7 July 2021: The Multiple Motivations of Cuomo's New "State of Emergency"

EDITORIAL: Cuomo’s crime plan has multiple motivations

We're presenting the first half the Daily Gazette's editorial. Please do click through to read the whole thing.

You could look at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sweeping new effort to combat violence in the state any number of ways.

You could look at it as the last gasp of a struggling politician appealing to the public’s fears in order to rescue his wobbly re-election campaign.

You could look at it as a way to change the conversation away from the scandals that have plagued his administration of late, including the covid nursing home scandal, the sexual harassment allegations, the questionable book deal, his possible impeachment, and other skeletons emerging from the governor’s closet.

You could look at his declaration of a new “state of emergency” and his heavy-handed use of executive powers as yet another attempt to bypass the legislative process and reclaim power for himself after the end of the covid emergency.

You could look at it as an attempt to combat growing criticism by his political opponents of policies they claim have contributed to or failed to resolve the state’s crime problems, such as SAFE Act gun control measures and reforms to cash bail, legal discovery and police operations.

You could view his unwillingness to take questions from the press at this big announcement as further evidence of his unwillingness to be forthcoming with the citizens about the specifics of his plans, the timing and justification of the announcement and the other issues he faces as his third term nears its end.

One question reporters might have asked is why it took him so long to make these proposals when many of the issues he raised at his press conference have been ongoing during the entire 10-plus years he’s been in office.

And you could look at what he proposed as a legitimate response to growing concern over the disturbing rise in violence, particularly gun violence, in the state.

Any way you look at it, you’d be right.

It’s all of the above.

It's Andrew M. Cuomo's refusal to answer any questions from the press following his "state of emergency" announcement that speaks volumes about his motives.