Cuomo focus of black leaders' frustration

ALBANY -- Some leaders of a key Democratic constituency -- African-Americans -- are expressing frustration that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has not focused on issues such as affordable housing, reducing gun violence and creating jobs.

In an effort to jump-start an "urban agenda," the leaders have been going public with criticism that Cuomo hasn't treated it as urgently as gay marriage, balancing the state budget and other initiatives that he's pushed aggressively. Cuomo's performance on those issues has garnered him high ratings -- better than 70 percent -- in public opinion surveys.

During his campaign, Cuomo said he would develop plans to attack such issues. But Assemb. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) said he and many other black leaders feel that "the urban agenda has gotten off to a slow start and that has led to growing disenchantment for many in African-American community. The patience among many in the community is beginning to run out in regards to city and state addressing these topics."

Acknowledging there is frustration, former Gov. David A. Paterson noted that he too had to make painful cuts during the economic downturn that generated "profound disappointment" among minority legislators, particularly because he was the state's first black governor. But he said his first priority was getting the state's fiscal house in order -- something Cuomo faced as well.

"I think he's aware of their frustration," Paterson said of Cuomo. "But Governor Cuomo believes in the urban agenda. As the economic problems subside, we will owe it to the community that has paid the worst price to make them a high priority. And I think Governor Cuomo will do that."

Not alone facing criticism

Cuomo isn't the only major politician under fire for his stance on issues important to the black community. National black leaders have criticized President Barack Obama for not doing enough to help African-Americans during the economic downturn. Obama recently reached out to the leaders -- but also scolded them for not doing enough to support his jobs bill.

Political analysts noted that black voters are unlikely to turn away from Obama or Cuomo to support Republicans, but want to make sure their point isn't ignored. Last year, Cuomo garnered 94 percent of the African-American vote, according to exit polls.

African-Americans are telling Democrats "we're your most reliable constituency and we want you to deliver," said Bruce Gyory, a political scientist at the University at Albany and a one-time adviser to Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Numerous officials didn't return calls for this story. While Cuomo aides declined to comment, they pointed to the governor's remarks at a breakfast last month honoring the African-American Day Parade in Harlem.

Cuomo touted his move to close prisons and juvenile detention centers -- drawing the loudest applause of his remarks. He also got an ovation when he said savings from the closures should go to "community-based services so the problem doesn't happen in the first place."

Cuomo vowed to do more, though he didn't provide details. "We know there is a connection between violence and the unemployment rate that is going up," he said. "We know there is a connection between violence and the poverty rate that is reaching new heights."

In New York, signs of frustration with Cuomo are coming from a variety of quarters.

An editorial in the Amsterdam News in late August attacked Cuomo's "straight-up arrogance" and the governor's failure to act on key issues including joblessness and education cuts.

On Sept. 7, the executive director of the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, an activist group, told Cuomo in a letter that he has ignored issues affecting African-Americans, especially gun violence. "I guess it is because you have been so successful everywhere else that I have been so deeply disappointed at your failed leadership to date . . . " Tamika D. Mallory wrote. Of gun violence, she said, "I personally urge you to be a leader on this issue since you have been so alarmingly silent up to now."

Program cuts draw ire

This year, black state legislators and other liberal Democrats have criticized the governor for cutting education and social programs, and for eliminating an income-tax surcharge on high-earning New Yorkers.

Assemb. Karim Camara (D-Brooklyn), chairman of the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus, attributed the dissatisfaction to the "overall frustration about the state of urban communities" rather than aimed at a particular politician. Many of the problems have lingered for years, he said, and residents are looking to elected leaders to do more.

"We just went through a brutal budget session," Camara said. "I expect as we move forward the administration will address many aspects of the urban agenda."

The most recent Siena College Poll showed slight erosion of support for Cuomo among African-Americans.

The survey, released Sept. 27, found that 48 percent of black voters said the governor was doing an excellent or good job, while 48 percent said fair or poor. Six weeks earlier, a Siena survey found those numbers running in Cuomo's favor, 55-44 percent.

"Clearly, I can understand [African-American] leaders feeling a bit antsy; their agenda was not at the top of [Cuomo's] agenda," this year, said Baruch College political scientist Doug Muzzio. "But you can only do so much in one [legislative] session."

Fordham University political scientist Christina Greer said Cuomo spent the bulk of his first session on fiscal issues and property taxes -- issues that are more important to swing voters in the suburbs and upstate than urban voters.

"A Democratic governor can afford to be slow on urban policy issues," because city voters are usually reliable Democratic supporters, Greer said.

However, black leaders will expect Cuomo to build a relationship with them at some point during his term, Greer said. Noting the recent Harlem breakfast, she said: "The fact that he's showing up means something. The tension right now is that for some [blacks], showing up is enough, but other individuals want to see substantive policy actions."

Jeffries said Cuomo "still has time to maintain a positive relationship with the black community. But he will need to address the areas of concern. Progress in these areas would be meaningful for the state, meaningful for the community and, therefore, favorable for the governor's standing in the community."