Andrew Yang, who has thrown his hat into the race for New York City mayor, has been slammed for complaining about working in his two-bedroom Manhattan apartment while his children are there – something millions of New Yorkers do every day.
Since the pandemic hit the US nearly a year ago, Yang has bounced back and forth between his Hell’s Kitchen apartment to his $500,000 weekend home in New Paltz, New York, which is about 80 miles outside Manhattan.
During an interview with the New York Times on Friday, Yang, who has an autistic son, talked about fulfilling his duties as a CNN commentator from his apartment amid the pandemic.
‘We live in a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. And so, like, can you imagine trying to have two kids on virtual school in a two-bedroom apartment, and then trying to do work yourself?’
That prompted several people, including parents, who actually go through this very real and very challenging issue on a daily basis, to blast the former presidential candidate for his ‘tone deaf’ remarks.
Andrew Yang (pictured with his family), who has thrown his hat into the race for New York City mayor, has been slammed for complaining that he can’t do work in his two-bedroom Manhattan apartment while his kids are there – something millions of New Yorkers do each day
During a NYTimes interview Yang talked about working from his apartment. ‘We live in a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. And so, like, can you imagine trying to have two kids on virtual school in a two-bedroom apartment, and then trying to do work yourself?’
‘I didn’t know 2 bedroom apartments existed for working class families in Manhattan,’ one person wrote.
Another wrote: ‘A bit comical. imagine it? that’s the lives of millions in NYC –and Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia… now you’re sounding silly again, Andy.’
‘Lots of respect for Yang. He pushed the candidates to have a real conversation about a lot of issues that would have never made the top of a newscast. However, this run is pure ego and hubris. We don’t need ideologues in this race, we need doers,’ one person shared.
‘Hi @AndrewYang, If you don’t know that countless parents in NYC are dealing with this exact or worst circumstance (little to no access to the internet or a working computer, heating issues, unemployment, food insecurity, etc) you shouldn’t be running for mayor of our city,’ a third shared.
‘He just lost the election with that line. I’m sorry but plenty of families manage, it’s not fair but they do it. If Yang fails to acknowledge that, he’s actively ignoring most New Yorkers,’ one user tweeted.
Another wrote: ‘No one, except every parent in NYC.’
‘Hi @AndrewYang, I am one of those New Yorkers who got excited knowing you’ll run… but I’m also one of those parents working and homeschooling in a (very tiny) 2-bed apartment and I’m VERY proud I’m pulling this off. Be better,’ one person shared.
During the interview Yang (pictured with his family) also talked about where he’s spent most of his time amid the pandemic
During the interview Yang also talked about where he’s spent most of his time amid the pandemic.
‘We’ve spent more time upstate than in the city over the last number of months, but I also spent time in Georgia, as you know, I spent time in Pennsylvania campaigning for Joe and Kamala,’ Yang told the Times.
He then suggested that his location wasn’t relevant to his work at the time and that New Yorkers would be ‘excited’ about the work he’s done.
‘I was very focused on helping Joe and Kamala win, and then helping flip the Senate,’ he told the Times.
‘Most New Yorkers would be very excited about those goals, and are fairly indifferent to where I was doing that work from,’ Yang added.
But some people slammed Yang for fleeing the city amid the pandemic, especially since New York City was once the epicenter.
Yang suggested that his location wasn’t relevant to his work at the time and that New Yorkers would be ‘excited’ about the work he’s done amid the pandemic
But some people slammed Yang for fleeing the city amid the pandemic, especially since New York City was once the epicenter
‘He literally doubles down saying it doesn’t matter where one is working to run a city, yes it does. You come across as an outsider that way, someone who doesn’t get it. This is his current path if unchanged,’ one user said.
Another shared: ‘Most people in New York City, those of who lived, those of us with children, have had to imagine having kids in school and working from small apartments. I will not vote for a Mayor that fled the pandemic, no matter the reason. There’s plenty of good people who stayed.’
‘I have no problem with fleeing pandemic if one can work from home- let’s face it, most want to protect their families. I do have a problem with a candidate using a situation millions of his constituents are experiencing as excuse for not living in the city he wants to represent,’ a third wrote.
Yang officially entered the race to be New York City’s next mayor last month after filing paperwork with the Campaign Finance Board.
CFB officials confirmed the receipt of Yang’s paperwork just before Christmas Day, making him the biggest name to enter the race so far.
Yang was a contender in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, gaining steam with his debate performances and promises of a universal basic income of $1,000 a month for every American adult.
He promised to accomplish that goal by taxing companies that benefited from the use of automation.
The entrepreneur didn’t receive much support at the polls, however, leading him to drop out of the race after the New Hampshire primary in February.
After that, he became a political contributor for CNN, though he remained politically active.
He promised in November to move to Georgia to help deliver a Democratic Senate to President-elect Joe Biden.
Yang’s biggest competition in the race appear to be Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and city comptroller Scott Stringer.
Yang has been living in New York City for a long time and headquartered his presidential campaign in the city.