Location, Location, Location: Inaugural Backdrops Send Message

The public should expect an upbeat tone from Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he delivers his dual inaugural addresses Thursday—both 1 World Trade Center, where he is making a speech at noon, and the Buffalo History Museum, where he is speaking later, highlight the state’s economic resurgence.

While there are plenty of detractors when it comes to Cuomo’s handling of the economy, the governor has been consistent during his four years in office at projecting a message that the state is moving in a better direction. On-time budgets with minimal or no spending increases and the passage of a 2 percent property tax cap have bolstered that narrative, as has the creation of tax-free START-UP NY zones and numerous public events touting economic investment, from the “Buffalo Billion” to the annual Regional Economic Development awards ceremony.   

The two inaugural address locations are natural fits for him to continue to hammer this message home. 

1 WORLD TRADE CENTER:

Cuomo has always maintained close ties to business and real estate interests in New York City, who have poured million of dollars into his campaign coffers over the years, and picking the newly-opened tower as his backdrop was praised by business leaders. 

“Personally I thought it was terrific when he announced the 1 World Trade location because it’s a recognition of more than a decade of effort to bring that building to fruition and to announce that that site is back in business," said Kathy Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City.

But the building is not a complete success story. Only slightly more than half of the space has been leased, leaving much of the tower vacant. Despite this, Wylde believes the progress made at the location reflects what is likely to be an optimistic tone from Cuomo.

“You have a couple of major companies that have committed there and I think the governor going there will be both a commemoration of really tragic events and also a celebration of a tremendous accomplishment for the state,” she said.

Another dark cloud over 1 World Trade Center is its connection to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey—an agency engulfed in political scandal following the George Washington Bridge lane closure episode that has left New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reeling. The Port Authority is the majority owner of the tower, and just this past week Christie and Cuomo vetoed a unanimously approved bi-state bill to reform the authority, instead choosing to put forth their own overhaul.

Part of Cuomo and Christie’s reform plan for the Port Authority is to sell off real estate holdings, possibly even 1 World Trade Center, but it is a safe bet Cuomo will steer clear of the controversy in his speech. 

BUFFALO HISTORY MUSEUM

Cuomo’s focus on the city of Buffalo’s revitalization is well documented. So it was no surprise when the governor announced he would deliver a second inaugural address from the Queen City. His pledge of a billion dollars in state investment into the region has been one of the hallmarks of his first four years, and it is a good bet it will be the focal point of this speech based on a preview from Cuomo.    

"Buffalo's success over the past four years has shown how the state, the private sector and residents can work together to move a community forward,” Cuomo said in a statement to City & State. “There is a new optimism and a new energy in Buffalo that will deservedly be on display during this inauguration."  

Cuomo’s speech will also likely contain references to Buffalo’s rich history. Buffalo History Museum Executive Director Melissa Brown told City & State that the governor’s staff was particularly drawn to the current exhibit on the life of Tim Russert, the longtime host of Meet the Press who started as U.S. Sen. Patrick Moynihan’s press secretary. 

“That was a major attraction for them. When they realized that we had that happening, because Russert worked for Senator Moynihan and knew Andrew’s father, I think they were excited about that,” Brown said.

Cuomo will deliver his inaugural address in the same room where Russert’s standing desk will be on display. Before and after the speech, a Steinway piano called the “New York State Building” and embossed with the state seal will be played to entertain guests.

The building itself is a structure left over from the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. President William McKinley traveled to Buffalo to attend the expo and ate dinner in the building in the days before he was shot and killed.