NEW YORK — Governor Andrew Cuomo has spent many of his recent appearances surrounded by Black leaders, as he's focused on the issue of equity in vaccine distribution.

What You Need To Know

  • Cuomo’s recent public events have largely taken place alongside Black leaders

  • Wednesday, Hazel Dukes of the NAACP and former Congressman Charles Rangel heaped praise on Cuomo

  • Sixty-nine percent of Blacks in recent Siena poll said Cuomo should not resign, versus 45% of whites

It's been largely viewed as a transparent attempt to buffer himself in a time of crisis. And at Wednesday's event in Harlem where Cuomo was vaccinated, there was little doubt that Black leaders were there in large part to give him a political boost.

"This Governor, from the beginning, his voice has led the way,” said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.

"The Governor's talking about getting the budget passed by April 1st -- no other nonsense,” added Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference.

But no one was more direct than former Congressman Charles Rangel in addressing Cuomo's troubles, which include allegations of sexual harassment.

"You can make any allegation that you want to make, but due process and a hearing is basically what we believe in in this country,” Rangel said.

It's been a remarkable arc for the man who alienated the city's Black leadership in 2002, when he ran in the Democratic primary for governor against Carl McCall, who was looking to become the state's first Black governor.

But Cuomo dropped out under pressure from Rangel and others, and over the years has earned steadfast support from Black New Yorkers, 69% of whom believe Cuomo should not resign, according to this week's Siena poll. That’s compared to just 45% of whites.

And while the state's first Black female legislative leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, was one of the first to call for Cuomo's resignation, he countered with a letter of support from more than 20 female Assembly members. The group was predominantly Black and included Assemblywoman Inez Dickens of Harlem, whose statement Rangel referenced Wednesday.

"She spoke for our community, saying ‘Back off, until you've got some facts,’” Rangel said.

Cuomo's fate may now be in the hands of another powerful Black leader, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie of the Bronx. Heastie has not expressed support for Cuomo, but bought the Governor some time by choosing not to move forward immediately with an impeachment proceeding, opting for an investigation instead.