FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 12, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 23
Queens leaders ready to move forward
after Cuomo announces his resignation
BY JULIA MORO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
One week aft er Queens offi cials called
for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign following
the results of an independent investigation
from New York State Attorney General
Letitia James’s offi ce which found that
Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women
in violation of New York state law, the governor
announced on Tuesday, Aug. 10, that
he would resign in 14 days.
When Cuomo offi cially steps down on
Aug. 24, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take
over as governor, becoming the fi rst woman
to hold the offi ce.
“Th is is about politics and our political
system is too oft en driven by political
extremes,” Cuomo said in a his Aug. 10 televised
speech. “Th is situation by its current
trajectory will generate months of political
and legal controversy. Th at is what we’re
going to have. It will consume government.
It will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Th is
is one of the most challenging times for government
in a generation. Government really
needs to function today. It really needs to
perform. It’s a matter of life and death, government
operations, and wasting energy on
distractions is the last thing that state government
should be doing. And I cannot be
the cause of that.”
Following his resignation, Queens offi -
cials are already looking to move forward.
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards is “confi dent” New York can “get
back to work” following news of Cuomo’s
resignation.
“Th ank you to all the survivors who came
forward. It was not an easy decision to
make, but your decision transformed New
York’s history for the better. You are the true
heroes of New York state, and Queens continues
to support you as you move toward
your next steps,” Richards said. “I thank
Attorney General Letitia James and her
team for conducting a thorough, fair investigation
and for giving survivors a platform to
speak their truth. Today is a sad day for New
York, but I am confi dent we can get back to
work. I am ready to collaborate with our
state’s fi rst female governor, Kathy Hochul.”
Assembly member Jessica González-
Rojas, one of the lawmakers who has called
for Cuomo’s resignation and impeachment
for months, said she looks forward to working
with Hochul.
“Th ank you to all the survivors who
have come forward to tell their stories,”
González-Rojas tweeted. “Th is is what New
York needs. I’m ready to work with incoming
Gov. Kathy Hochul to ensure we move
our state forward, enact real reform and
address the urgent needs of New Yorkers.”
Hochul herself said she agrees with
Cuomo’s decision to step down and is
ready to take the reigns.
“It is the right thing to do and in the
best interest of New Yorkers,” Hochul
tweeted. “As someone who has served
at all levels of government and is
next in the line of succession,
I am prepared to lead as New
York State’s 57th Governor.”
Aft er the attorney general’s
report came out on
Aug. 3, Cuomo denied any
wrongdoing, saying it was
a biased and inaccurate
portrayal.
“It’s not who I am, and
it’s not who I’ve ever
been,” Cuomo said in a
video statement. “Th e facts are much different
than has been portrayed. I never
touched anyone inappropriately or made
inappropriate sexual advances.”
Eleven women accused Cuomo of similar
stories of sexual harassment, which
was then confi rmed by James’ report. As a
result, the Assembly Judiciary Committee
announced yesterday they would proceed
with their own investigation into misconduct
and abuses of power.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Cuomo’s resignation
was long overdue.
“Make no mistake, this is the result of
survivors bravely telling their stories,” de
Blasio said. “It was past time for Andrew
Cuomo to resign and it’s for the good of
all New York.”
Democratic mayoral candidate Eric
Adams took to Twitter to say he looks
forward to working with Hochul.
“As we guide our city through these
challenging times and do the hard work
of leading a safe, equitable recovery for
NYC,” Adams said.
Other Queens officials, including
state Senator Joseph Addabbo, said that
Cuomo made the right decision in stepping
down from his position.
“Now for the sake of the 19 million people
of this state, we must come together as
New Yorkers and continue to move forward
in improving the lives of our residents
and maintain government services,”
Addabbo said. “Th ere is still work
to be done, and we will rise to this occasion
as we always do in
the face of challenging
times. With enthusiasm,
I look forward to
working with Hochul
and her administration.”
Arlenis Morel, coexecutive
director of
Make the
Road New York, said sexual harassment
and the abuse of power has no place in our
government.
“Cuomo has failed repeatedly on both
of these counts,” Morel said. “We have
demanded Cuomo’s resignation for many
months. It is a shame that it took so many
brave survivors coming forward about his
abusive behavior before he fi nally stepped
down, but we continue to applaud their
bravery and are relieved that the day has
fi nally come.”
Make the Road New York is an advocacy
organization building up immigrant and
working-class communities through education
and policy initiatives.
“We call on the Assembly to continue its
impeachment proceedings to ensure full
accountability — and that Cuomo can never
run for public offi ce again,” Morel said.
Cuomo was formerly praised for his handling
of the COVID-19 crisis until the attorney
general’s offi ce released a report in
January detailing the misleading data from
the governor’s offi ce relating to the nursing
home deaths in the state.
It didn’t end there, as Cuomo also faced
scrutiny for allegedly prioritizing COVID
tests for his family and using state resources
to publish his book. Th e Assembly Judiciary
Committee is also investigating these allegations.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer appeared
shocked at Cuomo’s announcement.
“I did not think he would ever utter these
words,” Van Bramer said on Twitter.
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani also kept
his comments brief, tweeting, “14 days is too
long.”
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris
said today is a sad day for New York, but one
that was ultimately necessary.
“Th e governor’s resignation is an important
step in the process of ensuring accountability
and acknowledging the harm done by his
behavior,” Gianaris said. “I thank the women
who came forward with such courage to have
their voices heard and help make New York a
safer, fairer place.”
Congressman Tom Suozzi released a statement
saying that he thinks Cuomo did the
right thing.
“Th ere is no doubt that Cuomo has accomplished
much for our state, from the property
tax cap to rebuilding our infrastructure,
to instituting a $15 minimum wage and battling
COVID,” Suozzi said in a statement. “It
is imperative that our next governor continue
the positive achievements of the Cuomo
administration and help once again make
New York the Empire State.”
Other local lawmakers were blunt about
Cuomo’s clear lack of ability to hold offi ce now
or in the future. Assemblywoman Nily Rozic
said in a statement that New Yorkers deserve
better than Cuomo.
“It has been abundantly clear that Cuomo
is unfi t to hold the position, and his resignation
will allow us to fi nally move forward,”
Rozic said. “It is my hope that investigations
into his conduct continue and that his many
victims receive the justice and peace of mind
they deserve.”
State Senator Jessica Ramos felt similarly,
saying the threat of impeachment was too
much for Cuomo to handle.
“New Yorkers deserve better than a man
who has played politics with our lives for a
decade and couldn’t see beyond his ego,” said
Ramos on Twitter. “I look forward to working
with Hochul as she becomes our fi rst female
governor.”
Councilman Robert Holden also said that
Cuomo isn’t doing what’s best for New York,
but instead trying to avoid the impeachment
process.
“Cuomo’s resignation is motivated by the
inevitability of impeachment, not by what’s
best for New York,” Holden said. “He must
still be held accountable and his alleged victims,
including victims of sexual harassment
and of his deadly nursing home policies and
their families, deserve justice.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng said she
called on Cuomo to resign months ago and
now looks forward to working with Hochul.
Mary Altaff er/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation on Aug. 10 amid
sexual harassment allegations.
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