Cuomo Promises WFP, But Will He Deliver?
- New York 06/02/2014 by Linda Perry (WBAI)


Working Families Party Convention. Albany, New York
Governor Andrew Cuomo survived a challenge from the left to win the nomination of the liberal Working Families Party. He received the endorsement at the party's convention Saturday in Albany, but only after a floor fight from liberals unhappy with Cuomo's support for business-friendly tax cuts and charter schools. 

The Governor made promises. He pledged  to campaign for a Democratic majority in the State Senate to unite democratic factions, support for NYS’s Dream Act, for the Womens Equality Act, decriminalization for possessions of small amounts of marijuana and the ability of cities to set their own minimum wage levels. 

"Politicians promises aren't worth the paper they're written on."

Brian Jones, the Green Party’s candidate for NYS Lieutenant Governor, dismissed the alliance between the governor and the Working Families Party.

"I think it’s an outrage that the Working Families Party endorsed Cuomo who has been so hostile to public housing, hostile to public sector unions, hostile to public education. The idea that he is any way represents working families is outrageous, so that 's a scandal and a shame."

"I know there were a lot of good principled people who were holding out hope they would put forward a challenger to Cuomo. And while that's certainly disappointng that they failed to do that, I hope that now those people will turn their attention to those of us who are excited about putting forth a challenge to Cuomo and are doing so energetically."

Jones says the Green Party’s Howie Hawkins/BrianJones ticket offers an alternative to the mainstream politics of the Democratic Party. 

And skepticism remains on the left flank of the Working Families Party about Cuomo. They turned their backs to him as he delivered his message to their convention.  There are those who feel he prefers a Republican n majority in the Senate. That way he won’t face both legislative houses sending him progressive legislation. 

Cuomo faces Republican Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in the fall election.

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