Days before former Gov. Andrew Cuomo formally entered the crowded race for New York City mayor, he received an endorsement from former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall.
McCall and Cuomo were once rivals seeking the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Cuomo dropped out just a week before the primary, after being alienated by Democrats who were pushing for McCall to become the state’s first Black governor. McCall ultimately lost to incumbent Gov. George Pataki.
“It was contentious, but most races are,” McCall said on “Inside City Hall” Thursday. “What changed is that we’re now in a very critical situation in our city. People have lost faith in the city, people believe the city is crime ridden. People believe that there’s not affordable housing. People believe that their interests and concerns aren’t being addressed. They believe we have a mayor who’s terribly compromised.”
McCall said Cuomo’s leadership ability separates him in a crowded field. Cuomo is among 10 Democratic mayoral candidates.
“What I believe is that Andrew, he may not make as many friends as you would like to see, but he gets things done. He has a list of very significant accomplishments.”
McCall named promoting paid family leave, marriage equality and increasing the minimum wage among Cuomo’s successes for individuals and named the Second Avenue subway, LaGuardia Airport reconstruction and Moynihan Train Hall as infrastructure accomplishments.
McCall said he’s “very disappointed” after endorsing Eric Adams in the 2021 mayoral race and said he’s “never heard from” Adams since the endorsement. McCall said Adams is “not up to the job now.”
Tap the video player above to watch the interview.