Gov. Cuomo issued a “Declaration of Independence” Monday to sever New York from Washington’s “extreme conservative values.” In other words, he wants to lead his party’s already well-underway march to the left.
Cuomo’s rebellious rhetoric came in what was essentially a State of the State Address. His theme: “What would FDR do today?” — an odd choice, since Franklin Roosevelt took office after a true crisis had already erupted, whereas many of New York’s problems grew on Cuomo’s watch.
The gov laid out his legislative goals and pushed the Democratic-run Legislature to pass them, à la Roosevelt, in the first 100 days of his next term.
It was mainly sops to the left: Legalize pot. End cash bail. Pass the Dream Act. Ban corporate gifts to pols. Repeal vacancy decontrol of rent-regulated apartments. Codify Roe v. Wade in state law. Protect unions . . .
Much of this was baked in when Democrats won decisive control of the state Senate. In that light, it was good to see the gov call for making the 2 percent cap on property taxes permanent — which would be welcome news to many New Yorkers, regardless of ideology.
Also a relief, what with the huge budget gaps Albany faces in coming years: The only new spending he mentioned was for public infrastructure projects.
Yet one Cuomo goal was a pure head-scratcher: reorganizing the MTA. “Change the culture,” he urged. Cut the “bureaucracy” and “end the benign neglect.” Again, he’s controlled the transit agency for eight years: If anyone’s guilty of “benign neglect,” it’s him.
Cuomo launched his most fiery salvos at President Trump, blasting “the nationalism, and the racism, and the chaos, and the xenophobia, and the misogyny” he says is coming from Washington.
That kind of attack, plus his left-leaning agenda, will surely play well in progressive New York. It also, conveniently, positions him smartly for a 2020 White House run.
Which makes you wonder: What agenda would New Yorkers get from someone who cared more about them than politics?