Latest news with #mayoraldebate
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Cuomo hit by fellow Dems for dodging questions about sexual harassment during time as NY governor
Andrew Cuomo dodged questions throughout Wednesday evening's New York City mayoral debate regarding sexual harassment allegations against him, which the former New York governor insisted were false. "Every woman watching tonight should listen right now," said Michael Blake, a former state assemblyman from the Bronx who is running against Cuomo. "Andrew Cuomo would not respond when had a chance about sexual harassment – every woman watching tonight – he was just given a chance to actually address the clear claims that were stated, and he ignored it." Cuomo was accused of multiple incidents of sexual harassment that ultimately led to his resignation as governor in 2021. A subsequent report from New York Attorney General Letitia James confirmed Cuomo "sexually harassed multiple women from 2013 through 2020," while in January 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had reached a nearly $500,000 settlement with Cuomo's executive office over one of the claims. However, no criminal charges were ever filed against Cuomo, with some district attorneys citing insufficient evidence. "The people who don't feel safe are young women, mothers and grandmothers around Andrew Cuomo," Blake added in his criticism of Cuomo during the Wednesday night debate. "That's the greatest threat to public safety in New York City." Cuomo was given multiple opportunities to address the allegations, but he frequently dodged questions on the matter by pivoting to other issues, like public safety. However, Cuomo's opponents and the moderators would not let him get away without engaging with the question. "Mr. Cuomo. I'm sorry. I'm sure that people at home must be wondering about your answer to this question, because we speak to voters throughout the city and quite a few of them will say, I'm not sure exactly what happened with those sexual harassment cases," one of the moderators told Cuomo amid questions about whether the candidates had any regrets regarding their past political tenures. "What do you say to voters now looking ahead to your potential mayoralty? Are you doing anything differently? And why should they believe that that same situation won't happen again?" In response, Cuomo addressed the question, but insisted the allegations against him were "political" and "false." "Let's just make sure we have the facts," Cuomo shot back. "A report was done four years ago making certain allegations. I said at the time, that it was political and it was false. Five district attorneys, Democratic, Republican, short, tall, looked at it all across the state, found absolutely nothing. One case has been resolved. I was dropped from that case. I said at the time that if I offended anyone, it was unintentional. But I apologize."
Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Democrats vying for NYC mayor spar over defunding police, combating ICE
Democratic mayoral candidates sparred over whether to defund the police during the New York City mayoral debate Wednesday night, with many candidates distancing themselves from the once-popular progressive position. Candidates also discussed how to best combat President Donald Trump, particularly when it comes to his illegal immigration crackdown. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the current frontrunner in the mayoral race, said: "We have to admit what we did wrong. The people on the stage, almost without exception, were all defund the police … and now they're calling for more police. We wouldn't need more police if we didn't defund them in the first place." After saying this, several other candidates quickly turned the tables on Cuomo, accusing him of also leading the charge on defunding the police, something the former governor adamantly denied. "I used the words defund the police, I said I don't support defund the police," said Cuomo. While some candidates said they actually support increasing the police presence in New York City, others suggested increasing "mental health outreach workers" on the streets and subway trains. Progressive New York state Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani suggested, "We are going to put together dedicated teams of mental health outreach workers who will be deployed to the top hundred subway stations with the highest levels of mental health crisis and homelessness." Whitney Tilson, a hedge fund manager, blamed positions such as Mamdani's as being responsible for Trump's rise in popularity among New York City voters. "I do think we Democrats have to stop giving Trump gifts," said Tilson. "When we let ourselves be defined by our far left, by socialists, with their 'defund the police' nonsense and open borders, et cetera." "One area that I do agree with Trump is, is that when, a socialist like Zohran on here tweets that the NYPD is quote, 'wicked,' and calls to defund and dismantle the NYPD, that that is madness," he said, adding: "That is costing us elections since Trump has doubled his share of the New York City vote in the last three elections, from 17% to 30%." "We've got to move away from the far left, the socialism is sinking our party and our city," said Tilson. Candidates also discussed how to address the rise in crime and shoplifting in New York City and addressed whether bail reforms passed by the state under Cuomo are responsible for the spike. Michael Blake, a former Obama aide, suggested a "guaranteed" median income could be the solution to rising shoplifting. "If we help New Yorkers make and keep more money in their pocket in the first place, then we wouldn't have people speaking about shoplifting. That's why we need the local median income. That's why we have to have guaranteed income. That's why I have to help people on the front end. So, we're not talking about them being on the back," said Blake. Regarding Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, candidates largely doubled down on New York City's sanctuary city status and on further limiting local police's ability to cooperate with ICE. Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams was widely lambasted for being willing to cooperate with the Trump administration and ICE when it comes to immigration enforcement. Asked whether she would tip off migrants about federal immigration enforcement operations in New York City, current city council speaker Adrienne Adams asserted that if elected, "my mission is and will be to protect the immigrants." Adams said, "I will absolutely use my bully pulpit to warn, as I'm doing as city council speaker pretty much on a daily basis." Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller, meanwhile, said he would build a network in the city government that would enforce New York's sanctuary laws and "absolutely warn people before they walk into ICE." Zellnor Myrie, a state senator, claimed that sanctuary laws "used to not be political" and "not only would I be warning but I would be assuring them that we have their back right now." Jessica Ramos, a Democratic New York state senator, said she would use city tax resources to combat Trump's immigration crackdown, saying, "We have absolutely have to keep ICE … out of any public institution" and "I want to make sure that in a town with so many lawyers, our immigrants have lawyers." "This is not the first time he's brought ICE to New York. He's done that before and we fought him and we won," said Cuomo. "So, he can be beaten. But he has to know that he's up against an adversary who can actually beat him. And I can tell you this, I am the last person on this stage that Mr. Trump wants to see as mayor," he went on. "And that's why I should be the first choice that for the people of this city to have as mayor." Eric Adams is running for re-election as an independent and thus did not participate in the debate.
New York Times
5 days ago
- General
- New York Times
In N.Y.C. Mayoral Debate, Democrats Assail Cuomo and Vow to Resist Trump
It was, on its face, a straightforward question: What were the nine mayoral candidates' biggest political regrets? Yet the question elicited one of the more revealing and contentious exchanges on Wednesday night in the first debate in the Democratic primary race for mayor in New York City. Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblyman and Democratic Socialists of America member consistently polling in second place, suggested there was a time that he trusted the Democratic Party leaders 'like Andrew Cuomo,' and that he now considered that a mistake. Mr. Cuomo, the current front-runner, whose decades in politics come with both accomplishments and baggage, struggled to summon a single regret from memory. But he did make a point of lamenting Mr. Mamdani's rise. All of which prompted Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker, to interject, her voice laden with incredulity. 'No regrets when it comes to slow-walking P.P.E. and vaccinations in the season of Covid to Black and brown communities?' she asked, shaking her head with disapproval. 'Really, no regrets? No regrets?' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
6 days ago
- General
- New York Times
N.Y.C. Mayoral Candidates Take the Debate Stage
Good morning. It's Wednesday. Today we'll look ahead to the Democratic mayoral primary debate, happening tonight at 7 p.m. Below are some pointers for how to watch and what to expect. Tonight, the New York City mayoral race shifts into high gear with the first primary debate, where the top Democratic hopefuls will vie to be ranked first (or at least fifth) on New Yorkers' primary ballots. The debate, the first of two, kicks off a 20-day slate of events that comes to a head on Primary Day, June 24. (Early voting starts on June 14.) Nine candidates have qualified to participate in tonight's debate. The biggest names among them are Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York who resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment accusations; Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens who has charmed constituents and fellow lawmakers alike with his progressive ideas; Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker; Brad Lander, the city comptroller; and Scott Stringer, the former city comptroller. Also debating are Michael Blake, a former state assemblyman from the Bronx; Zellnor Myrie, a state senator from Brooklyn; Jessica Ramos, a state senator from Queens; and Whitney Tilson, a former hedge fund executive. The hot-button issues that candidates may spar over, if their campaign TV ads are any indication, include crime and safety, President Trump, affordable housing and corruption. Other topics that could come up are homelessness, congestion pricing, immigration and public schools. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
What the N.Y.C. Mayoral Candidates Hope to Achieve on the Debate Stage
This is The Sprint for City Hall, a limited-run series on the critical Democratic primary race for mayor. Nine of the Democratic candidates for mayor will face off at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the race's first debate, as a flood of campaign ads begins to hit the airwaves. Hi, I'm Dean Chang, the editor running The New York Times's coverage of the mayoral primary. This week's note of jealousy involves Andrew Cuomo, who told us that he still has a Corvette from high school. My college-era Firebird barely outlived my graduation. In this edition of the newsletter, we'll preview what the candidates hope to accomplish at the debate, and ask Cynthia Nixon what it was like to debate Cuomo, as she did in 2018, when she ran for governor. We'll also tell you how Ilana Glazer is ranking her ballot. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
