WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES AUGUST 12, 2021 15
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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.
“This is about politics and our political
system is too oft en driven by political
extremes,” Cuomo said in a his Aug.
10 televised speech. “This situation by
its current trajectory will generate
months of political and legal controversy.
That is what we’re going to have.
It will consume government. It will cost
taxpayers millions of dollars. This 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.
“Thank 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.
“Thank you to all the survivors who
have come forward to tell their stories,”
González-Rojas tweeted. “This 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. “The facts are much diff erent
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 offi cials, 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.“There 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, co-executive 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.”
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.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee is
also investigating these allegations.
Senate Deputy Leader Michael
Gianaris said Aug. 10 is a sad day for
New York, but one that was ultimately
necessary.
“The 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.”
Other local lawmakers were blunt
about Cuomo’s clear lack of ability to
hold offi ce now or in the future.
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.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation on Aug. 10 amid sexual
harassment allegations. Mary Altaff er/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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