Cuomo: 'New York City is in crisis' | Exclusive 1-on-1 interview
Exclusive: Andrew Cuomo talks vision for NYC
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke with FOX 5’s Rosanna Scotto about his run for New York City mayor. Speaking from a senior center in the Bronx, Cuomo addresses key issues like crime and the affordability crisis, voter concerns, and his political comeback.
BRONX - Why is former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo running for mayor of NYC?
"I think it's simple, because, I'm a lifelong New Yorker… and New York City is in trouble. New York City is in crisis," the governor-turned-mayoral candidate told FOX 5 NY's Rosanna Scotto during an exclusive one-on-one interview at the Bronx's Rain Boston Road Senior Center on Friday.
Andrew Cuomo & Rosanna Scotto: Exclusive 1-on-1 | Uncut, full interview
Watch the full, uncut video of Rosanna Scotto's exclusive, one-on-one interview with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The two discuss why Cuomo wants to be NYC's mayor, plus the ex-governor delves into his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how he'd handle the Trump administration.
"We have COVID, we have high taxes, and then you have this deterioration of the quality of life where people don't feel safe to walk on the streets," Cuomo said. "We have to make changes and we have to make changes fast."
Cuomo also addressed the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration and so-called sanctuary cities and how immigration czar Tom Homan is treating current Mayor Eric Adams.
"If they focus on criminals, we do not harbor criminals in New York," Cuomo said. "If people comitted crimes, they should be deported 100%. I agree with that. If they say we're going into churches and hospitals, we're going to have a problem."
"If Homan thinks he's going to say to the mayor of New York, pardon the expression, I'll be up your butt. That is no way to treat the mayor of New York. This city deserves more respect," he said.
Cuomo sorry for what families of nursing home COVID victims 'had to go through'
The backstory:
When launching his campaign bid for NYC mayor, Cuomo admitted that he'd made mistakes, but refused to address the scandal surrounding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
His administration faced criticism for requiring nursing homes to accept patients recovering from the virus and was later accused of staging a cover-up to hide the number of COVID-19 deaths in these facilities.
What they're saying:
"There are people, to this day, who are upset. They're still grieving. They're angry with you," Scotto said. "Do you feel that you owe them an apology?"
Cuomo said he was sorry for "what they had to go through."
"All the health experts said to me those were the right regulations… But on the flip side, People didn't get a chance to say goodbye," he told Scotto.
The Source: This article uses reporting from Rosanna Scotto's interview with former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo plus background from the Associated Press.