As the New York City mayoral race intensifies, former Governor Andrew Cuomo finds himself both embraced and embattled. At a recent Upper Manhattan Democrats' forum, Cuomo was acknowledged with a warm reception, conveying his concern for the city, "I'm worried about New York City," he stated, as reported by ABC7NY. Meanwhile, a memorial event in Cobble Hill drew nearly every mayoral candidate uniting in firm opposition against the former governor, specifically targeting his tenure's controversial nursing home policies amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a gathering that would appear to cut across ideological lines, the event yesterday united candidates from Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, to Curtis Sliwa, a Republican. As they convened in Cobble Hill, they stood in front of a wall displaying photos of deceased nursing home residents, sharply criticizing Cuomo's past directive that saw COVID-positive patients readmitted to nursing homes. According to The New York Times, this policy is alleged to have contributed to a spike in COVID-related deaths.
Brad Lander, current city comptroller and mayoral hopeful, expressed at the memorial gathering that while not politically driven, "It is not too much to ask Andrew Cuomo to meet with families." This sentiment of accountability echoed among the attendees, Curtis Sliwa also added that no other issue could unite people given the differences they have, and the only thing that could bring them together was the unnecessary deaths of those who trusted the governor to do the right thing, as noted by The New York Times.
Cuomo, who is reportedly leading in early polls, didn't respond to these criticisms at the forum and left without addressing inquiries from reporters. However, his spokesman issued a statement refuting claims about the nursing home debacle, highlighting adherence to the guidelines of the time. Despite the pointed remarks from his rivals, Cuomo's focus seemed directed more toward national issues, as he highlighted the threat posed by former President Trump to New York City. On the matter of the past presidential election, Cuomo noted, "Not because he got more votes. But because 500-thousand democrats did not come out to vote. And that, my friends is a message to us," according to ABC7NY.
The unease among mayoral candidates is deeply tied to local issues and previous governance. Although he is no longer governor, Cuomo’s ambitions for mayor are fueling a unique political alignment in New York, reigniting long-standing controversies and debates that persist well beyond his time in office.
