Businessman Apologizes to Cuomo

MILWAUKEE — Industrialist J. Peter Grace apologized Wednesday for referring to New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo as “Cuomo the homo” during the dedication ceremony for a new factory.

Grace, chairman and chief executive officer of the chemicals giant W.R. Grace & Co., made the remark Tuesday while praising Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, a Republican.

“He doesn’t have much competition,” Grace said. “Where I come from we have Cuomo the homo, and then in New York City, we have Dinkins the pinkins,” referring to New York Mayor David N. Dinkins. “Pink” is an old derogatory term for leftist.

Aides to Grace, who headed President Ronald Reagan’s Private Sector Survey on Cost Control, issued a statement saying “J. Peter Grace . . . regrets having said it. Mr. Grace has apologized both to Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Dinkins.”

Cuomo did not comment on Grace’s remarks. Dinkins said he wasn’t offended by Grace’s “Dinkins the pinkins” comment, but added: “I’m greatly offended by his comments about the governor. Obviously (Grace) has a problem, a serious problem,” he said.