BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – A Buffalo-based public relations professional believes Governor Andrew Cuomo's handling of the various controversies has been as good as what can be expected under the circumstances.
"Any key thing in a crisis is to communicate to the degree to which you can, which is what he's trying to do," Earl Wells, President and Owner of E3Communications, said. "He's an excellent communicator and right now his message has been consistent. That's what you want to do is in a crisis."
The governor's sexual harassment controversy continues to escalate after reports that Albany Police were told of an alleged groping by Governor Cuomo of a female aide at the executive mansion. Five other women have alleged sexual harassment by the governor. New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the harassment allegations.
Cuomo is also dealing with an alleged cover-up of the scale of nursing home deaths by his administration. This controversy is under investigation by the US Department of Justice.
More state lawmakers are calling for Cuomo to resign as new allegations come forward. Most of the New York State Senate called on the governor to resign, though there is not as loud of a call to resign coming from the Assembly. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Wednesday he will discuss "potential paths forward" with fellow democrats.
The Assembly is the legislative house that can move to impeach Cuomo.
While many may assume the governor has misstepped, Wells believes the governor has done a good job sticking to the message that the attorney general's investigation should finish before conclusions are drawn.
"He has a lot of loyal supporters and they are also communicating his message," Wells said. "That message has been consistent and concise throughout…In a crisis you want to be communicating and he is doing that and he's doing a consistent and concise message."
The governor called the latest allegation "gut-wrenching" but in the same statement denied doing anything like what he was accused of.
Wells said Cuomo speaks emotionally on the topic and said the issue is the result of the "#MeToo" movement. The movement has led to more people listening to alleged victims without disregarding their claims.
"There's always two sides to a story, the he-said, she-said," Wells said. "Again, it's a very difficult societal issue, especially in the workplace because of legal ramifications. When you're a public figure, it makes it even more challenging."
Cuomo is still providing updates on COVID-19, though in a much more limited setting. His office still sends out statements and updates, but Wells said he the governor is now doing it in a much more controlled setting than before.
A small way that the governor and his team are trying to control the optics amid the crisis is clothing. In his last public appearance on Tuesday, Cuomo wore a brown jacket. Whether it was intentional or simply coincidence, Wells said small details like clothing can be part of a public relations strategy.
"The governor always communicates how hard he works for the people," Wells said. "That's why I thought when he said as far as stepping down and resigning that the people elected me, I'm not going to do that. I think what he's conveying by his attire at his events is that he's working. He's working every day. He's working on doing everything he can on the vaccine supply, about using the executive orders to get the economy going, and I think that attire…conveys that. He's working for the people."
