Should Kathy Hochul be Elected For a Full Term as NY’s Governor?

There are a number of ways to get into a position of political leadership. One is to actively court the role. The other is to be thrown into the deep end when scandal forces one into leadership.

Last year, when former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo stepped down due to numerous sexual harassment charges, his former Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul took over the job for what would have been the rest of his term. She is also running for Governor as the incumbent.

Compared to her predecessor, I have no complaints (as of now). Her management style seems to be one of working with her staff and partners across the state, not one of intimidation and ego. That does not mean that it has been smooth sailing so far.

The decision to use taxpayer money to partially fund the building of a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills did not go over well. When she called into WNYC‘s The Brian Lehrer Show last week, she compared it to the status that Broadway has with downstate residents (starts at 18:44). That makes sense, but I still think that the owner of the team should have put in some of their own money.

There is also the issue of her now former Lieutenant Governor, Brian Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin stepped down due to an accusation of financial fraud charges relating to a previous campaign. Governor Hochul claims that she knew nothing about it. At this point, I believe her. Only time will tell where the investigation goes and reveal who knew what.

As of today, I see no reason not to vote for her in November. But we still have a few months to go and no crystal ball to foresee the cracks in the road.

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Andrew Cuomo Has No Place in NY Politics

After a political scandal, the wise thing to do is to keep your head down and hope that in time, you will no longer be front-page news.

Former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo believes otherwise. He has announced that he will re-enter politics, though to what end remains unclear at this point. In his most recent ad, he claims that he made “mistakes”.

What he did was not a mistake. A mistake is accidentally brushing against someone in a crowded elevator. What he did to those women was textbook sexual harassment. This is a moral failing that in my mind, automatically knocks him out of whatever race he intends to run on. What is worse is that there appears to be a growing number of people who are supporting him.

This is nothing but a way to inflate his ego. He knows what he did was wrong. In this #MeToo era, actions like these do not go unnoticed or unpunished. The fact that he is downplaying it tells me everything I need to know about Andrew Cuomo. If he decides to run for office, he will not get my vote. I hope my fellow New Yorkers will do the same.

Thoughts on Andrew Cuomo’s Resignation

When the sh*t hits the fan, a wise person knows when to call it a day.

Yesterday, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that in two weeks, he will be stepping down from his post. Kathy Hochul, who is presently Lieutenant Governor, will step into the job for what would have been the rest of Cuomo’s term.

It was the wise choice, if not the only choice. I have a feeling that if he would have continued to fight the charges, he would have been impeached, which given everything that is going on now, is the last thing we all need.

The sad thing is that this is how he will be remembered. Like Bill Clinton before him, his legacy will forever be tainted by his arrogance. During the worst of the pandemic, he used to come on TV everyday and talk about that day’s virus related figures. Compared to a former President, he was a reasonable and calming presence.

And unlike you know who, he knows when it is time to throw in the towel.

What bothers me is the following statement:

 “In my mind, I’ve never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate.”

Was he living under a rock during the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby cases? Did he not see the media firestorm and the career crash that followed?

If he was not aware, why then did he sign the anti-sexual harassment law two years ago? Or was he so full of it that he thought he was above the law?

The only way to end this chapter is to continue with the impeachment, even if he is no longer in office. If it is dropped, it says that one only needs to resign from their job. A message must be sent that there are consequences to such actions are unacceptable. If the Democrats upstate do not do this, they are as bad as the Republicans in D.C. who looked the other way when you know who was accused.

Should NY Governor Andrew Cuomo Step Down?

A political scandal is nothing new. It is as old as humanity itself. The question is, when does it get to the point in which the politician is unable to do his or her job?

Last year, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo became a symbol of how to deal with Covid-19. For months on end, he gave a daily televised press conference going over the most recent numbers of NYers who were hospitalized and/or killed by the virus.

Then the nursing home scandal erupted and his image became tarnished.

Last week, the Governor was accused of sexual harassment by several female employees.

If I am to be perfectly honest, I would have him step down. Though he gets major points for being open and honest about the Covid stats, that cannot wash away the both the fudging of the nursing home facts and these new allegations.

The fact is that sexual assault and sexual harassment (especially in the workplace) is still far too common. The only way we can stop it once and for all is to make examples of those who have been found guilty of committing such acts. If it becomes clear that the punishment is not worth the brief pleasure the harasser gets, then maybe we finally put it in the rear view mirror.

Can You Know Who Be Blamed for the Nursing Homes Scandal in New York?

The decision to put one’s parent or grandparent into a nursing home is never an easy one. When the decision was made almost twenty years ago to move my late maternal grandmother into a nursing home, she fought tooth and nail to stay in her home. Though we did it out of love, it was a challenging moment for all of us.

Earlier today, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded that he should have released all of the information in regards to the number of New Yorkers who died from Covid-19 while living in nursing homes. His claim is that “politics” and you know who is partially to blame.

We all know that you know who had the opportunity to prevent, or at the very least, limit the damage that Covid-19 has left in its wake. But that is on the national level. When it comes to New York State, you know who had nothing to do with it. It was up to Governor Cuomo and his administration to do as much as they could to fight this virus. One could argue that we were all acting last year based on the information that was available at the time. While this argument has some validity, it cannot gloss over the fact that the numbers that were initially presented did not tell the whole story.

After the debacle of the last four years, I would have thought that Cuomo (or any politician for that matter), would have learned the lesson of taking one’s lumps like an adult. Instead, he chose to take the easy way out, proving that in this case, he is no better than you know who.

Is China Truly to Blame for the Covid-19 Pandemic?

A pandemic does not start from nowhere. It starts with a virus that is at best not contained or at worst, ignored completely. With freedom to jump from host to host, it expands at alarming rate, spreading far beyond the place in which it came from.

According to recent news reports, upon discovering Covid 19, the Chinese government did everything they could do to bury the story. This included stopping Dr. Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who discovered the virus, from sharing his findings with his colleagues.

It is undeniable that Covid-19 started in China. That evidence is impossible to refute. That being said, it is also undeniable that China is not the only one to blame for the current pandemic. Earlier this week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the following about the virus entering the United States:

“We closed the front door with the China travel ban, which was right,” Cuomo told a briefing. “But we left the back door open because the virus had left China by the time we did the China travel ban.”

I can’t agree more. Had the federal government (and the administration of you know who) acted quickly earlier in the year, we would not be in the predicament that we are in. But they didn’t and because they didn’t, our economy is shut down, millions are unemployed and over 50,000 Americans have died from the virus.

Speaking of, did anyone else hear that you know who blamed Barack Obama for the virus?

This continued accusation goes beyond anything that he has said before. It shows how incompetent he is. Instead of manning up and doing what he needs to do, he again blamed his predecessor for his lack of action. It was not Obama who disbanded the team that could have helped to stop this disease in it’s tracks. It was was you know who.

Back in 2014, Obama warned the nation that a future pandemic was coming. Back then, like all of us, he didn’t know when or how it would occur. But he knew enough to know that preparation was absolutely necessary.

Honestly, I don’t know how anyone could vote for you know who. His lies and half truths have become more than something to laugh at. They have become downright dangerous and life threatening.

If nothing else, this should be the reason why he must be voted out of office in the fall. If we don’t, this country as we know it to be will cease to exist.

Kindness in the Time of Covid-19

A crisis has the ability to bring out both the best and the worst in us.

Every day, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo holds a televised press conference, sharing the latest numbers and updates in regards to Covid-19.

During today’s press conference, the Governor shared a letter that he received from a retired farmer in Kansas. Both this man and his wife are in their 70’s. His wife has serious health issues. Though he does not have the ability to donate as others do, he sent one N95 mask to be given to a doctor or nurse.

These days, it’s easy to be engulfed in fear and negativity. But there is still light and kindness in this world, no matter how small it may seem to be.

However and whenever this ends, it will be light and kindness that will get us through Covid-19.

New Randy Rainbow Video-ANDY! – A Randy Rainbow Song Parody

Every story, regardless of genre or format has two basic narrative elements: the hero and the villain.

As the coronavirus continues on it’s path of destruction across the United States and across the world, heroes and villains have started to emerge from within the headlines.

The villain, I think many would argue, is you know who. His inability to lead and his ego has created a nightmare that was thoroughly preventable. The hero, as I see it New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. From the get go, Governor Cuomo has been steadfast, honest and the leader that this state and the nation desperately needs.

Randy Rainbow’s latest video was released this evening. Titled ANDY! – A Randy Rainbow Song Parody, the video is a love letter to the Governor as only Randy Rainbow could have written.

Based on the song Sandy from the musical Grease, this song is pure joy and the momentary escape that we are all searching for.

Thank you, Randy, for giving us another reason to smile and laugh. It may just be enough to get us through this horrible time.

Amazon Will Not Be Coming To New York City After All

After a lot of hype, criticism and politics, Amazon decided that it would not build its new headquarters in New York City.

To be honest, I am disappointed. While I understand the reasons why some people did not want Amazon to build the new headquarters in Long Island City, I feel like the benefits outweighed the risks.

I also feel like part of the blame falls on Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo.  Neither was completely open with the public as to the application process and the benefits that Amazon would have received, had they actually proceeded with agreed upon plan. It was just a little too “political backroom deal” for my liking.

But what is done, is done. Amazon has made their decision. There are many, many other businesses that contribute to the financial health of the city and her residents. I just can’t help but wonder what Amazon might have brought to this city, had things been different.

Thoughts On Election Results Of The New York State Democratic Gubernatorial Race

Yesterday was primary day for the Democratic party in New York State.

The results surprised no one. Andrew Cuomo, who is in his second term as the Governor of the state of New York, won the primary against activist/actress Cynthia Nixon.

From my perspective, Mr. Cuomo was the best person for the job. Despite the hiccups that have come out of his administration, it was his experience that won me over. While Ms. Nixon fought well, I feel like her lack of political experience and her celebrity got in the way. After having nearly two years of you know who in office, I think I speak for many when I say that I would prefer someone in office who is not a newbie.

However, that does not mean that Mr. Cuomo is off the hook. The fact that Ms. Nixon got as far as she did speaks to the fact that there are many voters in this state who want a true progressive in Albany, instead of one who plays mere lip service to the ideals of the progressive movement. It also speaks to the list of political scandals that are attached to his name and leadership.

While we will have to wait until November to find out if Mr. Cuomo is elected to a third term, I have a feeling that he will be elected to a third term.