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Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is popping up the amount in his assaults on New York Metropolis mayoral rival Zohran Mamdani over the difficulty of prostitution.
Cuomo, who’s working for mayor of the nation’s most populous metropolis as an impartial after Mamdani topped him by double digits in June’s Democratic Get together main, argues that if the 33-year-old democratic socialist state lawmaker from Queens wins in November, “New York Metropolis would grow to be prostitution capital of the nation.”
Mamdani, whose victory over Cuomo and 9 different candidates within the Democratic mayoral main despatched political shockwaves throughout the nation, referred to as for the decriminalization of intercourse work when he first ran for the state legislature in 2020.
And as a state assemblyman, Mamdani co-sponsored payments to decriminalize intercourse work statewide.
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However he has not often spoken out on the difficulty throughout his 2025 run for mayor.
Requested at a marketing campaign occasion on Sunday about criticism over his stance on decriminalizing prostitution from Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who can be working as an impartial candidate as he seeks re-election, Mamdani stated “my concentrate on this marketing campaign has lengthy been to make this metropolis one that each New Yorker can afford, the place they’re secure and the place they stay a lifetime of dignity.”
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Pointing to these feedback, Cuomo stated at a information convention on Monday that Mamdani “was requested yesterday if he would direct the NYPD to cease making prostitution arrests. He didn’t say sure or no however advised he’d emulate former Mayor Invoice de Blasio.”
Cuomo, who has lengthy been a loud critic of de Blasio, a former two-term progressive New York Metropolis mayor, famous that prostitution arrests cratered throughout de Blasio’s tenure in workplace.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’s working for New York Metropolis mayor as an impartial candidate, is taking intention at Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani over the difficulty of decriminalizing prostitution. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox Information)
“He’d emulate former Mayor Invoice de Blasio when it got here to prostitution arrests,” Cuomo claimed. “When you hearken to him, and also you look to his polices, he’s going to be de Blasio 2.0, and I imagine that’s the very last thing this metropolis wants.”
Proponents of decriminalizing prostitution argue that the transfer makes intercourse staff much less vulnerable to exploitation and violence. However research recommend that in areas the place prostitution is authorized, there’s a rise in crime and human trafficking.
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Components of New York Metropolis have seen an inflow of intercourse staff since then-Gov. Cuomo signed a legislation in early 2021 that repealed statues in opposition to loitering for the aim of prostitution.
Requested about that invoice, the previous governor stated, “The loitering invoice, I would must verify. I do not do not forget that invoice frankly.”
However Cuomo highlighted that earlier on Monday, he visited the Roosevelt Avenue hall in Queens, one of many areas that is seen a dramatic rise in intercourse staff.
“There have been indicators of prostitution on the road. I spoke to retailer house owners. They’re very involved about it. They suppose it is damaging for his or her enterprise, damaging for his or her neighborhood, it is a dangerous affect on kids,” Cuomo stated.
Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and who would grow to be New York Metropolis’s first Muslim and first millennial if he wins November’s election, has additionally been criticized over prostitution by Adams.
Mayor Eric Adams arrives for a public security announcement on Staten Island on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox Information Digital)
“I don’t know the place in his Quran it states that it’s okay for a lady to be on the streets promoting their physique. I do not know what Quran he’s studying,” the mayor stated as he spoke to reporters on Sunday.
Mamdani surged to a main victory due to an lively marketing campaign that put a serious concentrate on affordability and New York Metropolis’s excessive price of residing. It was fueled by a grassroots military of supporters and backing from high nationwide progressive champions, together with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Mamdani made good use of social media platforms, together with TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to experience New York Metropolis’s huge bus system, making CUNY (Metropolis College of New York) “tuition-free,” freezing rents on municipal housing, providing “free childcare” for kids as much as age 5 and establishing government-run grocery shops.
The newest polls point out that Mamdani is the clear front-runner in a metropolis the place Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans.
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Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa, who for a second straight election is the Republican mayoral nominee, can be on the poll. Additionally on the poll within the normal election is Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor working as an impartial.
The Mamdani marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for touch upon Monday’s criticism from Cuomo.
