Bronx and other elected officials reacted on Tuesday, Aug. 10, to the resignation, also on Tuesday, of New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo, one week after the release, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, of the findings of an independent investigation by Attorney General Laetitia James into allegations of sexual harassment by the governor, allegations which the governor has repeatedly denied, as reported.

 

The governor explained his resignation in a video statement which can be watched here, courtesy of CNN. Cuomo said, “I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government. He said he “deeply, deeply apologized” to anyone who may have been offended by his actions. “My resignation will be effective in 14 days,” he said.

 

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will take up the reins as governor a that time. Hotchul said she agreed with Cuomo‘s decision to step down. “It is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers,” she said. “As someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in the line of succession, I am prepared to lead as New York State’s 57th Governor.” Her office said she would release further comments in due course.

 

Cuomo’s resignation follows calls from both sides of the aisle at the State legislature for the governor to be impeached, as well as the resignation on Sunday of his top aide, Melissa deRosa. The State attorney general’s report found that DeRosa had taken steps to retaliate against one of the women who spoke out publicly in recent months about her allegations against Cuomo. In addition, when questioned in recent days by a reporter about the situation, U.S. President Joe Biden said that he stood by his earlier remarks, made several months ago, that if the investigation found that there was improper conduct on the part of the governor, he should resign.

 

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34), a longtime critic of the governor, issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the governor had finally put New Yorkers first in announcing his resignation. “I am forever grateful for the eleven women who risked everything to speak out about their experience of sexual misconduct,” she said. “New York will be a better and safer place because of them. While further accountability is necessary, this moment reflects the hard work of survivors who have been striving for an end to workplace harassment for decades.”

 

The senator added, “New York State can now move forward and address the needs of the people we were elected to serve. I look forward to working under Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul’s leadership. Let this next chapter for New York be one of integrity, optimism, and progress.”

 

As reported, on July 28, CNBC reported that Biaggi was allegedly considering a run for governor, citing the fact that her website was being updated for a possible future campaign. The senator neither confirmed nor denied the suggestion, but when Nick Merril later tweeted about her website, and asked if something new and exciting was in the offing, she replied on Twitter, “Stay tuned.”

 

For her part, Bronx assemblywoman, Nathalia Fernández (A.D. 80), said she was pleased that elected officials can now get back to directing all of their focus toward serving the people of New York. “Thank you again to the brave women who came forward and refused to be silenced by gaslighting or political spin. You are truly New York Tough. I stand with you and all others to ensure that we always believe women and hold all accountable for abuse, regardless of their position of power.”

 

She added, “I believe that Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will execute the job of Governor and deliver for the State of New York. I look forward to working with her to continue serving all New Yorkers.”

 

Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), who represents parts of the Bronx and Manhattan, said it was a sad day for New York State following the resignation of the governor. We must work together to ensure that our State is able to move forward and rebuild. I extend my full support to each of the victims who have come forth to date and hope that they can each find healing, strength, and comfort from friends, families, and those closest to each of them,”

 

Espaillat said. “New York is cherished and known around the world as the Empire State and it is crucial that we work together to put the interests and well-being of New Yorkers first and foremost as we continue to move forward and beyond this moment in our history.”

 

The attorney general also said that the Tuesday closed a sad chapter for all of New York, but that it was an important step towards justice. “I thank Gov. Cuomo for his contributions to our state. The ascension of our Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul, will help New York enter a new day. We must continue to build on the progress already made and improve the lives of New Yorkers in every corner of the state. I know our state is in good hands with Lieutenant Governor Hochul at the helm, and I look forward to continuing to work with her.”

 

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) said he was relieved that this “deeply troubling episode” in New York’s history was finally coming to a close. “There is no excuse for it having happened in the first place,” he said. “The allegations against Governor Cuomo are repugnant and numerous, and it is evident that the ongoing challenges were interfering with his ability to serve the people of New York.”

 

The assemblyman said that his heart ached for the women who suffered at the hands of the governor. “It is highly problematic that seemingly the only way for these women to get justice was to relive their trauma in a highly public and extremely drawn-out matter,” he said. “I look forward to a new chapter in New York under soon-to-be Governor Kathy Hochul and am hopeful that we can hit the ground running in our shared work on behalf of New Yorkers in the Bronx across the state.”

 

Meanwhile, State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) said, “After months of political turmoil, Gov. Cuomo’s resignation will allow our executive branch to properly function amidst a number of compounding crises that New Yorkers are facing, a worrying resurgence of COVID-19 due to the Delta variant among them. It was the right thing for the governor to resign, but it is inexcusable that he and his legal team continued to attempt to undermine corroborated stories of harassment and abuse included in the attorney general’s report.”

 

The senator reminded New Yorkers that there are also investigations pending by the Southern District of the US Attorney’s office into the administration’s actions surrounding the undercount of deaths in New York’s nursing homes, and by the assembly judiciary committee into the sexual harassment accusations, as well as the misuse of State resources to write and publish what he called the governor’s “ridiculous” book. “Andrew Cuomo should also be held responsible for these egregious actions despite leaving the office of the governor,” he said.

 

New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said, “Gov. Cuomo abused his power and disgraced his office. His resignation signals a new chapter for our state. This Council is eager to support Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will become the first woman governor of New York.  It is regretful that this historic milestone was achieved under these tragic circumstances, but we are confident that her years of experience serving New Yorkers will help lead us to better days ahead.” He added, “I once again thank Attorney General Letitia James for the independent report, as well as her team. And I commend the women who came forward to share their stories.”

 

For her part, U.S. Senator for New York, Kirsten Gillibrand, said she wanted to thank the “incredibly courageous women” who came forward and shared their stories. “They are the true public servants here. New York now has a chance to move forward and build a new culture of leadership,” the senator said. “Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul is an exceptional public servant and will be an excellent governor. I look forward to working together to continue serving the people of our great state.”

 

New York Republican chairman, Nick Langworthy, said New Yorkers could breathe a collective sigh of relief that Cuomo will no longer be able to wield the immense power of the governor’s office to commit what he called his corruption and abuse. “But make no mistake, this resignation is simply an attempt to avoid real accountability for his numerous crimes. Thousands of lives have been destroyed by Andrew Cuomo and the legislature must continue to move forward with impeachment to ensure he can never run for office again,” he said.

 

“Whether it was his numerous pay-to-play and corruption scandals, his deadly nursing home coverup or his $5 million book deal, the New York Republican Party has traveled across the state to expose the real Andrew Cuomo, even when it was a lonely solo mission. We will not rest until the entire stench of the Cuomo Administration is wiped clean from state government and we usher in a new era of integrity and common sense under a Republican governor in 2022.”

 

Conservative Party chairman, Gerard Kassar, said Cuomo just gave one of the most disingenuous resignation speeches in human memory, but added, “at least he resigned.” He said, “We trust that his stepping down will do nothing to slow the myriad investigations into his misbehaviors, including covering up nursing home death data; profiting $5.1 million from his obfuscation of those deaths; using state-paid employees to write his tome, and allegations of both physical and verbal sexual abuse of at least 11 women.”

 

Kassar said the Conservative Party wished Hochul well in her transition to New York’s top executive office, and added, “But, we will continue holding her to account for allowing Mr. Cuomo’s gross, well-known behavior to go on for these past seven years.  Mr. Cuomo’s behavior has shown the need for far greater transparency in New York State government, and so many questions for him still need to be answered.”

 

Representatives from the Sexual Harassment Working Group, based at 5 Depew Street, Auburn, NY 13021, also released a statement on Tuesday, thanking Lindsey Boylan, Charlotte Bennett, Anna Ruch, Ana Liss, Alyssa McGrath, Virginia Limmiatis, Brittany Commisso and the other women who they said came forward to speak the truth about the governor’s misconduct. “We thank those who rejected Cuomo’s attempts to control the investigation, those who called for him to resign, and the many individuals who have worked for justice at great personal and professional risk.”

 

The Sexual Harassment Working Group is a worker collective, launched by seven former New York State legislative employees who experienced, witnessed, or reported sexual harassment by former New York legislators and their staff. The group advocates for a harassment-free Albany and harassment-free New York.

 

Members include, Elizabeth Crothers, former legislative aide in the NYS Assembly, Elias Farah, former legislative aide in the NYS Assembly, Erica Vladimer, former analyst and counsel to former SenatorJeff Klein (succeeded by Biaggi), Rita Pasarell, former legislative counsel and deputy chief of staff to former assemblyman, Vito Lopez, Shana Melius, former staffer in the New York City Council, Eliyanna Kaiser, former chief of staff to former assemblyman, Micah Kellner, Danielle Bennett, former administrative assistant to former assemblyman, Micah Kellner.

 

The group said, “To be clear, Cuomo is resigning in disgrace. His own misconduct led to his resignation, and his rambling address was a transparent attempt to escape accountability. To state what has been obvious, Cuomo must leave office immediately. We do not need to grant him 14 days to fashion a heroic legacy that disguises the facts.”

 

They said no one was clamoring for him to stay another two weeks and that Cuomo did not like Attorney General James’ comprehensive report. “We continue to call on the Assembly to break its habit of offering an escape hatch for sexual predators in the workplace. For decades, we have experienced and seen women and men suffer the consequences of legislators’ ethically bankrupt nonchalance,” they said.

 

“The Assembly must continue its impeachment investigation, and the Court of Impeachment should convict Cuomo and prevent him from running for public office in the future.”