Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his candidacy for Mayor of New York City last weekend, sparking a wave of comments from his opponents. Community leaders in the Chinese community expressed concerns about Cuomo’s political background, fearing that his strong political and business connections could potentially undermine community interests and not necessarily benefit the people of New York City.
At 67, Cuomo hails from a political family, being the son of former Governor Mario Cuomo and having served as New York State Governor for a decade.
On the day Cuomo announced his candidacy, Eric Adams told Politico reporters on the street, “I welcome Cuomo to join the race and am confident that I have a good track record to continue campaigning. We look forward to this election.”
Another Democratic opponent of Cuomo, current City Comptroller Brad Lander, criticized, “What New Yorkers need the least right now is another agent of chaos. The greatest city in the world deserves better treatment than this.”
Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who also announced his candidacy for mayor within the Democratic Party, responded in a video, saying, “While becoming the Mayor of New York City may be helpful for Cuomo, it does not benefit the people of New York City.”
Speaker of the City Council Adrienne Adams, who recently submitted candidacy documents to the New York City Campaign Finance Board, may also emerge as a potential challenger to Cuomo. New York State Attorney General Letitia James is believed to be a key figure pushing for Adams’ candidacy.
During Cuomo’s tenure as Governor, he faced continuous controversies. James led a sexual harassment investigation report accusing Cuomo, leading to his resignation as Governor. Cuomo consistently denied all allegations, citing his resignation was to avoid disrupting government operations.
On the other hand, opponents are expected to continue holding him accountable for his handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic, pushing controversial bail reform legislation, and supporting policies such as implementing congestion pricing in New York City.
In a campaign video released on Saturday, Cuomo admitted to past mistakes, stating, “I have made mistakes in the past, and some have been painful, but I believe I have learned a lot from them, making me a better person. I hope to prove this to everyone every day in the future.”
Interestingly, former Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, who is now seeking re-election as New York State Governor, coincidentally visited Manhattan’s Chinatown on the same day Cuomo announced his candidacy. She visited several businesses and posted on Facebook, “We have not only invested $20 million in Chinatown, but we have also devoted time and love. It’s great to see the vibrancy here today. With new businesses emerging and the success of the Lunar New Year events, the future of lower Manhattan is brighter than ever.”
The $20 million investment by the state of New York is part of the Chinatown Connections project, with a total funding of $56 million. Led by Adams’ administration, the project aims to improve infrastructure and invest in the Chinatown community. Hochul’s visit seems to test the influence of her ally Adams in the community.
Amid the swirling political tides, community leaders in the Chinatown Democratic Party’s 65th district, who have long been involved in monitoring political changes in Chinatown, expressed concerns. They worry that “a strong mayor correlates to a weaker community”.
Cuomo was elected as the New York State Attorney General in 2006, became Governor in 2010, and was re-elected thrice until his resignation in 2021 due to a sexual misconduct scandal.
With the Cuomo family deeply rooted in New York’s political scene for many years and accumulating substantial resources, combined with a current lead in polls, the Chinese community worries that his election could further strengthen the influence of the political and business group. According to community leader Yu Jinshan, “The city’s governance is intertwined in a network of commercial interest groups and non-profit organizations, with a strong mayor and powerful businesses interlaced, easily squeezing the community’s living space and resource interests.”
“If Cuomo storms into the position of Mayor like a thunderbolt, leaning towards the former Governor, the people of New York City may not benefit,” Yu Jinshan warned. ◇