Queens Boy Cuomo Mispronounces 'Rochdale Village,' Gets Corrected

NEW YORK CITY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in case New Yorkers somehow don't know, is a "Queens" boy.

At an event Monday in Rochdale Village, Cuomo spoke long about his family's roots in the borough and riffed affectionately on its "Queens attitude."

He then faced that Queens attitude when he mispronounced the neighborhood's name as "ROACH-dale."

"ROTCH-dale," a person in the crowd shouted at Cuomo, who quickly corrected himself.

The governor's slip and subsequent crowd correction was quickly spotted by Wall Street Journal reporter and self-described "townie" Katie Honan.

The correction stood as one of the few direct displays of public accountability Cuomo has experienced in recent weeks.

Once nearly-ubiquitous and accessible for reporters' questions, Cuomo has shied away from opportunities in which the press could ask questions about the scandals swirling around the governor. Instead, his public appearances lately have been in front of friendly audiences and in which speakers lavish him with praise.

The Rochdale Village event — like several in recent weeks — was closed to the press because of "COVID restrictions," yet the governor appeared speaking with a large group of people, including Rep. Gregory Meeks.

Cuomo's office teased an announcement, which didn't come until roughly 17 minutes into the event. The state will be releasing its "Roll Up Your Sleeve" coronavirus vaccination ad campaign statewide, he said, before presenting a video.

Before the video, Cuomo talked long about Queens and the need for equity in vaccine distribution. He said the state will continue efforts to bring the vaccine to communities of color who are lagging behind white New Yorkers in getting shots.

"We're bringing it to Rochdale Village tomorrow with SOMOS at the Grand Ballroom," he said, mispronouncing the neighborhood's name.