Metro

Andy defends anti-corruption ad buy

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Gov. Cuomo defended his controversial use of re-election campaign dollars to promote the new Moreland Commission yesterday — saying the public needs to know they can “take a breath” because there is an “all-star team of prosecutors” at work.

“It was almost week after week another allegation of corruption [in] the Assembly, Senate,” he said on public radio program “The Capitol Pressroom.”

“It’s important for me to say to the people of this state, who’ve just had their confidence in state government shaken . . . I heard it also. I understand your fear. I understand the lack of confidence, and we are addressing it,” said Cuomo (right).

He was responding to a New York Post editorial yesterday that said using campaign dollars for a TV ad that began airing this week was undermines the Moreland Commission’s credibility.

The Moreland Commission, launched this month, will be investigating campaign financing, lobby and corruption.

The ad, appearing 16 months before he faces re-election, features the governor saying that politicians won’t like the commission. “But I work for the people and I won’t stop fighting for a government that we can all trust.”

“The political add allows people to think that this Moreland Commission is as much about looking good politically as doing good legislatively or prosecutorially,” said Green, a former city public advocate.

In his radio remarksyesterday, Cuomo said tasking the commission was “a very dramatic move.”

“It’s an investigations commission. It’s Democrats and Republicans. It’s top prosecutors. You could not have more top cops on the beat,” he said.” If you are worried about government corruption, this is the All-Star Team of prosecutors.”

“I wanted the people of New York to know, ‘Take a breath. You’re OK. If there is corruption in government, we have the best eyes watching,” he added.

The ad was criticized by fellow Democrat Mark Green, who served on a previous Moreland Commission.