STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo received a union endorsement for his New York City mayoral campaign at a gathering in Great Kills with the Local 3 Staten Island Electrical Club of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Thursday evening. <\/p>\n
And he used the opportunity to take a few shots at one of his challengers, Zohran Mamdani, who is running on the Democratic Party line.<\/p>\n
Taking direct aim at Mamdani, he framed the election as a choice between \u201ctwo fundamentally different philosophies\u201d and pondered if New York would remain \u201ca free market economy, a capitalist economy, or whether we are a socialist economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cZohran Mamdani is a socialist in the purest form of the word,\u201d Cuomo said. \u201cHe is not running as a Democrat. He is a socialist and he believes in socialist philosophy. New York has always been a free-market capitalist society. We believe in the right to work. We believe in opportunity. That\u2019s what brought people to New York. The ability to improve yourself, improve your family by working hard. Government didn\u2019t control you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He went on to attribute specific positions to Mamdani, including claims that the assemblyman stated the NYPD \u201cis corrupt, and a threat to public safety and should be disbanded\u201d and that \u201cjails should be abolished.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a totally different set of values than I was raised with, that you were raised with, that made this city the greatest city on the planet,\u201d he went on to say. \u201cAre we New Yorkers or are we socialists? New Yorkers are not socialists. We\u2019re not Cuba. We\u2019re not Venezuela. We\u2019re not Nicaragua \u2014 we\u2019re the home of the greatest labor unions in the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Published reports say Mamdani has previously criticized Cuomo as a symbol of establishment politics. Mamdani\u2019s campaign didn\u2019t immediately respond to an Advance\/SILive.com request for comment following the event.<\/p>\n
Asked by an Advance\/SILive.com reporter why he considers himself the best candidate for the borough, Cuomo responded: \u201cBecause I\u2019ve never forgotten Staten Island \u2014 and I never will. It\u2019s a vital part of New York City, but it\u2019s often been neglected and hasn\u2019t received the attention it rightfully deserves. I recognize that, and as mayor, I\u2019ll change that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Endorsement<\/p>\n
Joe Santigate, assistant business manager of the New York City Construction Division of Local 3, introduced Cuomo to rousing applause inside the union\u2019s packed meeting hall, calling it \u201ca great night for Local 3\u201d and \u201ca great night for Andrew Cuomo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Santigate highlighted Cuomo\u2019s connection to union leaders and praised the jobs Cuomo created as governor, stating that union members \u201call benefited by it,\u201d and he expressed hope the union would \u201ccontinue to benefit\u201d should Cuomo be elected mayor.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocal 3, I am so honored by your endorsement. From the bottom of my heart, thank you,\u201d Cuomo said to the standing-room-only crowd.<\/p>\n
As of this month, Cuomo, who\u2019s running as an Independent, has received seven union endorsements, as three unions switched endorsements to Mamdani.<\/p>\n
Going on to highlight his political experience, Cuomo told the audience he had been involved in many elections during his eight years as HUD secretary under President Bill Clinton and his 11 years as attorney general and governor. However, he characterized the current mayoral race as \u201cthe most important election I have ever been involved in.\u201d<\/p>\n
On housing affordability, Cuomo advocated for building more affordable housing, telling the union members, \u201cwe know how to build. You do it better than anyone on the damn globe.\u201d <\/p>\n
He cited construction projects, including the new LaGuardia Airport, Kennedy Airport, the Kosciuszko Bridge, the Mario Cuomo Bridge, the Second Avenue subway and the third track for the Long Island Railroad as examples of the city\u2019s building capabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need you to make your voice heard, because you are New York,\u201d Cuomo said in closing before taking a handful of questions from the press. <\/p>\n
Joe Campanella of Huguenot recalled meeting Cuomo while working in the tunnels of the New York City subway system. \u201cIt was the first time I\u2019ve really seen a politician actually come out and brush elbows with the guys on the job and it\u2019s nice to see.\u201d <\/p>\n
Campanella went on to say that should Cuomo be elected he would like to see the Staten Island Railway integrated into the New York City Subway system. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s already proven that he\u2019ll bring jobs to union members, and this is what we need,\u201d Anthony Riccardelli of Woodrow said. \u201cHe seems like a regular person. He\u2019s not just giving the answers he\u2019s supposed to, and you\u2019d expect him to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the newest Marist poll released Tuesday, Mamdani maintains a commanding 21-point lead among likely voters when put up against Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and Mayor Eric Adams. <\/p>\n
The Democratic nominee scored support from 45% of those polled, compared to 24% for Cuomo. Sliwa, the Republican nominee in the race, earned 17%; Adams got the support from 9% of those polled, and 5% were still undecided.<\/p>\n
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