Veto Cuomo

To the editor:

In a disturbing move, some political, religious and union leaders announced their support for Andrew Cuomo for mayor. Having these leaders side with an accused sexual harasser is deplorable. He resigned, but is now backing off from his eventual apologies to run for mayor, countersuing his victims into submission. The scandals cost taxpayers millions in court and settlement fees.

During Cuomo’s tenure, rents statewide rose 33 percent. In New York City, 50 percent of tenants became rent-burdened, spiking homelessness while enriching real estate developers. He underfunded city schools, then ignored a court order to provide the $2 billion owed. When he resigned, that debt had increased to $4 billion, placing the state shamefully at #48 in the country.

He created the disastrous Tier 6, treating new hires as second-class citizens by increasing service years, contributions and penalties, while decreasing benefits. This caused mounting vacancies in the civil service and an inability to attract new workers to replace Tier 4 retirees.

This self-professed “car guy” syphoned $465 million from the MTA, while subways fell further into disrepair. He refused to refund, instead proposing using $216 million to create a light and music show at NYC bridges.

But most unforgivable was his order placing Covid patients in nursing homes, thereby exposing residents to the virus and leading to 15,000 deaths. He’s now accused of lying to Congress, with this case referred to the DOJ for prosecution. Do we want another mayor beholden to Trump for a pardon for his misdeeds?

Although a Queens native, he’s only shown contempt for our city. The suffering inflicted in his years as governor is unforgivable. Please do not rank this immensely corrupt, self-serving and possibly criminal politician in the upcoming primaries. New York City can and must do better than this!

Rebeca Pagan-Rodriguez