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(New York, NY) – Former governor Andrew Cuomo says experience matters, and claims he is the only one in the three-man dash to Gracie Mansion with the experience to lead the city. Cuomo spoke with 77WABC host Sid Rosenberg on Sid and Friends in the Morning, where he made his case to become the next mayor. Cuomo defended his previous actions as New York Governor in a lengthy interview with Sid. Here are some of the major topics the two discussed:
On COVID & Nursing Homes Scandal
The interview started by tackling one of the biggest scandals that has been following Cuomo since he left office in 2021: the deaths in nursing homes during the COVID Pandemic. Sid asked Cuomo directly what he has to say to families of loved ones who died due to the policy allowing COVID positive patients into nursing homes. Cuomo called the time “traumatic” not just for those scared of the virus, but also for government officials navigating the pandemic. Cuomo said that if he had known how bad it would be, he would have done many things differently.
Bail Reform Laws
The pair also discussed if the former governor had any regrets when it came to bail reform laws, something that Cuomo championed during his time in Albany. Now, any critics of the law point to cases of recidivism, where the suspect had previously avoided jail time due to bail reform. Cuomo rebutted saying that the bail reform laws have since changed four times over since he left office, which led to an exacerbation in crime. Cuomo did stand by the core concept of bail reform however, arguing that it’s necessary to avoid cases like Kaleif Browder, who Cuomo referenced by name. Browder was arrested for allegedly stealing a backpack – never convicted or even went to court – and ended up killing himself after spending 3 years in Rikers Island.
Energy and Closing Indian Point
The Independent mayoral hopeful also tackled the issue of energy and addressed the closing of Indian Point. Indian Point is a nuclear power generator located in Westchester County that once provided electricity to Manhattan and the state at large. Cuomo said he closed the site out of an abundance of caution. Cuomo claimed that if a disaster were to occur, there was no evacuation plan in place to handle the possibility of a dangerous attack or accident. Cuomo said he worked around the closure by installing cables to carry power from plants in upstate New York, down the Hudson River.
Why Does He Want to Lead the City?
As Cuomo continues to trail in the polls, and following his defeat in the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani, many are asking why he felt compelled to campaign for Gracie Mansion. Cuomo says the city is in danger and needs an experienced leader at the helm to steer the Big Apple back on course. On his opponents, Cuomo said he does not believe Republican and Independent candidate Curtis Sliwa has a real path to victory. As for Mamdani, Cuomo has been sticking to his primary playbook by highlighting the lack of experience of the two-term Queens assemblyman. Cuomo also said electing a socialist would have terrible consequences on the city.
To hear the full interview of Cuomo on Sid, stream it below online or download it as a podcast to take it with you:
