Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo faces a strong backlash for selling a poster promoting New York’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
On Monday, Cuomo released a poster he designed called “New York Tough” that suggests it captures the journey he went through his state while tackling the pandemic.
“I love the story. I love the poster. The poster is something they did in the early 1900s, in the late 1800s, when they had to communicate their entire platform on a single sheet of paper,” Cuomo said. “In recent years I have made my own posters that capture that feeling. I made a new one for what we went through with COVID and I think the general shape is familiar to you. We went up the mountain, curved the mountain, went down to the other side and these are small telltale signs that, to me, represent what was happening. “
The poster shows a mountain with essential workers pulling a rope symbolizing “flattening the curve”.
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At the top of the poster is a quote attributed to the Governor: “Wake up America! Forget politics, be smart!”
The poster features an airplane with “Europeans”, “COVID-19”, “Jan-Mar” and “3 million” on it, suggesting that the virus mainly comes from Europe rather than China, where the disease is believed to be originated. .
Masks, social distancing and President Trump sitting on a crescent moon are also seen on the poster saying, “It’s just the flu.”
According to the pre-order page, the poster costs $ 14.50 plus shipping and handling, and “New York State does not profit from the sale of this poster.”
Cuomo’s poster was criticized on social media.
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“You are actually selling your personal greeting poster that focuses on a visual representation of 32,000 deaths,” said Tablet magazine associate editor Noah Baum. “How was it always so disgusting or so much media flattery makes someone lose perspective?”
“His inaction and internal strife with the mayor caused thousands of deaths,” activist and former Sanders substitute Shaun King told Cuomo. “Almost every expert in the nation says that if you had acted earlier, they could have saved almost 10,000 lives. That you think it’s time for the posters promoting your ‘success’ to be worrying.”
“Narcissism and irritation are impressive,” journalist Jeryl Bier tweeted.
Throughout much of the coronavirus crisis, in late March there has been mounting scrutiny over the Democratic governor’s order that forced nursing homes to accept patients who tested positive for the coronavirus, despite deficiencies in testing for both residents and staff. Cuomo signed an executive order on May 11 revoking the policy, preventing hospitals from sending infected patients back to nursing homes and increasing testing for staff.
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The Associated Press reported last week that “New York hospitals released more than 6,300 coronavirus patients recovering in nursing homes during the height” of the coronavirus pandemic under a “controversial policy, now ruled out.”
Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.
