In a heated mayoral debate, Andrew Cuomo, a candidate embroiled in allegations of sexual harassment, unleashed an attack on his opponent, Comptroller Brad Lander. He claimed that Lander was linked to 15 lawsuits, which his campaign later highlighted on social media as indicative of Lander’s failings. However, a closer examination reveals that Lander was only nominally involved in most of these legal matters, which were predominantly filed against the City Council rather than Lander personally. Most notably, none of the lawsuits accuses Lander of direct wrongdoing, contrasting sharply with the serious accusations that have been leveled against Cuomo.
Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, defended the former governor’s comments during the debate, suggesting that Lander’s criticism of Cuomo’s legal expenses was hypocritical given the taxpayer money spent on lawsuits involving Lander. Azzopardi asserted that the lawsuits against Lander were largely irrelevant to the debate. In stark contrast, Lander’s representative, Dora Pekec, emphasized the gravity of Cuomo’s allegations, highlighting that while Lander faced legal actions from cigarette lobbyists seeking to undermine smoking bans, Cuomo has faced numerous lawsuits related to sexual abuse and mismanagement during his governorship.
The nature of the suits tied to Lander spans multiple mayoral administrations and involve a range of issues, including smoking bans and allegations from shelter residents. Yet, Lander’s involvement is questionable at best, with many lawsuits primarily targeting city entities rather than Lander himself. One notable suit challenging Lander’s decision to divest the pension fund from fossil fuels was dismissed, underscoring that Cuomo’s criticisms lacked substantive grounding. Lander consistently refuted Cuomo’s assertions during the debate, marking his responses with a firm “false” each time Cuomo misrepresented the facts.
Cuomo’s claims that Lander had been sued by parents of disabled children and homeless providers were found to be misleading. The lawsuits against the Education Department regarding funding for specialized schools were typical procedural matters, while the claims by homeless providers were part of general complaints against the city. Despite Cuomo’s attempts to paint Lander as inept, the actual legal circumstances painted a different picture; many of the lawsuits involved broader city issues rather than Lander’s direct actions.
Investigations into court records reveal that Lander has been named a civil defendant in 19 cases, though this pales in comparison to Cuomo’s extensive legal history, which spans over a thousand cases. This stark disparity raises questions about the validity of Cuomo’s attacks, positioning Lander far removed from the kind of legal entanglement that has plagued the former governor. As the debate unfolded, it became increasingly clear that Cuomo’s strategy revolves around deflecting scrutiny from his controversial past while attempting to discredit Lander without substantial evidence.
In summary, the mayoral debate highlighted Cuomo’s strategy to vilify Lander by associating him with various lawsuits, most of which lacked direct implications for the comptroller. Lander’s earnest rebuttals emphasized the nature of the legal challenges he faced, contrasting them with the serious allegations against Cuomo. As the electoral battle intensifies, the efficacy of Cuomo’s strategy hinges on public perception amid his troubled history, reflecting a broader narrative about accountability and leadership in New York City’s political landscape.
