Politics too ‘nasty’ for Cuo?
Half the time Andrew Cuomo likes me, half the time not. He says: “I always like you — just not the things you write.”
Cuomo on the toxicity of today’s politicians: “Republicans fear the far right, Democrats the far left. Citizens are angry so pols are afraid. To get things done you have to be tough. It’s a fearful political environment. Nasty. Even the justice system has politics.
“The extremes are effective — loud — they intimidate moderates who fear doing anything. There’s anxiety, unease, unhappiness, concern about situations, everything’s expensive. Tough to live under the affordability.
“I tend to have an obsessive personality so I work all the time. If there’s a hurricane, a flood, I made sure people got their money’s worth — but now social media today is their 24-hour network.
“Rough to fight the political paralysis bureaucracy. The environment’s fearful. Toxic. Mean. Washington’s extremes are getting louder, stronger. Everything’s going up faster than your income. Issues like abortion, migrants, Israel and Palestine. But when accomplishing nothing you’re just a zealot.”
Yeah, OK. But about his itch to run for mayor of New York? He’ll dance when you ask but stand on both feet exploring it with others.
Yeah. OK. then: “I support the mayor. He’s a friend. We should all support him because if he doesn’t do well we won’t do well.
“New York’s change started post-COVID. It’s don’t go to an office unless you want to. Office occupancy’s changed. Cities are organic. The work occupancy rate has dropped — so restaurants, bars, shoemakers, everybody suffers. It’s stay home. Work in the country. Move to where taxes are lower. Forget shoveling snow. Plus, we have homelessness.
“I could never leave New York. How could anyone leave New York? It’s intangible. Has what no other place has. I was in Sicily. The locals were wearing New York baseball hats and jerseys.
“We never recovered from that George Floyd incident. It disrupted the relationship between police and the community. Cops don’t feel trusted. They think they can be second-guessed.
“And why’s New York City paying for migrants? The feds are responsible for them. They should pay. Some Southern governor decides to send them here? Why? We have depopulated cities upstate so why city hotels? No legal basis for that. Constituents paying for this lunacy? Why? It’s all politics because Washington doesn’t want the political problem.
“Today, people call themselves progressives. But progressive is not theoretical. To be progressive is to be pragmatic.”
The spice of life
In the immortal words of Mexican comedian Paul Rodriguez: “Life isn’t like a box of chocolates. It’s like a jar of jalapeños. You never know what’s going to burn your ass.”
And Madam Adams’ immortal wisdom: Switch Election Day to Christmas Day. Then, when next we get stuck with some clown that just got elected — there’s still time to exchange him for something else?!
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.
Source link: https://nypost.com/2023/12/11/opinion/andrew-cuomo-on-the-nasty-environment-of-todays-polarizing-politics/