Andrew Cuomo refuses to condemn Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for killing bipartisan bill commemorating Oct. 7 attack on Israel

Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo refused to condemn state Assembly Speaker and longtime ally Carl Heastie for torpedoing a bipartisan bill that would have commemorated Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack on the Jewish state.
Cuomo, the frontrunner heading into the June 24 NYC Democratic mayoral primary, told The Post Saturday he was unaware of the bill or that the Bronx pol went to extraordinary lengths to ensure it didn't reach the Assembly floor for a vote.
'I don't know how it happened, but I have no doubt that the Democrats in the Legislature would all honor the memory of Oct. 7 and stand in unity in honoring Oct. 7,' he insisted after leaving the Attneu Synagogue on the Upper East Side, where he addressed members of its congregation.
4 Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo insisted Saturday he's an avid Israel supporter — but refused to condemn state Assembly Speaker and longtime ally Carl Heastie for torpedoing a bipartisan bill that would have commemorated Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack on the Jewish state.
William Farrington
Although Cuomo wasn't willing to attack Heastie, he quickly jabbed Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani — a socialist who has been polling second only to the former governor in the Democratic mayoral primary race.
'The Democratic Party is 100% in support of the Jewish community, and I'm sure would stand in solidarity in condemning Oct. 7,' he said. 'Democratic socialists, Zohran Mamdani, that's a different story.'
4 Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) went to extraordinary lengths Friday to ensure it didn't reach the Assembly floor for a vote – such as stacking a committee with Democratic allies who'd vote to scuttle it, sources said.
Hans Pennink
'The outlier is Zoran Mamdani and the Democratic socialists who said they won't visit Israel, who said they don't acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, but he does not represent the majority of Democrats in the city,' said Cuomo.
Cuomo personally '100% support[s]' commemorating Oct. 7, he said.
The bill, sponsored in February by Brooklyn Republican Assemblyman Lester Chang, would enshrine Oct. 7 alongside other days of commemoration in the Empire State, such as 'Rosa Parks Day' and 'Susan B. Anthony Day.'
4 Smoke rises from Israel after Hamas terrorists infiltrated areas of southern Israel, as seen from Gaza, October 7, 2023.
REUTERS
4 Socialist Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani — who is a staunch Israel critic — is polling second only behind Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary.
Daniel Efram/ZUMA / SplashNews.com
Sources told The Post Friday they believe Heastie, the most powerful Democrat in the Assembly, likely didn't want a bill with a Republican as its primary sponsor to reach the floor for a vote, even though 13 Democrats have already signed on as co-sponsors.
Chang said he'd let a Democrat take over as the bill's sponsor if it meant the measure would pass.

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Politico

34 minutes ago

• Politico

The gerontocracy gets a big test

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San Francisco Chronicle​

44 minutes ago

• San Francisco Chronicle​

North Carolina Gov. Stein vetoes his first bills. They are on concealed carry and immigration

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New York Post

an hour ago

• New York Post

Andrew Cuomo aide and Eric Adams trade social media blows as NYC mayoral campaign heats up: ‘Which private club was this sent from?'

New York City's general election for mayor is still more than four months away — but the mudslinging has already started. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat running on an independent line in the November contest, sparred with a longtime Andrew Cuomo aide on social media — after she called out Hizzoner's penchant for clubbing. '12:01am tweeting – which private club was this sent from? Or were you busy smoking cigars with more antisemites at the time of the tweet?' Cuomo lieutenant Melissa DeRosa zinged at Adams Thursday. Advertisement 4 Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and longtime Andrew Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa clashed on social media after the Cuomo lieutenant called out Adams for constantly going clubbing. Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images DeRosa — a fierce backer of Cuomo's comeback bid for mayor who worked as his right-hand in the governor's office — had amplified a New York Times story reporting that Adams' Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry was working with ICE on immigration raids. 'Thank god this city has Jessica Tisch @NYPDPC at the helm, or one can only imagine what @ericadamsfornyc and his admin would be doing to bend to Trump's will,' she wrote. Advertisement The mayor shot back with his own choice words shortly after midnight. 'Agreed. Jessica Tisch — second woman NYPD commissioner — is leading the department because I appointed her. And she's delivering results. Andrew Cuomo? He's running for office because he got run out of office?' he posted. DeRosa then slammed Adams' love of nightlife, while also bringing up his recent controversial interview with antisemitic podcaster Sneako over cigars at Gracie Mansion. 4 DeRosa took to X to call out Adams, sending a tweet at 12:01 am speculating that he was at a club or smoking cigars. Eric Adams/X Advertisement Adams hit back, posting: 'I was en route to the Crane Club,' a luxury Chelsea steakhouse that also boasts a members-only club within the restaurant. 'Crime is down, nightlife is back, and the $30 billion industry is helping to rebuild the economy @andrewcuomo tanked with his failed policies like bail reform,' the mayor posted from his campaign account. 'Eric Adams: Delivers. Never quits.' 4 Adams fired back and responded that he was on his way to the Crane club while also taking a shot at mayoral hopeful and Democratic nominee for mayor, Andrew Cuomo. Getty Images Advertisement To political observers, the social media spat was sign that November's election is heating up and likely only to get nastier along the way. Political consultant Chris Sosa said that DeRosa's posts were indicative of Cuomo's political style but that there was little the campaign could gain from it. 'This is the Andrew Cuomo way – insult, antagonize and bully, even when there's nothing to be gained. It's not new to anyone who's had to deal with Andrew in Albany,' he said. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! 'But favorably citing the NYPD commissioner to score a point against the mayor who appointed her is head scratcher.' Bill Cunningham, a former Communications Director for Mayor Bloomberg and staffer, agreed that Cuomo's camp came off looking worse in the tiff, and predicted that the general election 'could be very vicious.' 'This episode shows Adams as pretty handy in the clinches. Cuomo people should take heed that when they spot an opening they don't fall into it,' he said. 4 Adams is seen as a long shot to win the mayoral election, while running as an independent, with Cuomo still the front runner to win the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City. Getty Images Advertisement 'No one voting now or on Tuesday gave a rat's hindquarters about where and when Adams was tweeting. All Melissa did was give him a free shot,' Cunningham added, referring to the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary, in which Cuomo is the frontrunner to get the party's nomination. Cuomo rep Rich Azzopardi fired back even harder in response to an inquiry from The Post. 'He's a desperate man who sold out the city to President Trump for his own personal benefit. We wish the MAGA mayor well with whatever administration appointment he gets come January,' Azzopardi snipped about Adams. Advertisement Adams campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro said that mayor was more focused on delivering results for New Yorkers than 'social media theatrics.' 'Mayor Adams is focused on good government, not political mudslinging,' he said in a statement. 'We're not going to be distracted by the noise. This campaign is about leadership, not likes' The mayor has previously defended his late nights at members-only clubs like Zero Bond, saying, 'I hang out with the boys at night and I get up with the men in the morning.'