Metro

Cuomo kicks off run for governor with vow to ‘rebuild NY’


Attorney General Andrew Cuomo finally went public with Albany’s worst-kept secret yesterday — throwing himself into the gubernatorial race with an ambitious strategy to shake up the “dysfunctional” Capitol and save the state.

“I have a plan to rebuild New York from the ground up,” Cuomo declared in front of the Tweed Courthouse in lower Manhattan, where he discussed his candidacy in front of hundreds of supporters.

“We stand today next to one of the historic monuments to government corruption,” he said. “Well, unfortunately, Albany’s antics today could make Boss Tweed blush.”

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Cuomo detailed his strategy for putting an end to government waste and ending the Albany gridlock that has bogged the state down with a projected $9.2 billion budget deficit.

“Job one is going to be to clean up Albany and make the government work for the people . . . We’re tired of seeing New Yorkers victimized by the corporate greed of Wall Street . . . by government corruption in Albany,” he said.

Cuomo pre-empted his own appearance by posting a 21-minute video on his campaign Web site. The Internet video served as his official declaration to run for the seat his father, Mario, held from 1983 to 1994.

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Andrew Cuomo — already considered the front-runner in November’s election — is expected to release today a 200-page plan detailing how he hopes to save the struggling Empire State.

He teased some elements of his “New NY Agenda,” announcing that he would cap state taxes, freeze state workers’ salaries and limit local property-tax growth at 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.

Cuomo also wants a $3,000 tax credit to companies for each unemployed New Yorker they hire, and he called for a “one-year emergency financial plan.”

Like Gov. Paterson, Cuomo doesn’t support Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch’s plan to narrow the state’s projected $9.2 billion budget gap by borrowing $6 billion for operating costs.

The AG is also against Ravitch’s proposal for an independent financial board to make the hard financial decisions Albany politicians have shirked.

Ravitch was noncommittal about Cuomo’s lack of support for his plan.

“I’ve explained my reasons for why I’ve recommended it, and that’s my only comment,” Ravitch told The Post. “I know Andrew, and I wish him good luck, but I’m not getting involved in the campaign. I’ve got a budget to get done.”

Paterson, who withdrew his 2010 election bid in February in the wake of a domestic-abuse scandal involving his top aide, didn’t appear at the event for his fellow Democrat.

“I look forward to supporting him over the months ahead,” Paterson said in a statement.

The Democratic Party will vote on its official gubernatorial candidate at the state convention this week in Rye.

Cuomo is likely to face one of three Republicans in the general election this fall — former Long Island Rep. Rick Lazio, current Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy or Buffalo builder Carl Paladino.

The timing of Cuomo’s announcement was tricky, some of his supporters acknowledged privately, because it could be “disruptive” if he were inserted into budget talks.

“That certainly wasn’t the intent,” one Cuomo insider said. “The voters have a right to know his positions on the budget. If he didn’t give them, people would say he was ducking.”

Some lawmakers, however, were optimistic that Cuomo’s involvement could break the seven-week stalemate.

“It can only help,” said Sen. Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx). “Andrew Cuomo outlining his priorities only moves the process along.”

Cuomo, who was secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration, vowed he had learned from his failure to obtain the state’s highest office in 2002.

He mounted a disastrous primary against Carl McCall, the first African-American to be elected state comptroller. With the Democratic establishment backing McCall, Cuomo dropped out of the race.

His improbable resurgence as the future of Democratic Party began in 2006, when he was elected attorney general. Yesterday, he wrote his own story as a comeback kid.

“A few years ago, I ran for governor and I lost . . . It was a public humiliation,” he said yesterday. “So, yes, I know it will be hard, but I also know we can do it. One thing’s for sure: We won’t make excuses.”

Man with a plan

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo highlighted parts of his “New New York Agenda” at his campaign launch yesterday. The full 200-page platform is expected to be released today.

BUDGET

* Against Ravitch plan to borrow $6 billion to close budget gap — and opposes his plan for a five-person financial-review panel to balance budget

* “People’s convention” to rewrite state Constitution

* Cap state spending

* Impose a salary freeze for state workers

* Create a state infrastructure bank for public works

TAXES

* Cap property taxes at 2 percent or rate of inflation, whichever is less

* Freeze state income and corporate taxes

* Give $3,000 tax credit to companies that hire unemployed New Yorkers

GOVERNMENT

* Ongoing regulation for

Wall Street

* Require full disclosure of legislators’ outside income

* Independent monitor to police Albany

* Create independent redistricting commission

* Reduce campaign-contribution limits to lessen lobbyist influence

* 20% reduction in number of state agencies

* Ask private sector to find ways to reorganize 1,000 state agencies

* Consolidate 10,000 local governments

SOCIAL ISSUES

* Pro-choice

* Anti-death penalty

* Supports gay marriage

* Would lift charter-school cap

How Cuomo fares against Republican candidates for governor:

Cuomo 65% Former Rep. Rick Lazio 25%

Cuomo 63% Suffolk County Exec. Steve Levy 25%

Cuomo 67% Businessman Carl Paladino 22%

Source: Marist Poll, May 11

Additional reporting by Brendan Scott in Albany

gotis@nypost.com