Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio feuding over the reopening of New York City
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Screen capture from CNN Newsource
OSWEGO N.Y. — Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio are taking personal jabs at each other this week over the reopening of New York City.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city is hoping to loosen most, if not all, of it’s COVID-19 restrictions by July 1st.
“This is going to be the summer of New York City. This is what New Yorkers want. In the end, you gotta listen to the voice of people,” said de Blasio. “People want to come back, they want to do it safely for sure. But New Yorkers have been doing the right thing! They’ve been wearing their masks, they’ve been practicing the social distance up to now, they’ve been getting vaccinated. We need a goal to work towards and that goal is July 1st.”
Governor Cuomo responded to the mayor’s announcement, “I am reluctant to make projections because I think they’re irresponsible.” He also added, “Ask the people in New York City what they think of the mayor of New York City, and I would second their opinion.”
When asked about Cuomo’s attack on the mayor, the city hall press secretary Bill Neidhardt said “Serial sexual assaulter says what?”
Cuomo and de Blasio have butted heads over several issues throughout the pandemic such as reopening New York City schools and plans to vaccinate the police department. Their feud over who gets the final say regarding COVID-19 restrictions in the city stems from the mayor’s calling for Cuomo’s resignation over his ongoing sexual assault allegations. Some New Yorkers have a lot to say about their feud.
“They should stick to the initial argument because now they’re causing a scene and I think it’s unprofessional for two high end people to go at it,” said Ousmane Diallo, a Brooklyn resident.
“Likely this is going to be a back and forth situation and it always is. They’re going to disagree on everything like they always do, it’s going to be a bickering argument,” said Rhenny Urena, another Brooklyn resident. “Honestly, I think their arguments are going to delay opening or someone’s going to open it without the other knowing.”
While COVID-19 restrictions are slowly being lifted, it is only a matter of time until New York City reopens as well.