply because he is a male politician who is aware of which side his toast is buttered on, and because he would like de Blasio to do a better job as Mayor to promote the welfare of New York's lower (and struggling classes) seems quite a thin argument that Cuomo has not been effective as Governor of the State of New York ,or wouldn't be a good choice to consider for a Presidential run.
14
I'll never vote for him again, that's for sure.
19
Look who the Republicans put up against him.... As usual it's the lesser of two evils when you vote.
2
Cuomo is one of those politicians in the habit of sanctimonious sermonizing on his grand achievements. And even though his record on women is not bad, the standard during the Trump administration is lower than usual. The difficulty with the man is his unmasked ambition and the sad fact that his was never gubernatorial, let alone presidential material. His petulant spats with Mayor DeBlasio points to a petty, jealous, small minded egotist distressingly similar to Trump; a man who holds grudges that hurt taxpayers and just wants to be adored.
50
I don't understand why Andrew Cuomo thinks he has a chance at becoming president. Putting any personal like/dislike aside, he's alienated progressive democrats with his small-minded attacks on DeBlasio. Fine, he's governor for now, elected because of his last name, but the guy must be delusional if he thinks he can win the Democratic nomination for president. To that end, he's wasting everyone's time.
30
Just because Democrats in New York have a high tolerance for corruption in their elected officials doesn't mean the rest of the country is going to buy it. He's already given any potential 2020 competitor, D or R, more ammo than they'd know what to do with.
4
Cuomo will never, ever be President, take that to the bank.
He did a lousy job at HUD. All of a sudden he starts visiting African-American churches.
After all these years, he's now aware of problems at NYCHA.
This guy is just a grandstander, what a fraud.
54
But the again, Donald Trump had NEVER done anything for ANYONE but Donald Trump in his entire life, is well known (at least in NYC ) for being a habitual liar, may be a billionaire fraud as he won't release his tax returns, yet the voters trusted him to restore their self-respect. Cuomo may be president yet...
1
Can the Democrats really not come up with a better candidate than Cuomo? (And no, Cynthia Nixon isn't it.) We have large cities, experienced state representatives, surely, decent people who can move us past this deeply compromised politician.
34
"The governor has positioned himself as a savior"
But that's what you all want, isn't it? It's what you all saw in Obama. You all want a new FDR to come along and be the father to the country.
Oddly enough, there's little practical reason for AMC to mess with NYC if he wants to be President (and let's face it, that's exactly what he wants). The cities will vote liberal Democrat all the way. AMC should be pressing flesh in farm country if he wants votes he doesn't already have.
5
The reporter?, editorialist? satirist? here has wide latitude to mock Cuomo, and his insincere leadership in “hormonal rebalancing” our “metoo” age. So disregarding this fairly cheap shot, I found the real story here to be the cynical urgency around public housing in nyc which arises every four years before elections and then fades away. The reality is that this system is a failure, that it will continue to be a failed system because it offers little hope of improving lives, as suggested by the lady who has lived there more than 30 years and feels like an animal going mad trapped in a cage. There was a story in the WSJ that suggests a way out. Elkhart, Ind., is experiencing an acute labor shortage as are other places in the Midwest. People mired in poverty in our cities would do themselves a favor by moving and pursuing opportunities. Make use of your freedom, liberty and God given talents. Don’t wait for govt to provide a solution.
26
Because moving from NYC to Elkhart, IN would be so easy. Probably wouldn't even cost anything, right? And, no doubt, the good people of Elkhart would welcome poor New Yorkers with open arms.
1
Tell me something, Ms. Bellafante, Would you rather have Kristen Gillibrand as president?
She took down Al Franken for her own self aggrandizement and to politicize her presidential aspirations.
45
Oh come on. I was as sad to see Franken go as anyone. But after one, then two then three stories, how was Gillibrandt supposed to continue to stand up for women in the military while countenancing anything that looked like abuse. Franken could have resisted and waited for his hearing. Why didn't he? Democrats are fortunate not to have to answer for Franken. We need to quit electing people (or letting them hang around) when they become easy targets.
16
Neither.
4
Al Franken mugged in front of a camera many years ago, when he was a COMEDIAN, not a politician. He didn't attack a woman. Yet, Gillibrand saw the need to take him down. What a sad state of affairs.
6
The "self-promoting" governor will not solve the housing problems of NYC. Period. The human ant farm called NYC, has the highest cost and poorest quality housing that I have ever experienced (I have lived in NYC in the 1970's when in my 20's and all over the US since).
If you can't vote with your feet, and move; then vote for Nixon.........and if you have a black mold infested place, you gotta move, or you will die sooner than you expect.
13
This political chameleon is trying to show himself a EUNCH just so he can get votes. I have news for this gutless, feckless hypocrite. He is not even going to come any where close to the White House in 2020. Not even in his dreams. He won't even get the democratic nomination. Next stop for this man - a corporate position.
29
The only thing Cuomo cares about is Cuomo. Unfortunately, the low information voters of New York will almost certainly reelect him on a straight party-line vote.
17
We HAVE to given what the Republicans put up
2
It's way past time for the governor to stop acting envious of the erratic but suitably progressive Mayor DeBlasio. This isn't the Trump campaign. You can't tease people and expect to win a primary.
8
DiBlasio talks big but has accomplished zero
4
I don't like Cuomo's attacks on deBlasio but I don't think that it's fair to say they are aimed at emasculating him. NYCHA is certainly in bad shape but deBlasio is far from the only one to blame for decades real estate developers have had a love affair with politicians who wanted to see NYCHA fall apart so that they could call for privatization no one is more guilty of that than former mayor Mike Bloomberg, then the gentrification of NYC would be complete and he could take credit, he deserves far more blame than deBlasio, in fact when Bloomberg took office NYCHA was considered the best public housing in the nation, he purposely let it fall apart.
23
Ms. Bellafante's description of Gov. Quid Pro Cuomo brings to mind what Maureen Dowd once said about Al Gore -- that he's "so feminized and diversified and ecologically correct, he's practically lactating."
As king of Albany's pay-to-play government, Mr. Cuomo is the ultimate political chameleon: He opportunistically "believes" in whatever sells at any given moment. Early in his administration, for instance, he and his coterie went ballistic when his agenda was described as progressive, yet now, for the moment at least, he enthusiastically labels himself a progressive.
Expediency is this governor's middle name. With one corruption trial in the books -- federal bribery convictions for Joseph Percoco, his longtime confidant, top aide, enforcer, "brother," and "third son" of Mario Cuomo -- another awaits in June, this one revolving around bid-rigging of state contracts to favor campaign donors. There's a lot of explaining to do.
A citizen of New York can only hope that Cynthia Nixon can build significantly on the case that Zephyr Teachout presented in the Democratic primary four years ago; goodness knows, she has plenty of ammunition. The people of this state deserve better -- and much cleaner -- government. Starting at the top.
38
The NY state constitution is in violation of the US Constitution on sex equality issues in rights and responsibilities. Also, a NY Senator, Chuck Schumer, sponsored with Ted Kennedy, the federal RFRA law, which directly violates the First Amendment as an establishment of religion. It has been used to block claims against sexual abuse of children by Catholic Priests, to prevent children having their father's name listed on their birth certificate and to impose religious laws and legal fictions that harm people.
Trump's campaign arose out of this jurisdiction. Trump's getting traction through his personal irreligiosity is perhaps understandable given what a mess has been made of NY by people establishing Abrahamic religious laws and legal fictions.
1
I wouldnt vote for him if you waterboarded me.
24
Based on how vindictive Cuomo is I'm sure he'd be happy to do just that.
3
And we think Trump looks like a thug?
15
Haha, absolutely. The one doesn't cancel out the other:)
2
“The main thing I want to tell you about is my health,” she began. “I’m depressed. I don’t know if you’ve seen those A.S.P.C.A. commercials, but I feel like one of those animals, suffering in a cage."
I wish I could hug Rose and tell her I'm sorry. No New Yorker should feel imprisoned and helpless in their own home but sadly powerful NY politicians for generations have ignored the plight of good people who reside in public housing.
Rose's struggle should make the mayor and governor embarrassed to call themselves leaders.
26
Democratic primary voters in the fall need but one fact to decide whether to vote for Mr. Cuomo: His disbanding in 2014 of the Moreland Commission that was investigating corruption in Albany. Cuomo dissolved the Commission as their discoveries were getting closer to Cuomo himself.
Corruption is the single biggest problem with NYS government - and has been for many years. Far as the primaries go, Democrats should vote for just about anyone but Cuomo. He deliberately thwarted the effort to clean up Albany.
73
This is bunk. Cleaning up Albany requires one thing before anything else. That would be giving legislators enough for their families to have a middle to uppper middle class lifestyle without side gigs. The public won't go for it.
1
Carol, why should legislators have a better lifestyle "middle to upper middle class" than the average American? You're right, the public won't go for it. Side gigs, that's what teachers and many others have to do so no sympathy for that.
2
And yet his opponent is chief apologist for the corrupt behavior of Mayor de Blasio - go figure.
1
Making war on de Blasio has been a feature of local newspapers since he was elected. I don't have access nor need to watch the local television news but it's for sure there's a national struggle against Sanders, de Blasio and Elizabeth Warren and others who don't follow the Democratic National Committee's program of attacking Democrats who won't follow the national script.
21
Di Blasio has problems beyond following the national democratic script...
3
Andrew Cuomo wants to be President and he never will get there by dumping on NYC. He thinks it makes him look like a centrist. What he is is an opportunist. If he really cared about the citizens of NYC he has had ample opportunity to help and support us. Did someone say public transportation? Congestion pricing? Unfortunately, Cynthia Nixon is a little new at the game to be taken seriously for Governor. I hope someone with more experience steps up to give Cuomo a run for the Democratic Primary.
48