Latest news with #AndrewCuomo
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mamdani doubling down on ‘intifada' comment as Mayor candidates vote early
NEW YORK (PIX11) – Candidate for Mayor and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is doubling down on his explanation of a term many Jewish New Yorkers view as a rallying cry to attack Jewish people. While casting his ballot in Astoria, Queens, Mamdani doubled down on his explanation of the term 'globalize the intifada.' More Local News It is a term many Jewish people, and even the U.S. Holocaust Museum, say is a rallying cry to kill Jews. Mamdani said he has heard those concerns and does not tolerate antisemitism. He said he would protect Jewish New Yorkers if elected Mayor and increase anti-crime funding. But Mamdani maintains the phrase continues to mean a struggle for basic human rights for Palestinians and many Muslims. 'I've been clear time and time again, there is no room for violence in the city and in the country,' Mamdani said. 'My point is not that this is language that I use… the meaning of these words have many different meanings to many different people.' Mamdani said former governor Andrew Cuomo and the billionaires backing his Super PAC have weaponized antisemitism in the closing days of the campaign. During a wide-ranging conversation with Cuomo, PIX 11's Henry Rosoff asked him about that. More Local News 'I have not said anything, these are his words,' Cuomo responded. 'Globalize the Intifada is a vulgar and brutal expression to the Jewish people.' Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, while casting his vote, Comptroller and Mayoral candidate Brad Lander—currently the highest-ranking Jewish city official—weighed in. Lander is standing by his cross-endorsement of Mamdani. 'We are not going to agree on everything Israel and Palestine, but I do believe he will protect Jewish New Yorkers and our rights,' Lander said. PIX 11's Henry Rosoff went one-on-one with former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is leading in the polls in the Democratic Primary for New York City Mayor. Cuomo was pressed on how he would rapidly build affordable housing, recent controversy around Zohran Mamdani's explanation of the term 'globalize the intifada,' the brief ICE detention of Comptroller Brad Lander, and a recent conversation he had with Governor Kathy Hochul. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
NYC's Muslim mayoral candidate gets car bomb threat, despite not owning a vehicle
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's office said Thursday that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) hate crime unit is investigating a car bomb threat made against him, despite not owning a car. "After multiple death threats and racist messages, Assembly Mamdani's office is participating in an ongoing investigation by the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force," a statement from the mayoral candidate's office read. "While Zohran does not own a car, the violent and specific language of what appears to be a repeat caller is alarming and we are taking every precaution. "While this is a sad reality, it is not surprising after millions of dollars have been spent on dehumanizing, Islamophobic rhetoric designed to stoke division and hate," the statement continued. "Violence and racism should have no place in our politics. Zohran remains focused on delivering a safe and affordable New York." Mamdani, who is vying to be New York City's first Muslim mayor, has been criticized by his competitors, including former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, for his views on Middle East politics, which reached a boiling point this week amid ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran. During a recent mayoral debate, Mamdani said, "Israel has a right to exist." But Mamdani refused to agree that Israel has the right to exist as a "Jewish state" but rather "as a state with equal rights." Fox News Digital has reached out to the NYPD regarding the car bomb threat investigation. Despite differing political views, Cuomo condemned the threats made against his political opponent. "This is an atrocious threat of political violence against Mr. Mamdani. It is unacceptable —I strongly condemn these threats and any others like them," Cuomo said on X. "This has no place in our politics or our society. Thankfully, no one was harmed. This is a pivotal time in this country, and we need to tone down the rhetoric and focus on the people's agenda." Another Democratic mayoral candidate, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, also condemned the threats against Mamdani."The hideous threats of Islamophobic violence against [Zohran Mamdani] are dangerous and morally reprehensible," Lander said. "I condemn this behavior to the fullest extent. Hate has no place in New York City." Lander was arrested earlier this week by the Department of Homeland Security after allegedly assaulting a federal officer.
Politico
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Politico
As New York mayor's race heats up, Cuomo warns of inadequate weather plans
NEW YORK — The New York City mayoral race is heating up – literally. With temperatures predicted to hit 100 degrees on Election Day, front-runner Andrew Cuomo is anxious to get his voters into polling sites — and he's demanding better preparation from city officials. Cuomo, the Democratic frontrunner in the tightening race, posted on X, 'The steps outlined to meet the heat at polling locations are not sufficient. Water must be passed out and A/C systems must be installed to ensure that people who are voting can do so in a cool and comfortable environment.' The city Board of Elections' heat plan 'is insufficient, it's unacceptable,' Cuomo spokesperson Jason Elan said. 'We've been clear that the city should be distributing water on site, and that they would be installing a/c systems to make sure that everybody who wants to can make their voice heard on election day.' The former governor has reason to be concerned about turnout next Tuesday: His anticipated victory relies upon robust support from older voters, who are more susceptible to dangerous heat conditions. Board of Elections spokesperson Vincent Ignizio declined to comment on the Cuomo's campaign complaint. The board emphasized its preparation for the heat wave, releasing a statement earlier Thursday that staffers are finding fans for poll sites without air conditioning, 'ensuring a steady supply of water' and pledging a continuous supply of electricity, given the increased possibility of power outages. Ignizio couldn't say Thursday how many of the city's 1,213 poll sites lack air conditioning since the board's 'site-by-site assessment' was ongoing. Contingency plans are in place to keep voting going through power outages, he added. And the board doesn't expect any voters having to wait in long lines, whether indoors or out. 'Our anticipation is that there is ample amount of bandwidth in the system to accommodate the voting,' he said. There are just as many poll sites for the local primary as there were for the presidential election last year, which had roughly triple the turnout expected for the race to replace Mayor Eric Adams. Cuomo was the first candidate to publicly raise concerns about the heat wave. On Wednesday, he called on Mayor Eric Adams' administration to guarantee every poll site is 'cool, comfortable and accessible,' and ensure bottled water is provided to every voter. The former governor is running on his experience and take-charge attitude, and has taken digs at Adams' management. In a statement, City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus deferred to the Board of Elections, adding that it's an independent agency. 'As Andrew Cuomo should know, elections are managed by the New York City Board of Elections – an independent body, separate from the Adams administration,' she said. 'Mayor Adams believes that all New Yorkers should exercise their democratic right to vote, and we are coordinating closely with the New York City Board of Elections in advance of Tuesday's forecasted heat to monitor for impacts.' Cuomo isn't the only candidate with concerns. 'It's going to be blazing hot,' mayoral candidate Brad Lander said Thursday after casting his vote early. 'Let's make sure now that the air conditioning is working in every polling site, and let's make sure it's on in advance.' 'I do not have confidence that Eric Adams' administration will do it,' Lander added. Hot temperatures hurting Cuomo's vote total has been the subject of jokes from supporters of Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo's leading rival has a highly motivated base of younger voters who may be more likely to vote early, or to show up Tuesday despite the weather. 'Someone's worried about the old turnout Make it HOTTER!!!' leftist podcast host Stylianos Karoldis posted on X, referring to Cuomo. 'Praying to God it's a temperature only people under 45 can withstand,' he added. Mamdani's campaign is taking a more sober view. 'We're concerned about the health and safety of every voter, and want people to take every precaution,' spokesperson Andrew Epstein said. That includes the campaign's 'tens of thousands' of volunteers who will be standing outside poll sites as well, The campaign is preparing with pop-up tents, snacks, water and 'a lot of very specific guidance to canvassers to dress appropriately for the heat, to take breaks,' Epstein said. The National Weather Service is predicting a high near 94 Tuesday, with the heat index potentially exceeding 100 degrees at times, calling it 'a true summertime hot and humid regime.' Accuweather is also predicting that the high Tuesday could break the New York City record for June 24 of 96 degrees, set in 1888. Later that year, New Yorkers elected 30-year-old Tammany Hall favorite Hugh Grant, the youngest mayor in the city's history. Hoping to hold off the 33-year-old Mamdani, Cuomo's pushing his supporters to vote early, through Sunday, when temperatures will be merely hot, and not yet miserable. 'While it's hot out in New York today, it's only going to get hotter,' Cuomo's campaign wrote in an email to supporters Thursday. 'So please, vote today, and encourage everyone you know to vote now to avoid next week's extreme heat.' Voting rights advocates are pushing the same message. 'I don't ever remember a primary or any election day in New York state being remotely this hot,' said Perry Grossman, director of the Voting Rights Project at the New York Civil Liberties Union. 'My strong message to everybody is: early vote. Whether it's today, tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, it's gonna be a little bit cooler. Take advantage of it.' Joe Anuta contributed reporting
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Preparations for NYC Election Day heat wave blasted as inadequate by Cuomo
NEW YORK — Hundreds of polling sites in the city that do not have air conditioning systems will be equipped with electric fans on Tuesday, when temperatures are projected to soar into the 100s as New Yorkers head out to vote in the local 2025 primary elections. But the ramped-up heat precautions were criticized as inadequate by mayoral frontrunner Andrew Cuomo's campaign, which earlier this week demanded that Mayor Adams ensures the Board of Elections installs portable air conditioning units at all sites that do not have centralized A/C. The Cuomo campaign also demanded the mayor's office makes sure polling sites have water bottles on hand to distribute to voters waiting on line. 'This isn't sufficient,' Cuomo campaign spokesman Jason Elan said Thursday in response to the BOE's new heat precaution protocol. 'We are specifically asking for water to be passed out and A/C systems to be installed to ensure that people who are voting can do so in a cool and comfortable environment.' Elan's rebuke came after Vinny Ignizio, the deputy executive of the city Board of Elections, said his agency estimates a bit less than half of the 1,213 polling stations operating across the city Tuesday will not have air conditioning and will need to be fitted with fans. He cautioned that the board's review of sites is still ongoing and that he didn't have an exact number on how many sites don't have A/C. In a statement, the board also said staffers will ensure 'a steady supply of water is available' at all polling stations and work closely with emergency management agencies and utility providers to make sure sites aren't at risk of losing electricity amid the heat. Ignizio said the heat wave set to wash over the city during Tuesday's election is mostly a problem for poll workers. 'While voters generally spend only a few minutes at a polling place, our poll workers serve on the front lines for up to 17 hours,' he said. 'This is fundamentally a facilities and workforce challenge, and we are treating it with the urgency it deserves.' Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak shot back at Cuomo's criticisms, arguing his demands are misdirected. 'As Andrew Cuomo should know, elections are managed by the New York City Board of Elections – an independent body, separate from the Adams administration,' she said. 'Mayor Adams believes that all New Yorkers should exercise their democratic right to vote, and we are coordinating closely with the New York City Board of Elections in advance of Tuesday's forecasted heat to monitor for impacts.' Cuomo is polling as the favorite to win the Democratic mayoral primary, the top item on Tuesday's ballot. A significant segment of Cuomo's political base is older, and the scorching temperatures could pose an issue in terms of those voters making it out to the polls Tuesday. Cuomo's main opponent in the mayoral race, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, has been closing in on him in some recent polls. Adams isn't running against Cuomo in Tuesday's primary, having dropped out of it to seek reelection as an independent in November's general election instead amid continued political fallout from his federal corruption indictment. _____
CBS News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
NYC Democratic mayoral candidates Cuomo, Mamdani and Lander go on the offensive as race's homestretch begins
With the New York City Democratic mayoral primary race entering the homestretch, several candidates took advantage of the Juneteenth holiday to cast ballots and step up attacks on their opponents. This is an election that has energized New Yorkers, with nearly 169,000 cast ballots in the first five days of early voting. That is nearly double the total of four years ago. Election Day is on Tuesday. The candidates are in the process of making their final arguments to New Yorkers, including who would be the best foil for President Trump, whose campaign donations should be questioned, and who's not a supporter of the Jewish community. Voters heard it all Thursday, especially from the two frontrunners, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo appeals to minority communities, attacks Trump Cuomo made a star-studded entry into a Juneteenth celebration at Co-Op City, and if he had a nickel for every person who wanted to pose for a picture with him, he might not have to accept campaign donations. It took a while for the crowd to settle down. "Listen everybody, calm yourself," Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto said. Read more: NYC Democratic mayoral candidates jump on debate opportunity to question Andrew Cuomo For Cuomo, who is facing a tightening race with Mamdani, it was a two-fer -- an opportunity to show case his support in the minority community and to play up his calling card -- his ability to stand up to Mr. Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Remember his advice: Drink Clorox. Drink Clorox and COVID won't kill you. The Clorox will kill you," Cuomo said. Afterwards, Cuomo slammed Mamdani for past statements about Israel and Black leaders. "We're celebrating Juneteenth. Mr. Mamdani said President Obama is evil. He said President Obama is a liar," Cuomo said. "This is all ugly, divisive rhetoric and actions, and it is repugnant to who we are as New Yorkers." Mamdani and Lander take aim at Cuomo's integrity Mamdani, who cast his ballot in Astoria, tried to hit Cuomo on what he believes is his Achilles' heel -- his superPAC that is raking in the dough and, Mamdani said, "is funded by the very Republican billionaire donors that put Donald Trump back in the White House." "They now are trying to put Andrew Cuomo into City Hall, and, ultimately, what we're seeing is, can billionaires and corporations buy another election," Mamdani added. Read more: Zohran Mamdani gets emotional while talking about being a Muslim running for NYC mayor City Comptroller Brad Lander, who also cast his ballot Thursday, tried to get another bite of the political apple by speaking once again about his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents earlier in the week. And since he and Mamdani cross-endorsed each other, their goal was to attack Cuomo. "Andrew Cuomo does not have decency and integrity and should not be allowed at City Hall. I believe that Zohran Mamdani is a person of decency and integrity, and I am therefore encouraging people to rank him number two," Lander said.
