NOW-NYC Head: Andrew Cuomo Only Mayoral Candidate to Commit to Opposing Decriminalization of Commercial Sex Industry
Sonia Ossorio, Executive Director of NOW-NYC, issued the following statement, in response to Andrew Cuomo calling out Zohran Mamdani's support for decriminalizing prostitution. The statement is reproduced below.
August 15, 2025, New York, NY — With the future of New York City’s public safety, neighborhood vitality, and protection of vulnerable populations at stake, former Governor Andrew Cuomo stands as the only candidate for mayor who has pledged to oppose increasing efforts to fully decriminalize the commercial sex trade.
“Andrew Cuomo has made his position unequivocally clear: he will fight to prevent New York City from becoming the nation’s first testing ground for a fully decriminalized sex industry,” said Sonia Ossorio, Executive Director of NOW-NYC.
“Full decriminalization doesn’t protect vulnerable people—it expands a market that thrives on exploitation, human trafficking, and crime in our neighborhoods,” Ossorio said. “This is a serious matter for our city, because many lawmakers including Zohran Mamdani support decriminalizing the sex trade, rather than upholding laws that protect women, children, and marginalized communities from predators who profit from their vulnerability.”
Survivors of prostitution, anti-trafficking organizations, and neighborhood advocates warn that removing all criminal penalties for the sex trade would transform New York into a hub for sex tourism, expand organized crime networks, and sharply increase demand for trafficked women, minors, and other vulnerable people.
Contact: 212.627.9895 sonia@nownyc.org
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