From the second he resigned as New York’s governor, individuals have speculated that it was solely a matter of time earlier than Andrew Cuomo would attempt to barge his manner again into politics.
That day got here Saturday, when the Democrat introduced he was operating for mayor of New York Metropolis.
Now, the massive query is whether or not voters need him again.
In his marketing campaign announcement video Saturday and a speech Sunday, Cuomo sought to painting New York as a metropolis in disaster. He solid himself as a tricky supervisor who can sort out issues like homelessness and sky-high housing prices.
But his entry into the race prompted quick condemnation from some who mentioned he does not deserve a second likelihood.
This is a have a look at how we bought right here:
Why Cuomo resigned
Cuomo give up the governor’s workplace in August 2021 when it seemed sure he can be impeached.
A report commissioned by the state’s legal professional common concluded that Cuomo sexually harassed at the very least 11 girls. Some had complained about undesirable touches, flirting, kisses and suggestive feedback about their intercourse lives or look.
One aide filed a legal criticism, saying Cuomo groped her breast. The Albany district legal professional declined to prosecute, saying there wasn’t sufficient proof.
Many high Democrats pushed Cuomo to give up, together with then-President Joe Biden, former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the state’s two U.S. senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Cuomo apologized for a few of his conduct, saying he didn’t notice it made individuals uncomfortable, however he denied probably the most critical allegations, significantly the alleged sexual assault.
What do Cuomo’s accusers consider his comeback?
The primary lady to publicly accuse Cuomo of harassment, Lindsey Boylan, wrote in an essay in Self-importance Honest that letting him return to public workplace can be a mistake.
He has not modified, she wrote, citing amongst different issues a “scorched earth” marketing campaign to blacken the reputations of his accusers.
“Although some pundits have been insisting that enough time has passed — and that certain men who have fallen from power should be allowed to regain it — that stance is misguided because men like Cuomo never really lose power,” she wrote. “They maintain their positions because people who are very powerful themselves are still afraid of them — a dynamic that speaks to our political moment.”
What does Cuomo say?
In his preliminary public remarks, he solely addressed the sexual harassment matter not directly.
“Did I make mistakes, some painfully? Definitely, and I believe I learned from them and that I am a better person for it and I hope to show that every day,” he mentioned in his announcement video.
“But I promise you this: I know what needs to be done and I know how to do it, and I will give it my all to get the job done — and it will get done.”
Beforehand, he has blamed “cancel culture” for his ouster.
What did he get executed as governor?
Cuomo pushed via legalization of same-sex marriage in New York in 2011.
His administration overhauled terminals at LaGuardia Airport, created a brand new prepare corridor at Pennsylvania Station and changed a key Hudson River crossing, the Tappan Zee bridge.
He signed legal guidelines that raised the minimal wage to $15, instituted paid household depart for staff and oversaw rebuilding applications after Hurricane Sandy precipitated catastrophic harm on the state’s coast.
The Democrat’s administration additionally created an financial revitalization program that poured $1 billion into the Buffalo metropolitan space, together with deep subsidies to a manufacturing facility now operated by Tesla.
That program wound up spawning a corruption scandal that led to a number of Cuomo allies and one among his closest political advisers getting indicted, although the U.S. Supreme Court docket finally overturned they key convictions.
What about COVID-19?
Cuomo gained nationwide prominence when the pandemic started killing 1000’s of individuals in New York in 2020. His each day briefings on the pandemic have been watched by Individuals far past New York.
He imposed among the nation’s strictest social-distancing guidelines and shutdowns after which arrange vaccination websites throughout the state when pictures turned accessible.
However Cuomo has been criticized for his pandemic response, too. The administration considerably understated deaths in nursing properties as a part of an effort to deflect criticism of a coverage, early within the pandemic, that barred the properties from refusing to readmit COVID-19 sufferers discharged from hospitals. It stays unclear whether or not that short-lived coverage had an affect on deaths.
Why come again now?
Cuomo has a singular alternative in New York Metropolis’s mayoral contest.
The incumbent mayor, Democrat Eric Adams, was indicted on federal corruption prices final 12 months. Prosecutors mentioned Adams accepted free or discounted journey and unlawful marketing campaign contributions from individuals making an attempt to achieve his affect.
Adams’ political issues solely bought deeper after the brand new leaders of the U.S. Justice Division instructed prosecutors to drop the case in order that Adams might help in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
That is led to suspicion that Adams is simply too beholden to Trump, who stays deeply unpopular within the metropolis.
A decide is weighing what to do with the legal case.
Many of the remainder of the candidates within the main are properly to the political left of Adams and Cuomo.
Until one other big-name average candidate emerges, that may depart voters having to select between liberals whose views they won’t share and two scandal-scarred Democratic heavyweights.
Cuomo is betting he’ll come out on high.
