Gov. Cuomo Begins 3rd Term With Fiery Speech On Ellis Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday began 2019 and his third term in office with an inaugural address on Ellis Island.
The Democrat delivered his remarks on the New York side of the Island, which New York shares with New Jersey.
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Cuomo won a third term by campaigning against President Trump, so it was no surprise that when he used his speech to thump away at the Queens-native currently residing in the White House.
"New York will move forward not by building a wall my friends, but by building new bridges, and new airports, and creating new middle class jobs," the governor promised.
Ellis Island was the nation's busiest immigration station for decades, welcoming millions of immigrants from around the world.
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Cuomo has called it an "enduring symbol" of America's core values of hope and opportunity.
Cuomo won re-election last fall. He has listed legalizing recreational marijuana, codifying abortion rights and fixing New York City's subways as three priorities for the new year.
There is still one big unknown: how will Cuomo - a man notorious for playing people against one another - deal with the "blue wave" that turned both houses of the legislature Democrat for the first time in a decade.
It also remains to be seen whether a democratic assembly and senate will be a rubber stamp or try to do their own thing when it comes to fixing the MTA, cutting taxes, and addressing the other top issues facing the state.
The speech's location is likely to encourage speculation that Cuomo may run for president, though the 61-year-old has said he has ruled out the idea.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
