In a poignant gathering that marked a heartbreaking anniversary, dozens of families who lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic stood united with rival candidates in the New York City mayoral race on March 23, 2025. This event took place in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, just two days shy of the five-year anniversary of former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s controversial order to house COVID-19 patients in nursing homes. Victims’ families, many of whom had firsthand accounts of loss and grief, publicly commemorated those who perished as a result of what they deemed reckless governmental decisions.
Among the most vocal at the event was Alexa Rivera, co-founder of Voices for Seniors, who spoke movingly about her mother, Anna Martinez, who died after Cuomo’s order which was issued on March 25, 2020. “She deserved dignity and protection and a government that valued her life,” said Rivera, who, along with her sister Vivian Zayas, began their advocacy out of grief and a quest for accountability. “I stand before you today not just as a grieving daughter but as the voice for thousands of families who lost their loved ones because of the reckless and deadly decisions of Andrew Cuomo,” she asserted. Rivera decried Cuomo's actions as a breach of trust and an avoidable tragedy, underscoring the emotional weight borne by families seeking recognition of their pain.
The memorial held in Cobble Hill featured a makeshift wall adorned with photographs and letters in tribute to those who passed away in nursing homes during the pandemic. A hearse and a closed casket symbolically illustrated the funerals that families never experienced, a poignant reminder of the collective grief shared by many in attendance. Peter Arbeeny, whose father Norman died from COVID-19 after being admitted to a nursing home, hosted the gathering. He expressed his frustration over Cuomo’s lack of accountability. “He managed to gaslight our families rather than address our losses,” said Peter, further emphasizing the need for justice for the victims.
The event saw a gathering of mayoral candidates from both sides of the political aisle, including Democrats such as City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander, as well as Republican Curtis Sliwa. Each candidate took the opportunity to criticize Cuomo for his handling of the pandemic, particularly the nursing home order that critics assert contributed to approximately 15,000 deaths. Sliwa remarked on the bipartisan nature of their outrage: “If you are going to forgive this man who has the blood on his hands of 15,000, if not more, every time you shake Andrew Cuomo’s hand and you forgive him, wipe the blood of the dead off his hand.”
In her own emotional address, Adams recounted her personal loss, stating, “This is not politics for me; this is personal for me.” She detailed the heartbreaking moment she last saw her father on March 26, 2020. “He was admitted at the door at the outside of the parking lot in a wheelchair… and I remember looking at him and taking his hand and saying, ‘Don’t worry about it, daddy, we’re going to be back and we’re going to see you soon.’”
Lander, who also leads a mayoral campaign, echoed the sentiment of accountability, saying, “This is not about partisan politics, but it is about accountability. And it is not too much to ask Andrew Cuomo to meet with families.” He has been increasingly vocal about Cuomo’s alleged refusal to apologize to the grieving families and the ongoing heartache they represent.
Families at the memorial shared their own stories, gripping the photos of their loved ones and expressing their unending sorrow. Among them, Daniel Arbeeny spoke passionately about wanting justice for their lost family members. “We want the truth. We want government to step up and help us get there so that we don’t have to be sad anymore,” he said. Many attendees offered flowers, laying them with care on the casket. The memorial became a mix of grief and a call for action, pointing fingers at Cuomo’s past decisions.
Despite the emotional gathering and outcry from the families, Cuomo’s camp pushed back with their own statements. Spokesman Rich Azzopardi expressed sorrow for the families but lamented that their pain has been weaponized for political gain. He stated, “Our hearts break for the families of every person who lost a loved one… but unfortunately, that pain has been weaponized and politicized for purely electoral purposes for years.” Furthermore, Azzopardi claimed that Cuomo’s actions were not responsible for additional deaths, citing a state Department of Justice Inspector General report as evidence.
The gathering served as a reminder of the intertwined nature of personal pain and political aspirations. As candidates in the still-evolving mayoral race continue to campaign, the shadow of Cuomo’s past looms heavy. Mayor candidates challenged one another but also stood collectively against a common adversary, calling voters to reflect on the impact of Cuomo’s decisions.
The poignant images of the memorial—families united in grief, a wall of remembrance, and the symbolic casket—represent a storied chapter in New York’s pandemic history and the enduring quest for accountability. As the mayoral race heats up, the families left behind emphasize not only their memories but also the pressing need for responsibility. “You need to face us and apologize,” Peter Arbeeny insisted, framing the ongoing dialogue surrounding accountability as essential not merely for the living but for the memories of those lost. The political landscape may be rapidly changing, but the voices of the grieving families continuously echo through this tragedy, reminding leaders of the aftermath of their decisions and the solemn duty they hold towards those they serve.
