How far has this apple fallen from the tree in the Big Apple?
The “apple” in this story is Andrew Cuomo; the “tree” is his late father Mario.
A few traits and traditions were passed down generationally, if not generationally. One is that they championed some progressive ideas and policies. They are/were staunch death penalty opponents. (Some argue that it cost Mario a fourth gubernatorial term at a time when New York State didn’t have term limits.) They also worked for LGBT equality: In fact, during Andrew’s first year as Governor, New York became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage, four years before it became a Federal policy.
One thing Andrew didn’t inherit, however, was his father’s intellectual acumen and charisma as a speaker. Yes, his “fireside chats” early in the COVID-19 epidemic had their appeal, but none of his speeches are as memorable as Mario’s.
And their political fates could turn out differently. Five years before winning his first gubernatorial election, he lost the Democratic nomination for the Mayor of New York City to Ed Koch. In 1988 and 1992, party officials approached Mario about running for the Presidency. Both times, he declined. Two years after the second overture, he lost his bid for a fourth gubernatorial term. He never campaigned for another elected office.
Andrew, on the other hand, resigned in disgrace from the governorship only a year after giving those daily COVID press briefings. Now he is running for Mayor of New York City.
He has announced that if he’s elected, he would crack down on illegal e-bikes and reckless users by, among other things, requiring licenses and holding delivery-app companies responsible if one of their delivery workers injures or kills someone. That sounds good to me, but I hope he doesn’t conflate eBikes with regular bicycles, as many policymakers and commentators are wont to do.
Would I vote for him?
Although I cast my ballot for him previously, as someone who has survived sexual abuse and assault, I would have a difficult time choosing someone who was forced to resign over sexual harassment allegations. Had they not surfaced, perhaps he would have been forced to leave office—or been voted out—for under-reporting, by over 80 percent, the number of COVID deaths in nursing homes.
Then again, I voted for Eric Adams (in the general election, but not the primary), knowing full well that he’s corrupt. I have an excuse, however: his opponent was Curtis Sliwa.
So, in answer to my question: I might vote for Cuomo, especially if his opponent is as clownish as Sliwa. At least I could hope he follows through on one promise.
