The mayor's hopeful Andrew Cuomo was released on bail on a scheduled visit to the senior centre in Queens on Friday as dozens of fierce protesters were expected to stand up to former Gov over the failed handling of nursing homes during the pandemic.
Approximately 25 protesters marched in front of the Peter Cardera Senior Citizen Centre in Ridgewood for more than an hour as they were eagerly awaiting his administration's controversial order to send infected Covid-19 patients to nursing homes.
Dr. Damien Archibald, anesthesiologist at Elmhurst Hospital, said:
“I have the moral digging of Cuomo running for mayor of New York City after he sold out the city.”
Cuomo was originally planned to attack senior citizens centres on the campaign trail. This prompted the group to hurry to the building.
“I like what you guys do, where can I get the autograph?” asked one woman before joining the rank.
On the other side of the street, the neighbor cried out: “I can lift your signs and take a photo. F–K that guy!”
The campaign claims that the former governor, who resigned amid a string of scandals, had no plans to show up for an event that would be cancelled a few days ago.
“We were never confirmed for that senior center and as of last Wednesday they knew, but we look forward to visiting it as Andrew Cuomo continues to meet voters and discuss his vision for a safer and more affordable New York City.”
But two senior center workers told the Post that the campaign pulled the plug on Friday morning.
The center is not a nursing home. Seniors visit buildings to socialize, but do not live or sleep in the building.
However, protesters viewed the visit to Cuomo's elderly facility as dishonest after the fatal Covid-19 policy allowed nursing homes to rip and tear the virus at the height of the pandemic.
“Daniel Irviney, who joined Rally with We Care Memorial Wall, a group dedicated to exposing the deaths of Cuomo nursing homes, said he is protesting in commemoration of his loved one lost during the pandemic.
The Arvinneys lost four members in a week, including his beloved father.
In a tweet, another group of activists, Voicesforseniors, simply said, “Coward can't face us!”
“We want the truth. We want to know what happened to people. We want the answer,” Irbiney said.
The team of Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa also came in after hearing the demonstration, with campaign adviser Sharon Riao saying, “Cuomo made a very wrong decision to send Covid-19 patients to nursing homes during the pandemic. 15,000 people died because of his mistakes.”
“I don't care about sexual harassment. This is real life. This is a more serious issue. We care about life,” she continued.
When asked what he would say to Cuomo if he was here today, Liao said: “Stop ruining our city. If you ruined New York State when he was governor, imagine it in New York City.
Cuomo blamed about 15,000 people who died in state nursing homes during the pandemic.
In March, Cuomo offered a half-burned apology when asked if he owned the families of those who lost the apology.
Despite criticism of the nursing home decision, Cuomo is currently leading a poll for the mayor's Democratic nomination in a major vote next month for second-place rival Zohran Mamdani.
