Cuomo skips another major NYC mayoral face forum — where candidates will talk immigration

Democrats moving for politician will hash retired nan hot-button rumor of migration Wednesday nighttime – but frontrunner Andrew Cuomo will beryllium notably missing.

The erstwhile politician is skipping retired different chance to reply reliable questions, this clip astatine a forum successful which his opponents successful nan June superior were expected to reside really they’d respond to nan Trump administration’s ace down connected forbidden migrants.

The arena astatine nan CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, hosted by nan New York Immigration Coalition, was group to characteristic socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, nan runner-up successful nan polls aft Cuomo.

It’s nan latest successful a drawstring of mayoral run forums that nan ex-gov has opted not to be — and his past absences person sparked a chorus of disapproval from his opponents.

“When you are frightened to reply to nan group of New York and are frightened to beryllium held accountable than you’re not going to participate successful nan forums,” authorities Sen. Jessica Ramos told NBC 4 NY past month aft Cuomo missed different forum successful Brooklyn.

He besides brushed disconnected a chat connected nationalist information past week, which was attended by astir of nan different Democratic superior candidates.

Cuomo, however, did speak at nan Rev. Al Sharpton’s yearly National Action Network Convention earlier this month.

Organizers of Wednesday’s migration forum said connected their website that Cuomo had been invited, on pinch Mayor Eric Adams, who is moving arsenic an independent and who besides opted to skip nan event.

The erstwhile politician won’t beryllium astatine different forum Wednesday. James Keivom

Along pinch Mamdani, different candidates expected to be see Ramos, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander and his predecessor Scott Stringer, authorities Sen. Zellnor Myrie and ex-Obama adjutant Michael Blake.

Cuomo’s chronic absences haven’t wounded him successful nan polls — he led Mamdani 34% to 16% when voters were asked astir their apical choice, according to a study released Tuesday.

But Cuomo — who resigned from nan governor’s agency successful ugliness successful 2021 complete intersexual harassment allegations he denies — faced a rash of embarrassing fumbles this week.

The seasoned pol lost retired connected almost $3 cardinal successful run matching funds owed to a paperwork snafu and unveiled a typo-laced lodging plan, which a typical admitted was put together pinch nan thief of investigation conducted by ChatGPT.

A Cuomo run spokesperson insisted nan ex-governor has attended “a number of forums and will be others successful nan coming weeks arsenic he continues to prosecute voters connected his level to make New York City a safer and much affordable spot for all.”

Cuomo has besides talked astir migration pinch media outlets and voters are alert of his past way record, nan spokesperson added.

A governmental advisor not affiliated pinch immoderate run based on location is “no benefit” to Cuomo showing up astatine forums.

“When your sanction is Andrew Cuomo, you’re starring successful each canvass and you person millions upon millions to spend, nan truth is you don’t request to show up to nan forums,” said John Tomlin, elder managing head of Actum.

“People cognize who he is, they cognize what benignant of activity he brings and they either support him aliases they don’t. Him showing up to nan forum conscionable puts him successful nan statement of occurrence and honestly elevates his opponents much than it does him.”