Gov. Andrew Cuomo provides a COVID-19 update in May in New York City. (Provided photo — Don Pollard, governor's office)

Locals and visitors to this area reacted to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation announcement on Tuesday with a mixture of joy, relief that the governor is facing consequences for the 11 sexual assault allegations brought against him and questions of what happens next.

The common lines were that many felt Attorney General Letitia James’ report on Cuomo’s sexual assault allegations was “damning,” that he was an “arrogant” person and that it was a “good thing” for him to step down.

Most people who spoke with the Enterprise on Tuesday said they were not too surprised by the news.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Shen O’Brien, from Canton. “It should have happened a long time ago. He needs to be as far away from power as possible.”

He said James’ report was “damning” but that he felt Cuomo’s violations were already clear before the report.

“I’m quite a bit to the left of him,” O’Brien said. “I disagreed especially with his support of the independent Democrats in the Senate. … His style of leadership was bullying, fear. That’s not the way that we lead a great state.”

A few people said they were surprised he resigned because they thought he was going to fight it and try to stay around.

“It seems like he was with the ‘old boys club,'” Saranac Lake resident Mary Conroy said.

Some people in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid spoke about political pressure and felt Cuomo had few allies left.

Jonathan Paisner, from Long Island, was walking down the street in Saranac Lake with his family when he found out. He said Cuomo lost people’s confidence. He was an effective governor, Paisner said, but the attorney general’s report was “damning.”

Kathy Murphy, who was visiting Saranac Lake from Pennsylvania, said Cuomo had no one to blame but himself, and his own behavior, for his resignation.

“He made many fantastic decisions during COVID, handled it well,” Murphy said. “But some other things take precedence.”

Most said their main interaction with him as governor came during the coronavirus pandemic, which several referred to as the high point of his political career.

“I think he did a great job during the pandemic and it’s a shame this all happened,” Heather Dale, of Lake Placid, said. “But no matter who you are, you need to face the consequences of your actions.”

Others didn’t like his work during the pandemic.

Greg LaFramboise, who was visiting Saranac Lake from California, said Cuomo was “arrogant” during the pandemic and that he’s glad he’s gone after the “pretty clear” attorney general’s report.

Others said their opinion of Cuomo changed during the pandemic.

Cynthia Rappell, of Lake Placid, said she thought Cuomo did a good job at the beginning of the pandemic, but felt his decisions became more personal over time, and weren’t for the public good. Then the sexual harassment allegations started coming in.

“When you have multiple people reporting it, I don’t even know if a report was necessary,” Rappell said.

Rappell said she would have been annoyed if he stayed now.

New Jersey resident Laura Bloom, who is originally from New York and was visiting Saranac Lake, said she’s been waiting for Cuomo’s resignation since the harassment allegations came out last year. She thought he was a good governor and was very available during the pandemic, but her opinion changed.

Others said they didn’t like the governor from the start.

Therese Erikson, who was visiting Lake Placid from Schenectady, said she never liked Cuomo as a person.

“I can’t really argue with his politics but he’s a hypocrite,” Erikson said.

“And a sexist pig,” Holly Pederson, from California, added.

Most said they were glad Cuomo is being held accountable.

“Good,” Payton Murray, of Saranac Lake, said of Cuomo’s resignation. “If you harass women and the investigation found the allegations true, I mean …”

Michael and Annette Reo, from Long Island, said they were camping “off the grid” Tuesday and heard the news when they came into town in Saranac Lake.

“Figures,” Michael said. “Donald Trump had scandal after scandal, woman after woman come forward. … He (Cuomo) should resign. What he did was awful.”

Michael said he works on a railroad and that Cuomo did good for infrastructure, but he was committing the crimes people in power have for “thousands of years.”

“He was drunk with power, just like any other man that’s got that power,” Michael said.

Some felt Cuomo’s resignation was a way to skirt responsibility.

“I feel like he should be held accountable just like anybody else would,” Cayla Martin, of Saranac Lake, said. “But it’s going to be swept under the rug now that he’s resigning.”

She said Cuomo didn’t have a choice — everybody was waiting for him to leave. She does not believe there will be criminal charges brought against him.

Not everyone was interested in the news of Cuomo’s resignation, though.

Manuel “Manny” Rosario, who was wearing a Saranac Lake Red Storm shirt, said he’d rather talk about the Yankees.

Almost no one who spoke with the Enterprise knew much about Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who is set to become New York’s first female governor on Aug. 24. A few didn’t know who she is and some said they look forward to learning more about her in the coming weeks.

O’Brien said he is hopeful for Hochul. He knows some people who have worked with her before. But he said it will be challenging for her to step in with such short notice.

Rappell said she does not know much about Hochul but as a woman, she’s thrilled the lieutenant governor from Buffalo will become New York’s first female governor.

She hopes Hochul’s lower-profile public figure means she’s more focused and less of a “personality.”