Cuomo apologizes to Jewish community over COVID response
Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo issued a public apology to New York City's Jewish community on Oct. 1, 2025 for pandemic-era restrictions that limited religious gatherings, saying he acted "to protect health and save lives" but did not always consider "the sensitivities and traditions" of Orthodox congregations. The video statement — timed to Yom Kippur and circulated online — represents a notable shift in Cuomo’s framing of his COVID response as he campaigns for New York City mayor as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani.
Politics
Elections
🔍 Key Facts
- Andrew Cuomo released a video apology on Oct. 1, 2025, timed to Yom Kippur, saying "We could have done better, and for that I am truly sorry."
- The apology addresses restrictions from Cuomo’s "cluster initiative," which imposed limits on gatherings in Hasidic and other communities and sparked lawsuits and protests; the U.S. Supreme Court struck down some capacity limits in late 2020.
- Context: Cuomo is running for NYC mayor as an independent after resigning as governor amid sexual‑harassment allegations and after losing the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani; courting Jewish voters has been central to his campaign strategy.