Cuomo Discusses Displacing NYC Mayor After Looting 'Disgrace'

NEW YORK, NY — Looters who have used mass protests against police brutality as cover to ransack New York City Businesses for two straight nights may come face-to-face with the full force of the NYPD if New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gets his wish.

The governor called on Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea to deploy all 38,000 of the NYPD's officers Tuesday to crack down on looters as the city approaches its sixth night of protests following the police killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd. The NYPD deployed 8,000 officers on 12-hour shifts Monday, but the efforts did not deter looters from breaking into stores in retail centers such as Herald Square and SoHo.

"The NYPD and the mayor did not do their job last night," Cuomo said during his Tuesday press briefing. "You have 38,000 NYPD people, it is the largest police department in the United States of America. Use 38,000 people and protect property... look at the videos, it was a disgrace. I believe that."

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Cuomo went on to take additional shots at de Blasio, saying that it is an "inarguable" fact that the mayor failed to contain looting in the city after a largely peaceful night of protesting. To illustrate his argument, Cuomo held up a glass of water: "This is a glass of water, this is not a glass of milk. It's a fact, there are still facts in life."

Stores that were targeted by looters Monday included Michael Kors, Footlocker, Nike, Microsoft, several phone outlets and small businesses such as liquor stores, souvenir stores and smoke shops. Nearly 700 people were arrested in protests citywide on Monday night, police said.

The Macy's famed Herald Square flagship department store was broken into after groups of looters ripped apart plywood barriers and smashed their way through the store's windows.

The governor announced earlier this week that both the New York State Police and National Guard are on "standby" should they be needed to quell looting and rioting in cities throughout the state. On Tuesday, de Blasio said that he will not request aid from the National Guard. The mayor moved New York City's curfew up to 8 p.m. and extended the measure through the end of the week.

If de Blasio refuses aid from the national guard, there's isn't much the state can do to force his hand, Cuomo said Tuesday. Stating that there is "no precedent," Cuomo did bring up the fact that it would be within his power to "displace" de Blasio using emergency powers.

"My option is to displace the mayor of New York City and bring in the National Guard as the governor in a state of emergency and basically you would have to take over the mayor's job," Cuomo said, adding later that he was speaking "theoretically."

Cuomo later clarified that he is not in favor of displacing de Blasio, saying that would make a chaotic situation more hectic and would be a "bizarre" course of action.

When it comes to stopping looting in New York City, Cuomo said the NYPD is more than capable of the task if the police force is deployed correctly.

"I believe the NYPD can do this, because the NYPD has done this. They have done numerous rioting situation in New York City, and numerous looting situations in New York City and very difficult racial situations in New York City," Cuomo said. "The NYPD is like five times the size of any other police department, they're huge."

Multiple protests moved through the city Monday, with largely peaceful crowds being seen on Madison and Lexington avenues, Times Square, Washington Square Park and in Bed-Stuy, among other locations. The demonstrations have been held every night since Thursday as people voiced fury at the death of George Floyd at the hands of cops in Minnesota on Memorial Day.