Gov. Andrew Cuomo talks slur, Sen. Michael Gianaris support for Bernie Sanders

Gov. Andrew Cuomo brushed off complaints about his use of the “n-word” during a radio interview last week. It’s the first time he’s spoken about the matter since the controversy erupted.

“I was just quoting the New York Times,” Cuomo said when asked Sunday about his use of the word during an interviewed Tuesday on Albany’ public radio station WAMC. Cuomo was asked about the matter while he was in Colonie to announce another part of Northway Exit 3 had been opened.

He spoke after a reporter noted New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams tweeted a link to a New York Post article about the interview and wrote “this headline brought to you by the 1940s and empowered white privilege.”

In the interview, Cuomo was referring to an Oct. 12 op-ed in the New York Times that, in part, detailed slurs historically used against Italian-Americans. Cuomo noted one of the slurs used against Italians – and cited in the piece – was “n—-r wops.” Penned by Times editorial board member Brent Staples, the op-ed was published two days before Columbus Day, a holiday embraced by some as a celebration of Italian heritage.

The governor’s use of the word shocked some listeners, and generated of a slew headlines from news organizations that cover the governor and those that do not. While Williams and others – Maurice Mitchell, the national director of the Working Families Party and a prominent leader in the Black Lives Matter movement said Cuomo should apologize for uttering a word “no white person should use in any context for any reason” – were critical of Cuomo, other black leaders supported him.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie last week said he took no offense, noting Cuomo was using the word in the context of the column.

On Sunday, Cuomo was also asked about state Sen. Michael Gianaris’ appearance at a rally Saturday in Queens for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Sanders at a rally that Newsday said drew 25,000 people.

Gianaris and Jessica Ramos, another Democratic senator from Queens, were among the Sanders supporters at the rally. Cuomo has long been a supporter of former Vice President Joe Biden’s bid for the White House.

“It’s his opinion,” Cuomo said. “That’s a decision that he has to make.”

Though in the same party, Cuomo and Gianaris have butted heads over state business. Most recently, they were at odds over plans for a new Amazon headquarters in Queens. Gianaris was among the opposition to the project, which would have gotten $3 billion in tax incentives. Cuomo touted it as a jobs maker that would have created $27 billion in revenue for the state.

Mike Goodwin