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Cuomo says relationship with Syracuse Mayor Miner is "fine"

Zack Seward
/
WXXI

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says his relationship with Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner is "fine," but the two have not talked in a few months.

Cuomo has fielded questions on his relationship with Miner, a fellow Democrat, the past two days as he makes a swing through upstate New York to promote the state's third on-time budget in a row.

Miner has gained state-wide prominence for being critical of Cuomo's plan for pension reform and aid to fiscally troubled upstate cities, telling The New York Times this week "it's kicking the can down the road."

That comment is just the latest, as she criticized Cuomo in a Times article in January and then in an op-ed published in the same paper a few weeks later.

Credit City of Syracuse
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner has been outspoken in criticism of the governor's plan for pension reform.

When asked Tuesday by reporters in Rochester about the most recent article, Cuomo replied: "I'm not familiar with that particular mayor's comments."

It's a frosty comment given the two have known each other for several years. Miner first worked for the governor's father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo. And last year the current governor tapped Miner to co-chair the state's Democratic Party.

During another budget tour stop on the campus of SUNY Oswego Wednesday, Cuomo said that while he talks to mayors all the time, he hasn't spoken with Miner in several months.

The budget includes "a whole package of fiscal plans" for the cities across state, Cuomo said.

"I disagree," Cuomo said of Miner's claims. "And so does the State Legislature that just passed it."

The governor said politicians disagree with aspects of the budget all the time.

"That is absolutely nothing new from my point of view. It’s the political process and politicians are politicians," Cuomo said.

Cuomo hasn't made a stop in Syracuse since October while he's been in Buffalo and Rochester multiple times since then. The Post-Standard reported Miner was not invited to the event in Oswego.

Cuomo denied claims he's actively avoiding Syracuse or Miner, saying he's been busy with the budget process.