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CBS News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
New York City's Democratic mayoral candidates slam Andrew Cuomo in first debate
The Democrats who want to be New York City's next mayor squared off Wednesday in their first debate. Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo's position at the top of the polls going into the event made him the favorite punching bag of the other candidates, but he came determined to settle some scores after months of attacks from his opponents. Candidates bring up nursing home deaths, sexual harassment charges in debate Some of Cuomo's sharpest exchanges involved Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who is second in the polls. "Donald Trump would go through Mr. Mamdani like a hot knife through butter. He's been in government 27 minutes. He passed three bills, that's all he's done. He has no experience with Washington, no experience with New York City. He would be Trump's delight," Cuomo said. "Look, it's true that I don't have experience with corrupt Trump billionaires who are funding my campaign. I don't have experience with party politics and insider consultants. I do have experience, however, with winning $450 million in debt relief for thousand of working class taxi drivers," Mamdani said. The frustration the other Democrats have in running against Cuomo was on full display. "With all the corruption that's in Washington, we can't have corruption here in New York City, as well. It's not only that Andrew Cuomo lied to Congress, which is perjury, he also lied to the grieving families whose loved ones he sent into those nursing homes to protect his $5 million book deal," City Comptroller Brad Lander said. Cuomo's resignation over sexual harassment charges also came up repeatedly. "The people who don't feel safe are young women, mothers and grandmothers around Andrew Cuomo. That's the greatest threat to public safety," former assemblymember Michael Blake said in response to a question about subway safety. Cuomo was given an opportunity to response to Blake's sexual harassment allegation. "People who are watching at home have to be incredibly frustrated. They defunded the police. They reduced the number of police," he said. "Every woman watching tonight – he was just given a chance to actually address the clear claims that were stated and ignored it," Blake said. The candidates were also given a chance to talk about their biggest regret in politics. "One of my regrets is having trusted the leaders within our own party, leaders like Andrew Cuomo," Mamdani said. Cuomo fired back when asked about his regret. "That we've gotten to a point where rhetoric has no connection with reality, where a person who has served in government for several years only passed three bills," he said. New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams slammed his response. "No regrets when it comes to slow walking PPE and vaccinations in the season of COVID to Black and Brown communities? Really, no regrets? No regrets?" she said. Israel, Knicks, rent discussed in mayoral debate The candidates were also asked which country they would visit first after being elected mayor. Adams said the Holy Land, and Cuomo, Whitney Tilson and former city comptroller Scott Stringer all said Israel. "I would stay in New York City. My plans are to address New Yorkers across the five boroughs and focus on that," said Mamdani, who has come under fire for his pro-Palestinian stance. "I believe that you need not travel to Israel to stand up for Jewish New Yorkers." All the candidates agreed to limit helicopter traffic, and most think the New York Knicks made a mistake firing head coach Tom Thibodeau. Sen. Zellnor Myrie pays the lowest rent of all nine candidates – $1,300. Cuomo pays the most at $7,800, and Adams has paid off the mortgage on her home.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
5 Takeaways From the First N.Y.C. Mayoral Debate
In the first debate of the New York City mayoral primary, the front-runner, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, was expected to be the focal point of attack for the other eight Democratic candidates onstage Wednesday night. It did not take long for that expectation to be realized. In his first real confrontation with his opponents in the race, Mr. Cuomo defended his handling of the pandemic, denied the sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation and said he would not be swayed by the wealthy donors who have poured millions into groups allied with his campaign. Mr. Cuomo, who has maintained a double-digit lead over the rest of the primary field in nearly every poll of the race, largely criticized Zohran Mamdani, the progressive state assemblyman who is in second place, as inexperienced and too far to the left. The two-hour debate descended into chaos on more than one occasion, as the candidates shouted at one another, the cacophony worsening when the moderators jumped in to interrupt. Here are five takeaways from the debate. The primary will be held June 24. Cuomo and Trump were the common enemies. Mr. Cuomo's rivals were determined to highlight his baggage and force him to address it, which created moments at which the former governor appeared frustrated and dismissive of the accusations. The federal investigation examining whether he lied to Congress about nursing home deaths during the pandemic? Mr. Cuomo said that it was politically motivated. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Cuomo dismisses nursing home scandal, blames Trump's 'MAGA line' for COVID controversy
Nine Democratic candidates took the stage in New York City Wednesday for the first of two debates ahead of the June 24 mayoral primary, and the claws were out for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo's COVID-19 scandal was front and center just minutes into the debate as moderators asked the candidates how they would stand up to President Donald Trump if elected mayor. The former governor dismissed the legitimacy of the Justice Department's investigation into his alleged false congressional testimony about decisions made during COVID-19 when pressed by moderator Sally Goldenberg of Politico. "That's the Trump line, the MAGA line, because this was during the Trump re-election," Cuomo said when asked repeatedly whether he had a role in producing a contested COVID-19 report. Cuomo said the Justice Department's investigation is another example of the pandemic's game of "political football." "This is what Mr. Trump does, right? He started an investigation against me, against Kathy Hochul, against Sen. Chuck Schumer, against Hillary Clinton. This is one of his tactics," Cuomo said. Also joining Cuomo on the debate stage Wednesday night were City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, city Comptroller Brad Lander, former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, former state Assemblyman Michael Blake from the Bronx, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie from Brooklyn, state Sen. Jessica Ramos from Queens and former hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson. The winner of the Democratic Party mayoral primary will be seen as the overwhelming favorite to win November's general election in the blue city. Early voting in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City begins June 14 and runs through June 22. Cuomo is the clear polling and fundraising frontrunner in the Democratic primary given his name recognition and experience. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who has found unlikely common ground with the Trump administration in efforts to combat illegal immigration, is running as an independent. The Justice Department made the unusual decision earlier this year to dismiss an indictment against Adams on federal corruption charges. "I know how to deal with Donald Trump because I've dealt with him before," Cuomo said on the debate stage. Cuomo touted his experience as governor, particularly in challenging Trump's agenda during his first term as president. "I am the last person on this stage that Mr. Trump wants to see as mayor, and that's why I should be the first choice for the people of this city to have as mayor," Cuomo said. When again pressed by the moderators and his competitors, Cuomo said he told Congress the truth about the number of nursing home deaths in New York during COVID-19, the basis of the Department of Justice's investigation. "No, I told Congress the truth," Cuomo said. "No, we did not undercount any deaths." Still, Cuomo refused to answer whether he was involved in the production of the contested COVID-19 report. The former governor was grilled by Republican lawmakers last year about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. House Republicans subsequently recommended the Justice Department pursue criminal charges against him. They accused him of intentionally lying to Congress during the House Oversight Committee's investigation into the excessive number of nursing home deaths.
