Stewart-Cousins rebuked for standing with Gov. Cuomo after calling for resignation
ALBANY — State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins — the highest-ranking elected official in New York to call for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation over a slew of sexual harassment allegations and other scandals — stood side by side with him, in seeming support of him, during a closed-to-the-press event, drawing ire from lawmakers and advocates alike.
“Thank you, thank you so much, Governor,” Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) said Wednesday during an appearance with Cuomo to promote vaccinations at the Yonkers-based Police Athletic League Center, which is in her district.
“Thank you also for talking about the work that we did on this budget.”
She continued: “But we’re here because of what the governor said, as at the center of all of us, is making sure we have our health.”
Stewart-Cousins called for Cuomo’s resignation over a month ago, on March 7, naming allegations of sexual misconduct, a toxic work environment plaguing the executive chamber and the scandal surrounding the state’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes as reasons for significant “distraction” for the governor.
Erica Vladimir, co-founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group — comprised of former state legislative staff — said Stewart-Cousins sent mixed signals by sharing the event with Cuomo.
“It crosses messages and now instead of being able to focus on getting things done for this legislative session, she needs to address this and she’s going to have to do this publicly,” she told The Post.
“Andrea Stewart-Cousins did what she had to do to get her district resources, and now it’s time to remind the public that she believes power abusers need to be held accountable. She needs to reiterate her demand for him to resign.”
Others were more harsh.
“I hope that it’s not a signal for others to think it’s okay to stand with him. When we don’t have accountability for his actions,” said state Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens), a frequent critic of the governor.
“I think we as Democrats completely lose credibility in calling for any kind of justice in any issue. We shouldn’t normalize these behaviors by standing with him on any issue.”
He added that while he understands Stewart-Cousins may be in a tough position as the event occurred in her district, if Cuomo asked him to attend an event in his district, he would decline.
“I wouldn’t show up because what are we telling our society? He sexually assaulted a staffer. He groped a woman in his workplace? In what other industry, in what other world is this okay?”
A spokesman for Stewart-Cousins defended her decision, arguing she stands by her calls for Cuomo to step down.
“Our position on the governor has not changed. He should resign. This event was in her district and it is critically important that people get vaccinated and that all efforts are made to make sure that happens,” said Mike Murphy, spokesman for the state Senate Democrats.
Ana Liss, one of Cuomo’s former staffers who has accused him of misconduct, pointed to a tweet by state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx) Thursday morning that encouraged the prevention of sexual violence.
“April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so how can you prevent sexual violence?” Biaggi tweeted.
“Don’t participate in the *normalization* of abusive people & behaviors, make excuses for known abusers, or pretend it’s not real. That’s abusive.”
“I agree with Alessandra Biaggi’s point, and I don’t think it was a wise decision. Given the circumstances, no one should be going about their lives as though things are ‘business as usual,’ especially elected officials in the governor’s orbit. Especially during Sexual Assault Awareness month,” Liss told The Post.
Cuomo is under investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office, and the state Assembly has launched an impeachment probe into the governor’s actions. He has apologized for his actions, arguing sometimes his “jokes” are misinterpreted by others.
