Andrew Cuomo Cuba, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and members of the State Trade Mission wrapped up their historic trip to Cuba Tuesday, traveling to and touring the Port of Mariel.
Cuomo then returned to Havana to meet with First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel before returning to the airport and heading home.
The whirlwind trip, the first conducted by a US governor since President Barack Obama eased travel restrictions, is a trade mission that began Monday and included a face-to-face meeting between New York state business leaders and their Cuban counterparts.
"We believe this is going to be a dramatic change that is going to be to the benefit of the people of Cuba, and also to the people of the United States," Cuomo said.
After business came pleasure - a guided tour of Old Havana, a quick hello to some New York college students studying in Cuba, and an up-close look at a beautifully restored 1956 Chevy Bel-Air. While Cubans watch as their government slowly opens the door to new economic opportunities from the United States, there are still reminders about what has been and continues to be the law of the land -- "socialismo o muerte" -- socialism or death. There is no shortage of Americans, many from the New York area, who can't wait for the opportunity to soak up the nostalgic sights of a country frozen in time.
"Absolutely wonderful people so far, and I think that hopefully something can be worked out between the two countries," Harrison resident Warren Roth said. "It's a real opportunity to see historical buildings that we can't see anymore in the United States."
For the Cubans struggling each day to make ends meet, and that's most of the nation's 11 million people, it's one thing to talk about the benefits and the impact of US investments on the island. It's another thing to realize those benefits.
"It's going to be a good change," said a man we met in Old Havana, "for all the Cubans. There will be negotiations, and I don't know, maybe the way of living for the Cubans will change."
Yes, there is optimism the financial fruits of American know-how will lead to small business growth and renewed self-sufficiency. But that hopeful expectation often stops at the shoreline.
Many Cuban exiles back in our area, like the mayor of West New York, believe any fiscal windfall will line the pockets of Cuban leaders and never filter down to the people who need it.
"This is not about the Cuban people. This is not about Yankee go home, like they used to say. This is about a failed dictatorship," said Mayor Felix Roque.
"Some of that is going to take some time before it reaches down to the people, but this is what we hope...that coming here as New Yorkers and as Americans, people will kind of see our way of life and see that it's a good thing," said New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
One street we came to was once beautiful and well-maintained. But over the years, decades really, neglect has deteriorated the masonry, chipped the paint, rusted the fencing.
Off-camera the locals say they hope an influx of American dollars can bring back lost glory. On-camera...they don't want to talk on-camera.
And there's the reminder that despite all the talk of capitalism, communism still reigns supreme. There's always the fear of a government spy lurking nearby, listening for public criticism of the regime, words that can transform a homeowner into a prisoner.
As for Cuomo, after seeing something wonderfully American, he hoped to enjoy something uniquely Cuban - smoke a Cuban cigar.
"I need to do it right," he said. "I need a good half hour with that cigar."
Before a series of meetings between the executives and Cuban officials, Cuomo praised the decision by presidents Obama and Raul Castro to re-establish diplomatic relations after a half-century, and move toward a broader normalization expected to include deeper trade ties.
"Like the people in Cuba, the people in New York and the United States are very excited about the courage that your president, Raul Castro, has shown, and the leadership that he has shown," Cuomo said. "We believe that this is going to be a dramatic change that is going to be to the benefit of the people of Cuba and also to the people of the United States."
Obama loosened the trade embargo early this year with a series of executive actions that allow easier U.S. travel to Cuba, more remittances to the island and, at least on paper, U.S. exports to support the island's relatively new private business sector.
Obama also moved to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror, removing a barrier to access to the global financial system. Cuban officials have been pushing Obama to go further with measures that could include more specific federal licenses for U.S. businesses to trade with Cuba in ways currently prohibited.
"The president of the United States has the ability to grant licenses to businesses so that businesses can actually start developing right now in select areas and those are areas that we want to pursue," Cuomo said.
The whirlwind trip, the first conducted by a US governor since President Barack Obama eased travel restrictions, is a trade mission that began Monday and included a face-to-face meeting between New York state business leaders and their Cuban counterparts.
"We believe this is going to be a dramatic change that is going to be to the benefit of the people of Cuba, and also to the people of the United States," Cuomo said.
After business came pleasure - a guided tour of Old Havana, a quick hello to some New York college students studying in Cuba, and an up-close look at a beautifully restored 1956 Chevy Bel-Air. While Cubans watch as their government slowly opens the door to new economic opportunities from the United States, there are still reminders about what has been and continues to be the law of the land -- "socialismo o muerte" -- socialism or death. There is no shortage of Americans, many from the New York area, who can't wait for the opportunity to soak up the nostalgic sights of a country frozen in time.
"Absolutely wonderful people so far, and I think that hopefully something can be worked out between the two countries," Harrison resident Warren Roth said. "It's a real opportunity to see historical buildings that we can't see anymore in the United States."
For the Cubans struggling each day to make ends meet, and that's most of the nation's 11 million people, it's one thing to talk about the benefits and the impact of US investments on the island. It's another thing to realize those benefits.
"It's going to be a good change," said a man we met in Old Havana, "for all the Cubans. There will be negotiations, and I don't know, maybe the way of living for the Cubans will change."
Yes, there is optimism the financial fruits of American know-how will lead to small business growth and renewed self-sufficiency. But that hopeful expectation often stops at the shoreline.
Many Cuban exiles back in our area, like the mayor of West New York, believe any fiscal windfall will line the pockets of Cuban leaders and never filter down to the people who need it.
"This is not about the Cuban people. This is not about Yankee go home, like they used to say. This is about a failed dictatorship," said Mayor Felix Roque.
"Some of that is going to take some time before it reaches down to the people, but this is what we hope...that coming here as New Yorkers and as Americans, people will kind of see our way of life and see that it's a good thing," said New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
One street we came to was once beautiful and well-maintained. But over the years, decades really, neglect has deteriorated the masonry, chipped the paint, rusted the fencing.
Off-camera the locals say they hope an influx of American dollars can bring back lost glory. On-camera...they don't want to talk on-camera.
And there's the reminder that despite all the talk of capitalism, communism still reigns supreme. There's always the fear of a government spy lurking nearby, listening for public criticism of the regime, words that can transform a homeowner into a prisoner.
As for Cuomo, after seeing something wonderfully American, he hoped to enjoy something uniquely Cuban - smoke a Cuban cigar.
"I need to do it right," he said. "I need a good half hour with that cigar."
Before a series of meetings between the executives and Cuban officials, Cuomo praised the decision by presidents Obama and Raul Castro to re-establish diplomatic relations after a half-century, and move toward a broader normalization expected to include deeper trade ties.
"Like the people in Cuba, the people in New York and the United States are very excited about the courage that your president, Raul Castro, has shown, and the leadership that he has shown," Cuomo said. "We believe that this is going to be a dramatic change that is going to be to the benefit of the people of Cuba and also to the people of the United States."
Obama loosened the trade embargo early this year with a series of executive actions that allow easier U.S. travel to Cuba, more remittances to the island and, at least on paper, U.S. exports to support the island's relatively new private business sector.
Obama also moved to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror, removing a barrier to access to the global financial system. Cuban officials have been pushing Obama to go further with measures that could include more specific federal licenses for U.S. businesses to trade with Cuba in ways currently prohibited.
"The president of the United States has the ability to grant licenses to businesses so that businesses can actually start developing right now in select areas and those are areas that we want to pursue," Cuomo said.
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