Governor Andrew Cuomo is forgoing the traditional inaugural swearing in ceremony at the state’s capitol, in favor of smaller events in New York City and Buffalo.
Cuomo did hold an open house at the governor’s mansion in Albany on New Year’s Eve, where he chatted with members of the public who were drawn by a lottery to attend. He says he wanted to shake things up a bit by holding inaugural events in other places.
“I want to move it around little bit,” Cuomo said. “Tradition is nice, but tradition doesn’t necessarily determine what we do.”
Cuomo also changed his plans for an evening swearing in ceremony at the mansion, and instead simply signed papers acknowledging that he had taken the oath of office for a second term. He then left for New York City to spend time with his family. His father, the former Governor Mario Cuomo, has been ailing.
The governor will be back, to the capitol for his State of the State speech on January 7.
