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Governor Andrew Cuomo, scion of Mario Cuomo, is today as famous as his father, also a governor of New York state for three terms. Like Robert Moses, he is one of New York's great and infamous power brokers. Though initially lavishly celebrated for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, not least by himself, it is now apparent that Cuomo's management of the crisis was a juddering and fatal failure. Thousands died because, ignoring the advice of experts, he shut down too late and returned still sick patients to nursing homes. The crisis was intensified by his previous commitment to austerity, which saw the slashing of funding to hospitals.
A vital riposte to Cuomo's recently published book about the pandemic, now increasingly derided as self-serving and deceitful,
The Prince is a searing indictment of Cuomo's handling of coronavirus and his time overall in the highest office of the state.
About the author
Ross Barkan teaches journalism at NYU and St. Joseph's College, Brooklyn. He writes regularly for
The Guardian and
Jacobin, and has contributed to a range of other publications including
The New York Times, The New Yorker and
New York magazine. Working as a City Hall reporter, he has written frequently on New York state politics, covering Cuomo for the last eight years. His novel,
Demolition Night, was published in 2018.
Summary
Governor Andrew Cuomo, scion of Mario Cuomo, is today as famous as his father, also a governor of New York state for three terms. Like Robert Moses, he is one of New York’s great and infamous power brokers. Though initially lavishly celebrated for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, not least by himself, it is now apparent that Cuomo’s management of the crisis was a juddering and fatal failure. Thousands died because, ignoring the advice of experts, he shut down too late and returned still sick patients to nursing homes. The crisis was intensified by his previous commitment to austerity, which saw the slashing of funding to hospitals.
A vital riposte to Cuomo’s recently published book about the pandemic, now increasingly derided as self-serving and deceitful, The Prince is a searing indictment of Cuomo’s handling of coronavirus and his time overall in the highest office of the state.
Foreword
The Washington Post previewed publication of The Prince (https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?trackId=604a423dae7e8a10b787fa61&s=604b856b9d2fda4c88075ff7&linknum=7&linktot=84)
Author writes regularly for The Guardian and Jacobin, both of which will cover the book.
Major coverage, especially in New York but also across the country, is anticipated in prominent media including The New York Times, The New York Post, New York magazine, New York One, Brian Lehrer on WNYC, Democracy Now!, Useful Idiots with Matt Taibbi and Katie Halpern, The Rising with Krystal Ball WBAI and BRIC TV.
Pandemic permitting, a launch event will be held at NYU where Barkan teaches - otherwise online.
Additional text
"“One of the sharpest state policy minds I know." —Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
"A damning political polemic of a controversial administration mired in failed leadership." — reviewed in Kirkus Reviews
“A writer with real literary flair. Like I.F. Stone, Barkan works independently with a left point of view, but it's his shoe leather, his working the phones and hitting the street, that's invaluable because, sadly, it's so scarce.” —Christian Lorentzen
“There’s a brawl shaping up between two books about New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo” — featured in the Washington Post‘s Book Club
“Ross Barkan Talks Cuomo Scandals, COVID-19, and How the Governor Blocked Progressive Measures” — author interviewed on NewsBeat
“Ross Barkan on the Zero Sum Game That Democrats Don’t Know They’re Playing” — author interviewed on Trickle-Down Socialism
“Andrew Cuomo’s narrative whiplash” — author featured in the Columbia Journalism Review
