Op-Ed: New York Deserves Leadership, Not Copycats and Cluelessness

New York City, August 8, 2025 — Former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s attempt at a political comeback is proving to be more spectacle than substance. After suffering a resounding defeat at the hands of a Democratic Socialist Alliance (DSA) newcomer with no prior government experience, Cuomo has embarked on a campaign lacking in originality, vigor, and credibility.

Cuomo’s latest bid — this time as an independent candidate — offers little more than recycled talking points borrowed from rivals. In a city teetering on the edge of economic, social, and public safety challenges, New Yorkers are right to question a candidate who has failed to present a single bold or fresh idea.

Equally troubling is the fact that Cuomo, who once governed a state home to the nation’s largest Muslim population, never found the time to visit a single mosque during his tenure. Yet, he now asks for votes from communities he consistently ignored. His campaign is a ghost — absent from the five boroughs, devoid of grassroots energy, and lacking a vision that speaks to the soul of New York.

There are no union endorsements. No party infrastructure. No mobilized base. What remains is a political vanity project kept alive by nostalgia and name recognition. A campaign with no momentum and no measurable path to victory is, by all objective standards, a mathematically dead campaign.

Worse still, Cuomo has a long history of undercutting Black political aspirants, raising concerns about his genuine commitment to the diverse communities he claims to represent. In a city where equity and inclusion must be pillars of leadership, Cuomo’s record casts a long and troubling shadow.

New Yorkers must also be wary of the alternative being quietly ushered in: a DSA candidate whose only credential is ideology. Lacking executive experience, policy depth, or real-world governance background, such a candidacy is not only risky — it’s reckless. New York cannot afford to gamble on leadership by theory when it needs results rooted in reality.

The stakes are too high. Our city’s economic recovery, housing future, public safety, and international stature all hang in the balance. We must resist the temptation to fall for opportunistic populism or tired political reruns. The answer lies not in false promises but in proven leadership.

That’s why I firmly endorse Mayor Eric Adams for re-election. Against extraordinary odds — including personal attacks and professional headwinds — Adams has delivered measurable progress. From public safety improvements to economic revitalization, he has shown grit, clarity, and a commitment to all New Yorkers.

Mayor Adams understands the city’s pulse because he lives its reality. He has stood with our communities when it mattered most. Under his leadership, New York has not only stabilized — it has begun to rise again.

Let’s not squander our future on the distractions of #CopycatCuomo or the idealism of #CluelessMamdani. Let’s stay the course with tested, compassionate, and effective leadership. Let’s re-elect Mayor Eric Adams in 2025 — not just for today, but for the generations that follow.