22 April 2021: NY Senate Majority Leader Under Fire for "Normalizing" Cuomo

Stewart-Cousins rebuked for standing with Gov. Cuomo after calling for resignation

Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester), the majority leader in New York's Senate, is now facing a backlash from her choice to appear at a publicity event with Governor Andrew Cuomo, despite having called for his resignation over sexual harassment allegations.

Stewart-Cousins called for Cuomo’s resignation over a month ago, on March 7, naming allegations of sexual misconduct, a toxic work environment plaguing the executive chamber and the scandal surrounding the state’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes as reasons for significant “distraction” for the governor.

Erica Vladimir, co-founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group — comprised of former state legislative staff — said Stewart-Cousins sent mixed signals by sharing the event with Cuomo.

“It crosses messages and now instead of being able to focus on getting things done for this legislative session, she needs to address this and she’s going to have to do this publicly,” she told The Post.

That wasn't the only criticism:

“I hope that it’s not a signal for others to think it’s okay to stand with him. When we don’t have accountability for his actions,” said state Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens), a frequent critic of the governor.

“I think we as Democrats completely lose credibility in calling for any kind of justice in any issue. We shouldn’t normalize these behaviors by standing with him on any issue.”

He added that while he understands Stewart-Cousins may be in a tough position as the event occurred in her district, if Cuomo asked him to attend an event in his district, he would decline.

“I wouldn’t show up because what are we telling our society? He sexually assaulted a staffer. He groped a woman in his workplace? In what other industry, in what other world is this okay?”

And then there's this:

Ana Liss, one of Cuomo’s former staffers who has accused him of misconduct, pointed to a tweet by state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx) Thursday morning that encouraged the prevention of sexual violence.

“April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so how can you prevent sexual violence?” Biaggi tweeted.

“Don’t participate in the *normalization* of abusive people & behaviors, make excuses for known abusers, or pretend it’s not real. That’s abusive.”

“I agree with Alessandra Biaggi’s point, and I don’t think it was a wise decision. Given the circumstances, no one should be going about their lives as though things are ‘business as usual,’ especially elected officials in the governor’s orbit. Especially during Sexual Assault Awareness month,” Liss told The Post.

Rather than address the criticisms herself, Stewart-Cousins responded through a member of her political party's public relations team:

A spokesman for Stewart-Cousins defended her decision, arguing she stands by her calls for Cuomo to step down.

“Our position on the governor has not changed. He should resign. This event was in her district and it is critically important that people get vaccinated and that all efforts are made to make sure that happens,” said Mike Murphy, spokesman for the state Senate Democrats.

In other words, the spokesman is saying Andrea Stewart-Cousins believes the people of her district will not get vaccinated for COVID-19 unless she attends events with Governor Cuomo in her district because he can persuade them more effectively than she can even though she wants him to resign.

If that's the best rationale the party's PR flack can come up with for her participation in the event, perhaps Governor Cuomo won't be the only one looking for better PR people. Or perhaps she's not really all that serious about seeking his resignation, which would be the Occam's razor interpretation.