In a shocking statement made in 2018 while serving as governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo declared that America “was never that great,” positioning himself for a rumored presidential bid against President Trump in 2020. However, his ambitions came crashing down when he resigned in disgrace in 2021 amid multiple sexual harassment allegations. Now, just a few years later, with the hope that the public has forgotten his past transgressions, Cuomo is rebranding himself as a leader of integrity and competence in his bid for New York City mayor. Shockingly, he leads the Democratic primary polls, earning praise from prominent figures across the political spectrum, including some Jewish leaders and the American Jewish Congress.
We remember the bitter cold of early 2014, when the Queens Village Republican Club stood alongside a coalition of Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, and Pro-Life advocates on the steps of Queens Borough Hall to protest Cuomo’s arrogance. He had infamously declared that conservatives had “no place in the state of New York”—specifically targeting those who were pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, or opposed to same-sex marriage. His words were a chilling testament to his intolerance for any dissenting opinions, and in fact a strong two-party system in New York with a healthy multiplicity of viewpoints, is crucial.
Cuomo’s authoritarian streak is nothing new. Growing up in Hollis, Queens, he and his brother Chris were reportedly known as neighborhood bullies, intimidating younger kids, vandalizing property, and even engaging in physical cruelty. The traits of a bully—lust for power, lack of empathy, a penchant for deceit—only intensified as he climbed the political ranks. Former colleagues describe his leadership style as one rooted in threats, verbal abuse, and manipulation to get his way.
His heavy-handed governance reached its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic when he ruled like a dictator, imposing draconian lockdowns and mandates while sending thousands of elderly nursing home patients to their deaths. Despite President Trump providing critical resources—including the U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort and the fully equipped Javits Center—Cuomo chose partisan politics over saving lives. His refusal to utilize these federal resources directly contributed to New York’s staggering death toll. A state comptroller report later revealed that his administration had engaged in a massive coverup, underreporting nursing home deaths by as much as 50%. When confronted, Cuomo dismissed the numbers with a chilling “who cares?” remark, saying “…whether they died in the hospital, or died in a nursing home, they died” epitomizing his complete lack of empathy.
Now, Cuomo touts his commitment to public safety, promising to hire 5,000 more police officers if elected mayor. But his record tells a different story. As governor, he championed “no bail, no jail” policies that turned New York’s criminal justice system into a revolving door for violent offenders. He prioritized criminals over victims to appease the radical left, and New Yorkers have paid the price with soaring crime rates and streets overrun by repeat offenders.
His leftist pandering extended to immigration policy as well. In defiance of federal law, Cuomo strengthened New York’s sanctuary status, barring law enforcement from cooperating with ICE, providing legal protections for illegal immigrants, and signing the Green Light Law, which granted them driver’s licenses. His open-border stance, meant to cultivate new Democratic voters, directly contributed to crimes committed by repeat offenders who should have been deported. One tragic example involved an illegal alien with six prior arrests who was repeatedly released due to sanctuary policies—only to later burn an innocent New Yorker to death in the subway.
Cuomo’s hypocrisy knows no bounds, as he sought to appease the left. He legalized recreational marijuana, exacerbating public health and safety concerns. He signed the Reproductive Health Act, allowing abortion up until the moment of birth, and celebrated by illuminating One World Trade Center in pink. He appointed left-wing parole board members who freed felons convicted of heinous crimes, including notorious cop killers, such as Herman Bell and Anthony Bottom, former Black Liberation Army members, convicted of killing two NYPD officers, David Gilbert, former Weather Underground terrorist, convicted for his role in the 1981 Brink’s robbery and murder of two police officers and a security guard, and a number of other cop killers, all granted parole.
Now, in a desperate bid to reclaim power, Cuomo is criticizing the Democratic Party for being too soft on crime—despite being a key architect of its disastrous policies. He has no real principles, only an insatiable hunger for total power and control. His cowardice and opportunism helped create the crisis that now engulfs New York City. Rising crime, failing schools, the MTA’s dysfunction, draconian COVID mandates, high taxes, the flood of illegal migrants, tenant-friendly laws crippling property owners, shutting down psychiatric facilities triggering rampant homelessness—the blame for all these issues can be traced back to Cuomo’s reign.
New Yorkers cannot afford to forget. Andrew Cuomo is no leader. He’s a spineless hypocrite who caves in to the leftwing minority of his party. He does not deserve another shot at power—he deserves to be held accountable for his misdeeds. Instead of Gracie Mansion, he belongs in a courtroom, and ultimately jail, answering for the suffering he has caused. The city needs real leadership, not a power-hungry tyrant looking for a comeback tour. That’s why we must rally behind Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and a true advocate for New Yorkers’ safety and well-being.
Phil Orenstein is president of the Queens Village Republican Club QVGOP.org
