Andrew Cuomo — the former Governor of New York, who is often characterized by an authoritative style and strong political presence. But what would it mean to have a veteran politician as mayor of New York City? Would his famed ability to wield power work as well in the more fractious world of city government? In this article, we’ll discuss how Cuomo’s power would be limited in the mayor’s office and break down the most notable differences between the role of governor and that of the mayor.
Cuomo’s Leadership: Control and Power — A History
It is an image that Andrew Cuomo’s political career has been constructed on, that of forceful leadership. As New York’s governor, he projected rock star stature, consolidating state power and acting decisively and dramatically on the bedrock issues of the state. From overseeing the state budget to begetting landmark policies like its legalization of same-sex marriage, Cuomo’s governance was highly top-down.
But in the mayor’s office, Cuomo would find a vastly different collection of challenges and constraints. Although the mayor wields considerable authority over the city, the position is, by its very nature, distinct from that of a governor. Here’s a closer look at the reasons that would restrict Cuomo’s power if he were to be mayor.
The Power of the Mayor vs. The Governor
The office of the mayor may, at first glance, seem to have as much power as that of the governor, but the dynamics are vastly different.
The Independent Issue: Central Executive Vs Decentral Executive
As governor, Cuomo wielded enormous influence over state agencies, the state budget and the state’s legislative agenda. The governor is a chief executive with centralized powers who can often steamroll policies and legislation with relative ease as long as his party controls the state’s legislature. New York City’s mayor, by contrast, operates in a system of decentralized power in which multiple stakeholders have varying degrees of sway over crucial decisions.
- Governor: Control of state budget, issue executive orders, veto, etc.
- Mayor: Budget proposals need approval from the City Council, and policies sometimes need to be negotiated with the city agencies involved and interest groups.
That distinction would spare Cuomo the kind of unilateral control he would have enjoyed in the mayor’s office, where his proposals would have had to survive a messier, more fragmented political environment.
Political Landscape: A City That’s More Fragmented, More Complex
It’s not a simple world out there in politically embattled New York City. The city’s political factions cover a wide ideological range, from moderate to progressive activists, and bringing everyone into consensus is a key part of governing.
The Progressive Turn of New York City
And over the past few years, there has been a marked shift in New York City toward more progressive policies, with politicians and activists pushing for major reforms in everything from policing to affordable housing to climate action. The ascendance of progressive voices in the City Council and grassroots movements makes any mayor, including Cuomo, work in a political landscape that has changed significantly since his time in Albany.
Cuomo is a centrist who was governor for a long time, so he will struggle to fit in with the left-wing of the city. That portends friction with the City Council, which has been emboldened as it has pressed for progressive reforms.
The City Council’s Influence
Some of the biggest constraints on the mayor’s power come from the New York City Council. The council has 51 members, computed by district and constituency, and has significant power, particularly in approving the budget, enacting laws and overseeing city agencies.
The City Council’s attempts to reform policing, expand affordable housing and address homelessness, for instance, have frequently clashed with the mayor’s agenda. Cuomo’s leadership style, centralized and characterized by a quick-it-and-leave-it mentality, might not go smoothly with a mayor’s office that must cooperate with the council to accomplish anything.
How Public Opinion Plays a Role: Greater Scrutiny in the Mayor’s Office
As governor, Cuomo was able to work with some insulation from the daily needs of New Yorkers. Much of his media appearances and political maneuvers were contextualized to state-wide problems. But as mayor of New York City, Cuomo would face much closer public scrutiny.
New York City is a big and vocal place, and the mayor should respond to its needs. Public opinion is a driving factor in the mayor’s actions, and in a city so large and multifaceted as New York, that scrutiny would be relentless.
- Governor’s Role: More authority but less direct engagement with the public.
- Mayor’s Role: Engaging with the public, day in, day out, from local complaints to crises.
This never-ending public visibility would restrict Cuomo’s ability to work with the same degree of secrecy or manage his own image as he did as governor.
Budget and Fiscal Discretion for the Mayor
Keen across the city to keep the peace, one of the mayor’s most critical roles involves managing New York City’s budget, which adds up to many billions of dollars. But while the state budget is the domain of a governor with significant unilateral power — who rarely, if ever, takes input from anyone but her own aides — the city’s budget is heavily shaped by the City Council.
- Governor’s Budget: The governor has great control over the state’s budget, proposing a budget that the governor’s office can change, but which usually caters to the governor’s priorities.
- Mayor’s Budget: The mayor’s budget must be approved by the City Council, which has often wielded its power to modify the mayor’s proposals.
Cuomo, who gained a national platform by contrasting his fiscally disciplined approach to government with the more profligate ways of the past, could be confronted in the mayor’s office by fiscal priorities that differ from those of the council.
Will Cuomo Adjust His Leadership Style for the City?
Cuomo is often seen as an aggressive leader with a heavy hand in shaping policy and a concentrated approach to decision-making. But the nature of the mayor’s office requires a more collaborative approach. The mayor of New York City operates under a complicated network of agencies, interest groups and elected officials, which makes unilateral decision-making less possible.
Not Suited for Everyone Leadership Styles with Behavioral Capabilities
- Centralization v. Collaboration: Cuomo’s style, which often favored top-down decision-making, appeared to be at odds with the collaborative nature of city governance. The mayor will need to work in partnership with the City Council, community leaders and activists to create policies that serve the community.
- Public Relations: As mayor, Cuomo’s ability to control how he’s perceived by the public may come under pressure. The mayor’s office demands constant engagement with the media and the public, and any misstep could prompt a political backlash. This contrasts with the more controlled media environment Cuomo faced as governor.
- Policy Negotiation: Cuomo was a governor accustomed to negotiating with legislators at the table and pushing his agenda through with minimal compromises. As mayor, Cuomo would have to work more closely with the City Council to pass legislation — which means more negotiation and compromise.
Cuomo’s success as mayor would hinge on his ability to contend with these new realities. How he navigates his leadership style — operating with an iron fist but needing cooperation and compromise — will determine how effective he will be.
What’s Next: Would Cuomo Make a Good Mayor?
If Andrew Cuomo ran for mayor, his success would come down to his ability to thrive within the constraints of the office. There is no denying his political experience and record as a leader, but the archaic and convoluted power structure of New York City is something even Cuomo may not be able to tackle.
The office of the mayor needs a careful balance of strong leadership and cooperation. Cuomo’s previous time in Albany, a relatively impressive feat, may not translate so smoothly to the city’s political atmosphere. If Cuomo jumped into the race for mayor, he would need to convince skeptics that he can chart the ways of city governance and the art of finding consensus with the City Council, local activists and everyday New Yorkers.
FAQs
How does the mayor’s power compare with the governor’s power in New York?
The New York City mayor has broad powers over the governance of the city, but their power is always limited by the City Council, independent agencies and the public at large. By contrast, the governor has more centralized authority over the state budget and legislative processes.
Can Cuomo adjust to the other-center nature of the mayor’s office?
Cuomo’s historically aggressive governing style may have to adapt to the more consensus-driven dynamics of the mayor’s office. And he could struggle to work closely with the City Council and negotiate through policies.
What is the City Council’s role in reining in the mayor’s power?
The City Council has immense influence, particularly over the city budget and other legislative acts. The mayor has to collaborate with the council to pass laws and implement policies, and the council’s expanding power could constrain the mayor’s ability to effect unilateral decisions.
What would be the biggest challenges Cuomo would run into as mayor?
But Cuomo would face familiar challenges, including dealing with a still-strategically-opposed-to him New York City City Council and cognizant of how less than half of this city voted for projected winning Democratic challenger.
Is Cuomo’s leadership style appropriate for the mayor’s office?
Centralization and **
