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Andrew Cuomo Opens Capitol in First Act as Governor

By Della Hasselle | December 31, 2010 4:49pm | Updated on January 2, 2011 9:56am

By Mariel S. Clark and Della Hasselle

DNAinfo News Editor

MANHATTAN — Andrew Cuomo rang in the new year as the 56th Governor of New York — and demanded a symbolic opening up of Albany as his first order of business.

At his inauguration, Cuomo vowed to allow the people of New York to become more involved in government affairs while using nonpartisan measures to immediately address the state's gaping problems, including its $10 billion deficit.

"Too often the government responds to the whispers of the lobbyists before the cries of the people. Our people feel abandoned by our government, afraid and isolated, and they are right," Cuomo said at inauguration.

"New York faces a deficit, a deficit we talk about all day long, the budget deficit. But it's actually worse, because there's a budget deficit and a confidence deficit and an integrity deficit and a trust deficit. Those are the obstacles we really face."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, is sworn in by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman during a private ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Albany, N.Y. on Friday, Dec. 31, 2010. Cuomo's girlfriend Sandra Lee holds the Bible as his daughter Michaela Cuomo looks on.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, is sworn in by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman during a private ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Albany, N.Y. on Friday, Dec. 31, 2010. Cuomo's girlfriend Sandra Lee holds the Bible as his daughter Michaela Cuomo looks on.
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AP Photo/Mike Groll

The inauguration ceremony was kept simple because of the grave challenges facing the state, Cuomo said.

"This is an austere setting, and it should be, in my opinion. No grand celebration. There's a lot of disappointment in the government, there's a lot of suffering in the economy, and I don't think a grand ceremony would be appropriate," Cuomo said.

Cuomo didn't officially become governor until 12:01 a.m., but Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman swore him in at 10:09 p.m. on New Year's Eve. That event was a private ceremony at the Governor's Mansion that included Cuomo's girlfriend Sandra Lee as well as dozens of family, friends and staff.

"I am honored and humbled to accept this tremendous responsibility," said Governor-elect Cuomo at the private celebration.

"The time has come to return integrity, performance, and dignity to New York and make it the Empire State once again. I look forward to getting to work right away for the people of our great state."

On Saturday morning, work crews arrived at the state Capitol and removed concrete barriers put in front of the building by Gov. George Pataki after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The Executive Chamber was also opened to the public for the first time in a decade, putting an end to security that gave the Capitol the nickname "Fort Pataki."

Journalists took the opportunity to look around the chamber after a uniformed state trooper opened it and the governer's press office, according to the Post.

Cuomo's first act as governor was a symbolic move towards fulfilling his promise of make government more open to the people.

"It's a great new beginning at a time when the state desperately needs a great new beginning," he said at his first meeting Saturday morning.

Robert Duffy was also sworn in as lieutenant governor on New Year's Eve.

Amanda Pizzuti, 25, from Brooklyn, who saw Cuomo speak at a rally with Bill Clinton before the election, said she was excited about the new governor and optimistic about his agenda.

"I think we definitely do need a change for the better," said the Democrat.

She said she almost went to Albany for Cuomo's inauguration but opted for the Times Square's New Year's bash instead.

"They're doing low key and I'm not a very low key person," she said, as confetti flew through the air.

Andrew Cuomo will be sworn in as New York's 56th Governor at 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
Andrew Cuomo will be sworn in as New York's 56th Governor at 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Ralph Bizzarro, 27, who was also at the Times Square New Year's Eve event, said he was happy to see a fellow Queens boy in the Governor's mansion.

Still, he acknowledged Cuomo has tough challenges ahead.

"How do you close a deficit like that? How do you do it?" he asked.

He said that people will have to come together and make sure that the cuts that are made are the right ones.

"We're just going to have to see, I guess," he said.

Cuomo's public swearing in ceremony, which will be low key in response to the state's budget crisis, will take place Saturday at noon at the Capitol in front of a few hundred guests, according to the New York Post.

"No taxpayer dollars will be used to pay for the event," Cuomo's spokesperson Josh Vlasto, told the paper.

After the event, the new Governor and Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy will greet members of the public, chosen via a lottery, at the Governor's Mansion, the Post reported.