Trump looms large — and Cuomo small — in NYC comptroller debate
NEW YORK — The two top candidates for New York City Comptroller faced off Thursday evening for a debate that was laden with questions about the fiscal threat posed by President Donald Trump.
The dueling Democratic officials — City council member Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine — showed little daylight between their positions aside from delivery style.
They vowed to stand up to attempts by the president to curtail New York City's federal funding stream. They want to divest city pension funds from Tesla. They want to audit NYPD overtime. They shot down Mayor Eric Adams' recent 'Bit bond' proposal. They are proposing to invest pension funds into affordable housing and universal childcare.
And they really don't want to talk about Andrew Cuomo, who is leading the Democratic primary for mayor — the very position they would be charged with keeping in check if elected.
'I care very much about who our next mayor is, so I haven't made a decision about that,' Brannan, the Council finance chair, responded when asked if he had concerns about the former governor, eventually saying generally he had some qualms about Cuomo's handling of Covid.
Levine was similarly mum.
'There's a lot to weigh on former Gov. Cuomo, and I know voters are sorting through it, but I'm not going to make any kind of definitive endorsement here tonight,' he said.
The biggest difference between the duo was one of style.
'What you'll hear from me tonight is a positive platform about how I will get results for New Yorkers,' Levine said.
Brannan took a different tack.
'This moment calls for a fighter: someone who's going to stand up to Donald Trump, someone who's going to fight fire with fire,' he said.
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