In a uncommon direct rebuke of his successor final week, Andrew Cuomo questioned why Gov. Hochul earmarked $2 billion for inflation refund checks on this 12 months’s state price range, however rejected a request for extra state funding for a well-liked childcare voucher program benefitting low-income New York Metropolis households.
“How can you give away $2 billion in tax rebate checks, which means you just had money to throw away, but you didn’t fund basic services in New York City?”
The inflation refund checks, which Hochul proposed as a part of her government price range this spring, will begin going out to lots of of hundreds of New Yorkers this fall, with joint filers who make $150,000 or much less getting $400 and single filers making $75,000 or much less getting $200.
The voucher program Cuomo referenced offers direct subsidies to low-income metropolis households that they will use to cowl the price of childcare for his or her youngsters, many underneath age 5. This system has turn into vastly standard, however Hochul this spring rebuffed a request from Mayor Adams to pony up extra state funding for it, main town to shutter new enrollment resulting from price considerations. To cowl the fiscal shortfall, Hochul and the state Legislature finally got here to a deal whereby town should contribute $328 million in annual voucher funds, after which the state kicks in funds for expenditures above that.
In response to Cuomo’s feedback, Hochul spokesman Avi Small stated Wednesday that the governor has expanded childcare voucher packages “after a decade of state neglect,” an obvious jab at Cuomo’s gubernatorial tenure.
“On the subways or in the grocery store, New Yorkers ask when their inflation relief checks are coming and thank Gov. Hochul for putting money back in their pockets,” Small added. “New Yorkers win when the mayor and governor work together: Gov. Hochul is ready to get things done, and she hopes whoever wins in November is, too.”
Cuomo’s swipe at Hochul over the childcare problem is notable as he has largely kept away from criticizing her since he resigned as governor in 2021 whereas going through all however sure impeachment over accusations that he sexually harassed subordinates and mismanaged nursing dwelling insurance policies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hochul critique from Cuomo, who has denied any wrongdoing, additionally comes after he took a thinly veiled shot at her throughout an interview with The New York Occasions this week. In that interview, Cuomo stated he regretted resigning and argued he may have achieved a lot extra as governor, earlier than musing in obvious reference to Hochul’s first elected gubernatorial time period: “Looking back, what has really been done in the last four years, anyway, right?”
His shot at Hochul may portend he would, as mayor, be greater than prepared to make use of the Metropolis Corridor bully pulpit to go after her, though they go method again and have largely loved a cordial skilled relationship. That dynamic would mark a complete 180 change on how former Mayor Invoice de Blasio usually knocked Cuomo for utilizing his gubernatorial levers to withhold funding from New York Metropolis, together with for childcare packages.
“I have a fine relationship with Hochul, I hired her,” he stated. “I worked with her for years and we have the same agenda.”
Cuomo and Hochul go method again.
In 2014, as he was in search of a second gubernatorial time period, Cuomo tapped Hochul as his working mate to turn into lieutenant governor. They each went on to win their 2015 elections and Hochul then served as Cuomo’s No. 2 throughout his August 2021 resignation, at which level she succeeded him, changing into New York’s first feminine governor.
With Cayla Bamberger
