New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he has given up trying to work with Andrew Cuomo amid the governor's sexual harassment sc...
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he has given up trying to work with Andrew Cuomo amid the governor's sexual harassment scandal and alleged nursing home deaths cover-up.
'I have tried for seven years and I learned long ago it doesn't work because he doesn't seek collaboration with others,' de Blasio said on National Public Radio's 'All Things Considered' program when he was asked if he would 'commit to trying' to work with the governor to combat the pandemic.
'I think that's coming out more and more. Bottom line, I'm going to defend the people of New York City,' de Blasio, who has called for Cuomo to resign, said. 'If I have to do that very publicly — and if I have to challenge the governor — I will.'
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he has given up trying to work with Andrew Cuomo
'I have tried for seven years and I learned long ago it doesn't work because he doesn't seek collaboration with others,' de Blasio said of Cuomo
De Blasio said last week that his fellow Democrat can 'no longer serve as governor.'
The mayor said he hoped Cuomo would either leave office voluntarily or be removed following an 'impeachment investigation' authorized last week by Democratic state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
'And I look forward to a governor I can work with in the future,' de Blasio said.
At least seven women, including four former staffers, accused Cuomo of workplace harassment, improper touching or both.
A woman who was also an employee was referred by the governor's office Wednesday to police for an investigation.
De Blasio said on NPR that he believes the woman who have come forward with accusations against Cuomo.
The mayor said he hoped Cuomo would either leave office voluntarily or be removed following an 'impeachment investigation' authorized last week by Democratic state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (pictured with Cuomo)
'I think with that alone, we have enough evidence why he shouldn't be governor any longer,' de Blasio said. 'But on top of that, he is creating a huge distraction for the state. And he's making decisions for political reasons not for what's best for the people and for their health. In this moment, he's literally making it harder for us to fight COVID.'
During a press conference Monday morning, de Blasio issued a harsh condemnation of the governor's administration over reports that Larry Schwartz, the head of the state's vaccine distribution effort, called county officials to gauge their support for the embattled governor.
Schwartz's phone calls raised concerns vaccine distribution could be tied to political support for the governor.
Cuomo's administration is also under fire following accusations of covering up pandemic death statistics in the state's nursing homes.
A nursing home resident receives a shot of the coronavirus vaccine at King David Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in New York City on January 6
'What we've heard about is the governor and his team trying to link vaccine supply to political support. That is the definition of corruption. It is disgusting, it is dangerous,' de Blasio said.
'There are lives on the line and it cannot be tolerated. It needs to be now a full investigation of that, on top of the investigation of the nursing home scandal, the investigation of the sexual harassment and molestation,' he said.
The men have had a rocky relationship, including de Blasio saying in 2015 that 'if someone disagrees with him [Cuomo] openly, some kind of revenge or vendetta follows.'
De Blasio, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection in November, deflected repeated questions about whether he will run for governor during an appearance on CBS program 'Face the Nation' Sunday.
Cuomo previously said he would seek a fourth term in 2022 but last week refused to say if he was sticking with that plan.
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