Cuomo lacks interest in ‘actual governing,’ longtime foe argues in new book

Yahoo! News - Mar 31st, 2025
Open on Yahoo! News

Former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner criticizes Andrew Cuomo's leadership in her new memoir, highlighting his prioritization of flashy projects over essential services during his tenure as governor of New York. Miner recounts her struggles to secure funding for Syracuse's infrastructure while Cuomo focused on high-profile developments, such as a failed $300 million stadium deal. Her book provides a detailed account of these interactions, portraying Cuomo as more interested in political gain than effective governance.

The memoir also sheds light on Miner's contentious relationship with Cuomo, detailing instances of his alleged power plays, including public displays of dominance and exclusion from significant projects. These revelations challenge Cuomo's current image as a problem-solver in his bid for New York City mayor. Miner's book underscores the broader implications of Cuomo's governance style on New York cities, emphasizing the neglect of crucial infrastructure needs and the impact of his administration's corruption-laden economic policies.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a compelling narrative based on Stephanie Miner's memoir, highlighting significant allegations against Andrew Cuomo regarding his governance priorities and political conduct. It effectively captures the personal and political dynamics between Miner and Cuomo, offering readers insight into the challenges of local governance under Cuomo's administration. However, the reliance on Miner's perspective without substantial corroboration limits the article's accuracy and balance. While it successfully engages readers with its clear and accessible language, the story would benefit from a more balanced presentation of perspectives and additional evidence to support its claims. Overall, the article raises important questions about political accountability and governance, making it a valuable contribution to ongoing discussions about leadership and public policy.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The article presents a detailed account of Stephanie Miner's claims regarding Andrew Cuomo's governance, particularly focusing on infrastructure funding and political dynamics in Syracuse. The claims about Cuomo prioritizing a stadium over necessary infrastructure upgrades and his alleged political maneuverings are significant and require verification. The story accurately reports Miner's perspective, citing specific incidents such as the delayed funding for Syracuse's water pipes and Cuomo's alleged public displays of dominance. However, the article relies heavily on Miner's memoir without corroborating these claims with other sources, which affects the overall accuracy. The factual basis for some claims, such as the stadium funding priority and the alleged personal interactions between Miner and Cuomo, would benefit from additional evidence or statements from other involved parties.

6
Balance

The article predominantly reflects Stephanie Miner's perspective, offering a critical view of Andrew Cuomo's tenure as governor. While it provides a comprehensive look at Miner's experiences and claims, the balance is somewhat skewed, as it lacks substantial input from Cuomo's side beyond a dismissive comment from his spokesperson. This creates a narrative that may appear one-sided, as the article does not explore Cuomo's rationale or provide counterarguments to Miner's allegations. Including more perspectives, such as those from other political figures or analysts, would enhance the balance by offering a fuller picture of the political dynamics described.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and clearly presents the narrative of Stephanie Miner's allegations against Andrew Cuomo. It effectively uses direct quotes and detailed descriptions to convey Miner's experiences and opinions. The language is accessible and the story unfolds logically, making it easy for readers to follow the progression of events and understand the underlying issues. While the clarity is generally strong, the article could benefit from a more explicit delineation between Miner's claims and the factual background, which would help readers distinguish between subjective opinions and objective facts.

6
Source quality

The primary source for the article is Stephanie Miner's memoir, which is a firsthand account but also inherently subjective. While memoirs can provide valuable insights, they are not unbiased sources. The article does include a brief response from Cuomo's spokesperson, which adds a contrasting view, albeit limited. The reliance on a single primary source without additional corroboration from independent sources or documentation weakens the source quality. To improve reliability, the article could incorporate data or reports on infrastructure funding during Cuomo's administration or statements from other officials involved in the described events.

7
Transparency

The article is transparent about its main source, clearly attributing the claims to Stephanie Miner's memoir. It provides context about Miner's political history and her contentious relationship with Cuomo, which helps readers understand the potential biases in her account. However, the article could enhance transparency by discussing the methodology used to verify Miner's claims or by acknowledging the limitations of relying on a memoir as a primary source. This would help readers better assess the credibility and potential biases in the information presented.

Sources

  1. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/04/andrew-cuomo-fix-new-york-00209892
  2. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2021/05/20/cuomo-calls-reporter-questions-on-book-deal--stupid-and-offensive-
  3. https://www.citizensforethics.org/news/analysis/andrew-cuomo-has-been-unethical-all-along/
  4. https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2021/0224/From-savior-to-bully-Is-Cuomo-s-hardball-style-falling-out-of-favor
  5. https://nysfocus.com/2021/08/11/cuomo-corrupt-political-culture