Cuomo Addresses Criticism of His COVID-19 Management from Competing Mayoral Candidates
In 2020, Cuomo issued a state executive order mandating nursing homes to readmit individuals with COVID-19, contingent upon them being classified as medically stable.
NEW YORK CITY—Andrew Cuomo, a mayoral candidate and former governor, has reacted to backlash from fellow candidates who congregated at a rally, pressing him to take accountability for his alleged mishandling of COVID-19 protocols in nursing homes during the pandemic.
On March 23, electoral candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties assembled in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, to criticize Cuomo’s actions amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Participants in the rally included Democratic hopefuls such as Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, Brooklyn state Senator Zellnor Myrie, Queens state Senator Jessica Ramos, and former Comptroller Scott Stringer. Republican contender Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, and independent candidate Jim Walden were also present.
The Olson Group also identified that Cuomo’s administration significantly underreported nursing home deaths during the pandemic, with a discrepancy of 4,100 deaths.
The report concluded that although the order and related nursing home policies were “rushed and uncoordinated,” they ultimately provided suitable guidance that aligned with the best practices in congregate care, reflecting the most accurate understanding of the scientific community at that time.
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Auditors affirmed that New York state adopted a “proactive stance” on various pandemic measures, such as vaccinating the elderly and conducting mass testing, noting that the outcomes in nursing homes “were not substantially inconsistent with overall performance in such facilities nationwide.”
The Cobble Hill event was organized by families advocating for Cuomo to apologize for his role in the fatalities of their loved ones. Cuomo has maintained that he is not responsible for these deaths and has stated that an unnamed staff member in his administration initiated the order, asserting that neither he nor his health commissioner approved it.
The candidates urged Cuomo to engage with the families and take accountability. Many remarked they would continue to expose his purported historical ethical issues and sexual harassment allegations, which Cuomo refutes.
Cuomo has been leading in the race so far, enjoying high favorability ratings and support from numerous political figures within the city.
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, dismissed the criticisms directed at the former governor in a statement on March 24.
“According to the [Department of Justice inspector general], the State Attorney General, and New York State’s COVID-19 After Action Report, the state’s nursing home admission guidance was in line with federal guidelines, matched what was issued in a dozen states led by both Republicans and Democrats, and there is no credible empirical evidence indicating it led to additional fatalities,” Azzopardi commented.
“This matter was scrutinized by the Department of Justice on three separate occasions, and the Manhattan DA concluded their investigations with no findings of wrongdoing, while civil litigation initiated by the organizers of today’s event has also been dismissed.”
Mayor Eric Adams, who is currently seeking re-election, also criticized Cuomo regarding his COVID-19 handling during a media availability event on March 24. “He mishandled the nursing home issues,” Adams stated. “Moreover, if you analyze the situation, there were racial disparities in our approach to vaccinations. Black and brown communities were not receiving fair access to vaccinations.”
