New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo slammed the federal government for having a “competency issue” in how well it handles infrastructure projects.
“We don’t even think big anymore because our expectations have been dumbed down,” Cuomo said Sunday about the current state of public infrastructure on John Catsimatidis’ radio show “The Cats Roundtable.”
The Democratic governor added that he has spoken with his fellow New Yorker, President-elect Trump, about his incoming administration’s role in infrastructure.
“I told him we have to address the [government’s] competency issue and the capacity issue … not just the issue of funding … I spoke to him about design-build, which is how we did the Tappan Zee Bridge,” Cuomo said.
Replacing the 60-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge, which crosses the Hudson River, is one of a number of projects to which Cuomo has committed since he took office in 2011. Cuomo has previously said that he is somewhat reassured by Trump’s background in building projects, which are the foundation of his hotel and casino empire.
“Mr. Trump is very much a private sector builder. … So, he has a natural orientation toward the needs of this type of urban area. I think that’s a good thing,” Cuomo said, according to the Associated Press.
During his speech at the Republican National Convention over the summer, Trump touted his intention to create jobs through construction projects around the country.
“We will build the roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports and the railways of tomorrow,” Trump said. “This, in turn, will create millions more jobs.”
