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They’re trying to save New York City — from each other.
Mayor Eric Adams stated on Monday that it is crucial for New York City to be protected from Andrew Cuomo. This statement came as a response to the ex-governor positioning himself as the savior of the city in his announcement of running for mayor.
“I do believe we need to be saved from him,” Adams told reporters from City Hall.
The mayor launched his weekly news conference by boasting about shootings hitting a 30-year record low and other major felonies falling.
In a strategic move, Adams utilized data to criticize Cuomo’s decision to join the mayoral race, subtly countering the narrative put forth by the former governor that New York City is in crisis and requires saving from Adams.
“Somebody said the city is in crisis? I wonder, who was that guy?” Adams quipped.
The embattled mayor’s digs at Cuomo, who entered the race as the instant front runner, didn’t stop there.
During a discussion regarding Cuomo’s assertion in his 17-minute campaign announcement video that the city is in need of rescue, Adams highlighted the surge in crime that occurred in 2020, indirectly attributing it to the actions (or inactions) of the former governor.
Laws were passed back then that had a “major impact” on public safety, Adams said, apparently alluding to bail reform and other arguably soft-on-crime bills signed by Cuomo when he was in office.
It was Adams first shot across the bow at his new rival, who officially launched his candidacy on Saturday.
The pugilistic Cuomo, for his part, has uncharacteristically avoided mentioning Adams’ name during the few days since joining the race.
But his dire assessment of New York City as “threatening, out of control” left little doubt he’s targeting Adams.
“These conditions exist not as an act of God, but rather as an act of our political leaders,” Cuomo said. “Or more precisely, the lack of intelligent action by many of our political leaders.”
The political leadership pitch by Cuomo was in full display during his first campaign appearance Sunday, during which he boasted about saving New York City during the dark early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
His record during the pandemic has come under fire, however, especially for a directive that admitted COVID patients into the state’s nursing homes — and critics argue led to thousands of deaths.
And while Adams’ various scandals may have paved the way for Cuomo’s entry into the mayoral race, the political scion left the governor’s mansion in 2021 under a stain himself.
A flood of sexual harassment accusations from women led to Cuomo’s resignation, although he has vigorously denied wrongdoing — and mounted a costly legal battle against certain accusers that featured his lawyers seeking one woman’s gynecological records.
Adams held off saying whether Cuomo should be disqualified as a candidate because of his record on nursing homes during the pandemic.
But did assert Cuomo needed to address the nursing home deaths on the campaign trial, as well as the accusations by women.
“I believe the women made the allegations, respect what they stated,” he said. “I believe what they said based on the investigation, and he has to answer that on the trail.”
Cuomo’s spokesperson Rich Azzopardi brushed off Adams’ swipes.
“We’ll let the voters decide,” he said.