STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — While picking up a major bus union endorsement on Staten Island, mayoral candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo lashed out at his political rival Zohran Mamdani for proposing free rides on public transit in New York City.

If he is elected mayor, Cuomo also promised to serve as a “balancing rod” to increase the political clout of the borough that he referred to as a “stepchild” of New York City.

Cuomo thanked members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 726 based in Great Kills and the New York State Legislative Conference Board for their support at a news conference at the Eltingville Transit Center on Saturday morning. The union represents MTA bus drivers among its over 20,000 members in the metropolitan area.

In an exclusive interview with the Staten Isla

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