Cuomo warns of socialism's dangers at New York mayoral forum
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo criticized Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani's socialist policies during a business forum, citing the failed Amazon headquarters deal as evidence of their risks. Speaking to business leaders, Cuomo argued that such approaches threaten the city's economy. The remarks came less than a month before Election Day.
On October 8, 2025, at Crain’s New York Business mayoral forum, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., addressed business leaders about the perils of socialism in New York City. He targeted Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee who identifies as a Democratic socialist, warning that his plans to fund free services through tax hikes on corporations and the top 1% would lead to economic decline.
Cuomo referenced the 2019 collapse of Amazon's planned headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, as a cautionary tale. During his governorship, Cuomo had personally recruited Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, offering billions in state and city incentives, infrastructure, and workforce support. The project promised at least 25,000 jobs, with projections up to 40,000 over 15 years. However, opposition from progressive lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and community activists derailed it over $2.5 billion in incentives.
"We are not socialists," Cuomo said. "We all saw the foreshadowing of the danger of this philosophy when we lost the Amazon project in Queens and 50,000 jobs due to socialist opposition." He described Mamdani's proposals for free buses, childcare, and city-run grocery stores as "pure ideological fantasy," contrasting them with New York's role as a "regulated capitalist economy."
Amazon's 2019 statement noted that "a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence." Ocasio-Cortez had tweeted in 2018: "Now what I DON'T want is for our public funds to be funding freebie helipads for Amazon+robber baron billionaires, all while NYCHA and public schools go underfunded & mom+pops get nowhere near that kind of a break." Alfredo Ortiz, CEO of Job Creators Network, criticized the opposition, saying it cost 25,000 jobs and signaled to businesses they were unwelcome.
In response, Mamdani quoted Bezos during his remarks: "You have to be willing to be misunderstood if you’re going to innovate." He vowed to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund innovations. Cuomo urged a pivot toward rebirth, stating New York City is at a crossroads. Neither Mamdani nor Ocasio-Cortez responded to comment requests.