Op-Ed by Maria Danzilo, Alyssa Sherman, and Stacy Chametzinik One City Rising Political Club: We Need Cuomo Now

The real question isn’t why vote for Andrew Cuomo—it’s why wouldn’t you? With a long, accomplished career in public service, Cuomo is one of New York’s most experienced and effective leaders. He has served as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, New York State Attorney General, and a three-term Governor. His resume speaks for itself. Cuomo wouldn’t need time to learn the ropes; as mayor, he would bring immediate, decisive leadership, a clear and practical vision, with a healthy dose of pragmatism, and a deep respect for the city’s diversity and grit. He is the very embodiment of NYC.

New York City is facing critical challenges: housing affordability, public safety, mental health, and economic recovery. Cuomo’s track record positions him as uniquely suited to confront these issues head-on. His experience navigating government, building coalitions, and managing crises makes him a compelling candidate for mayor—especially now, when real solutions matter more than slogans.

Cuomo has long championed economic growth. He’s supported small businesses, invested in clean energy and technology, and worked to attract new industries to New York. His success in balancing budgets (his state budgets broke the mold and were on time) and creating jobs is exactly what the city needs during this period of economic transition.

On public safety, Cuomo recognizes the urgency. He proposes hiring 5,000 additional police officers and expanding services for the mentally ill—getting vulnerable people off the streets and into care, not jail cells or shelters. He’s also realistic about housing: he’s seen longtime residents priced out of their neighborhoods, and his plans focus on increasing affordable housing supply, protecting tenants, and preserving existing homes.

His crisis leadership is well established. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo became a national figure for his calm, daily briefings and tough executive decisions. He put New York on “pause,” having the city quarantine as never seen before, while prioritizing safety and understanding of those who were not able to work from home. He and his team, unlike many in the city government, did not work from their apartments, putting their own health at risk in service to New York. He managed the reopening carefully, avoiding the cycle of repeated lockdowns seen elsewhere. His push to reopen schools—often in tension with city officials—was guided by data and public health, not political convenience. In a time of chaos, Cuomo delivered clarity.

Cuomo also has a strong record on infrastructure. He oversaw the rebuild of LaGuardia Airport, the completion of Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway, and the construction of the Mario Cuomo Bridge. When the L train faced a full shutdown due to Hurricane Sandy damage, he brought in engineers and implemented a less disruptive solution—saving time, money, and daily headaches for thousands of commuters.

Yes, Cuomo has been attacked from both ends of the political spectrum—labeled too moderate by the far left and unfairly targeted by MAGA forces. With the newest call from the DOJ to investigate Cuomo regarding the nursing homes, MAGA has shown they are happy to sell NYC down the river with the chance of electing a far-left mayor if Cuomo is not in the picture. The far left, who have been trying every tactic imaginable to derail his candidacy, are now scrambling to figure out how to respond. Investigations have been opened and reopened again and again on every charge brought against him, yet have failed to uncover wrongdoing. There must be a final reckoning within the party that the charges and controversies have been politically motivated all along. Ultimately, we, the voters, will have the final say.

Other candidates in the race either lack experience, have failed or disappointed in current roles, or act more like activists than managers and leaders. Cuomo has vision, backbone, and know-how. He has been a strong and steadfast supporter of our most hard-pressed communities and has stood strong to fight racial and ethnic discrimination, bigotry, antisemitism, and all forms of hate crimes. We are proudly and without reservation endorsing Andrew Cuomo as the next Mayor of New York City.