Sex And The City star Cynthia Nixon blasts New York governor
Written by News on 21/03/2018
Former Sex And The City star Cynthia Nixon has criticised New York’s current administration in her first ever campaign event.
The 51-year-old actress, who announced she was running for New York governor earlier this week, did not mince her words when taking aim at two-term incumbent Andrew Cuomo – her Democratic opponent in the primaries.
Ms Nixon told the audience at the Bethesda Healing Centre in Brooklyn on Wednesday that she had just made it to the event “in the nick of time” due to delays on Mr Cuomo’s subway.
The city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, controlled by Mr Cuomo, later tweeted a sick passenger had delayed the subway.
“If Washington is a swamp, Albany is a cesspool,” Ms Nixon said, criticising what she called the state’s inequality and alleged state government corruption.
“I think that everybody understands the corruption in Albany has been really bad for decades now. And I think the Cuomo administration, he’s brought it to a new high or a new low, however you want to think about that.
“I think it’s time for an outsider.
“I am not an Albany insider but I think it is time, not just in New York state but all over this country to hear from the voices of real people who understand that our government in New York and in many places across the country – including federally – is in the clutches of millionaires, billionaires and corporations.”
The former actress cited Joseph Percoro, a former top aide to the New York governor, who was convicted this month on federal bribery and fraud charges.
Ms Nixon said she had voted for Mr Cuomo eight years ago, hoping he was a “real Democrat”.
“But New York’s eight years under the Cuomo administration have been an exercise in living with disappointment, dysfunction and dishonesty,” she said.
Nixon rose to fame playing Miranda Hobbes in the HBO show Sex And The City, where she stood out from the other characters for her practicality and bluntness.
Defining herself as a liberal and a democrat, Ms Nixon has long been involved in politics as an advocate for public education and a spokeswoman for LGBTQ rights.
She was also a big supporter of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio – a Democrat to the left of Mr Cuomo.
The two men have had disagreements over issues including public transport and housing.
(c) Sky News 2018: Sex And The City star Cynthia Nixon blasts New York governor
