A Jewish rival of mayoral frontrunner Andrew Cuomo ripped the ex-governor Sunday, saying he “lied” a couple of group he constructed to battle antisemitism that has been largely lacking in motion.
Candidate Scott Stringer mentioned throughout a speech on the West Facet Institutional Synagogue that the advocacy group “By no means Once more, NOW!” was presupposed to battle Jew hatred however as a substitute grew to become a automobile to prop up Cuomo’s comeback marketing campaign.
“He really confirmed up in individuals’s residing rooms and promised to arrange a company that may run commercials, host symposiums and – with cash raised from the Jewish donor group – be part of the battle in opposition to rising antisemitism,” the previous metropolis comptroller and Manhattan borough president mentioned.
“However he by no means lifted a finger. There have been no commercials. Nothing,” Stringer added. “This group was a automobile for his mayor’s race – and everyone is aware of it.”
Cuomo had beforehand spoken on the similar synagogue, accusing different candidates in a crowded Democratic Occasion major of condoning Jew hatred or being antisemitic.
“He knew to not name me out. That will have been a mistake,” Stringer informed congregants earlier in his speech. “However nonetheless, I used to be appalled by his cynical – and admittedly pitiful – makes an attempt to divide town and this group.
Stringer mentioned what was worse was what Cuomo didn’t say within the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terror assaults in Israel.
“He didn’t let you know that he got here to this group in our darkest second, throughout our hour of want – after greater than 1,200 individuals had been murdered by the terrorist group Hamas, with a whole lot of hostages held in Gaza – and he lied to us,” Stringer mentioned.
“This was the worst assault on the Jewish individuals for the reason that Holocaust. Our hearts had been damaged,” he mentioned. “And he offered us all a invoice of products in our darkest second, throughout our hour of want … he thinks he’s getting one over on us. However we all know higher.”
Stringer then quoted from a passage within the Talmud to warning congregants about Cuomo.
“‘Watch out concerning the authorities, as they method a person solely once they want him. They appear like good buddies in good instances, however they don’t keep for him in time of his hassle,’” he mentioned.
Cuomo’s “By no means Once more, NOW” did put together a video advert attacking Hamas in July 2024, as reported in The Submit.
However the advert received little airtime, the New York Instances later reported.
Cuomo has had a huge lead within the polls because the June 24 Democratic major for mayor nears, which has contributed to him being a favourite goal of different candidates. Stringer has been polling within the single digits.
Cuomo has confronted assaults in his mayoral run after he resigned as governor beneath the specter of impeachment in 2021 amid a collection of sexual misconduct accusations that he denies.
He’s additionally been fiercely criticized for his dealing with of the COVID-19 pandemic, notably a controversial March 2020 administration directive that ordered nursing properties to just accept recovering coronavirus sufferers discharged from hospitals.
Responding to Stringer, the Cuomo marketing campaign offered an announcement from state Assemblyman Sam Berger, a Cuomo backer within the Jewish group.
“Governor Cuomo has proven his help for the Jewish group with motion, not simply phrases. Scott Stringer performed footsie with the anti-Israel, anti-democratic DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] and their allies who gained’t condemn hate,” Berger mentioned.
“When Queens confronted a alternative for DA between a Jewish pro-Israel candidate [Melinda Katz] and a card-carrying DSA member [Tiffany Caban], Stringer selected DSA. We want a mayor who’ll battle for us — not one who simply panders when handy.”
Cuomo, in the meantime, defended his selections throughout the pandemic whereas talking at Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn Sunday morning.
“We beat COVID and saved lives,” he informed church congregants.
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