A Jewish candidate running against Andrew Cuomo for NYC mayor lashed out at him on Sunday, accusing the former governor of being dishonest about an antisemitism-fighting group he launched that has barely made an impact.
Scott Stringer, speaking at the West Side Institutional Synagogue, took aim at Cuomo’s “Never Again, NOW!” group, saying it was marketed as a force to battle antisemitism but ended up serving as a springboard for Cuomo’s political revival.
“He actually showed up in people’s living rooms and promised to set up an organization that would run commercials, host symposiums and – with money raised from the Jewish donor community – join the fight against rising antisemitism,” said Stringer, who previously served as city comptroller and Manhattan borough president.
“But he never lifted a finger. There were no commercials. Nothing,” Stringer added. “This organization was a vehicle for his mayor’s race – and everybody knows it.”
Cuomo had addressed the same synagogue a few weeks earlier, where he charged that several of his opponents in the Democratic primary either turned a blind eye to antisemitism or were complicit themselves.
“He knew not to call me out. That would have been a mistake,” Stringer said to the audience. “But still, I was appalled by his cynical – and frankly pitiful – attempts to divide the city and this community.”
Stringer further criticized Cuomo for what he considered a glaring silence after Hamas launched its brutal October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
“He didn’t tell you that he came to this community in our darkest moment, during our hour of need – after more than 1,200 people were murdered by the terrorist organization Hamas, with hundreds of hostages held in Gaza – and he lied to us,” Stringer said.
“This was the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Our hearts were broken,” he said. “And he sold us all a bill of goods in our darkest moment, during our hour of need … he thinks he’s getting one over on us. But we know better.”
“This was the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Our hearts were broken,” he said. “And he sold us all a bill of goods in our darkest moment, during our hour of need … he thinks he’s getting one over on us. But we know better,” Stringer emphasized.
During his remarks, Stringer also turned to the Talmud to issue a warning about Cuomo’s true intentions.
“‘Be careful about the government, as they approach a man only when they need him. They seem like good friends in good times, but they don’t stay for him in time of his trouble,’” he said.
Despite Stringer’s criticisms, “Never Again, NOW!” did eventually release a video ad condemning Hamas in July 2024, according to a report by The Post.
Cuomo continues to dominate the race, holding a commanding lead in the polls as the June 24 Democratic primary quickly approaches — a fact that has made him the main target for rivals like Stringer, who remains stuck in the low single digits.
The ex-governor has had to weather fierce criticism during his campaign over his 2021 resignation, which came amid the looming threat of impeachment after numerous allegations of sexual harassment — accusations he firmly denies.
In addition, Cuomo has been hammered for his controversial management of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly a March 2020 directive that required nursing homes to accept hospital patients recovering from the virus.
In response to Stringer’s broadside, the Cuomo campaign released a statement from Assemblyman Sam Berger, a supporter of Cuomo within the Jewish community.
“Governor Cuomo has shown his support for the Jewish community with action, not just words. Scott Stringer played footsie with the anti-Israel, anti-democratic DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] and their allies who won’t condemn hate,” Berger said.
“When Queens faced a choice for DA between a Jewish pro-Israel candidate [Melinda Katz] and a card-carrying DSA member [Tiffany Caban], Stringer chose DSA. We need a mayor who’ll fight for us — not one who just panders when convenient.”
The Cuomo team also pointed to his record as governor, highlighting actions such as signing the nation’s first executive order prohibiting state agencies from working with companies that support boycotts against Israel, boosting punishments for hate crimes, securing millions in funding for security improvements at shuls and yeshivas, and leading a solidarity mission to Israel during a 2014 conflict with Hamas.
Separately, at a church service in Brooklyn on Sunday morning, Cuomo defended his pandemic-era decisions.
“We beat COVID and saved lives,” he told the congregation.
{Matzav.com}