New York government looks differently in the year since former Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped down after a decade at the helm, with leaders continuing to push for a new era of transparency and accountability.

But activists say it will take much greater political courage to see true change in Albany. 

"Andrew sort of positioned himself as someone who would never back down, even when he was wrong," said Erica Vladimer​, co-founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group. "...It felt like a small victory in the moment, but we also know that he is a symptom of a systemic issue."

Cuomo announced his two-week notice Aug. 10, 2021 that he would step down from office after an investigation by Attorney General Letitia James' office concluded he sexually harassed multiple women. 

"The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing, and therefore, that's what I'll do," he said during a livestreamed speech that day announcing his resignation. "Because I work for you and doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you."

State and national leaders immediately called for Cuomo's resignation after independent prosecutors hired by the state Attorney General's office concluded he sexually harassed multiple women. 

One accused him of sexual assault. Cuomo was not criminally charged and has denied any wrongdoing. 

The former governor's departure is a small step to changing the toxic culture deeply embedded within Albany and the state Legislature, Vladimir said.

Recent changes to the state ethics watchdog group, and a push for state Senate staffers to unionize could lead to effective changes in holding elected officials accountable. 

Vladimer, a former Senate staffer who endured sexual harassment, says she may have stayed in public service if she had a union to go to for help.

"I do think this is going to be incredibly helpful for staffers in the future against all types of harm," she said. "I do think that having a union will help empower staffers who have been harmed to come forward because they know they're going to have an entity behind them.

"...Senate personnel is HR, and we know that HR is not there to protect staff, they're there to protect the institution that created them," she added. "I didn't have someone who was automatically going to be in my corner just because of the very role that I take on as a staffer."

Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy said Senate leaders have received the letter from staffers working to organize a labor union.

“The Senate staff has done a tremendous amount of work in unprecedented times and are an amazing asset to the entire state," Murphy said Wednesday. "Obviously, this process is just beginning and we will continue these crucial discussions as the process moves forward.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's office did not respond to requests for comment about Assembly staffers potentially following suit or if they would support a similar effort.

​At this time last year, a simultaneous impeachment probe by the state Assembly Judiciary Committee was also poised to move forward. Cuomo avoided impeachment with his two-week notice, giving rise for Gov. Kathy Hochul to become the first woman to hold New York's highest office on Aug. 24.

Leaving without further consequence proves a culture lacking accountability continues to prevail in the operations of the state Legislature, Vladimer said.

"He was able to voluntarily quit his job by giving two weeks' notice — that is not accountability," Vladimer said. "So while we did get an abuser out of office out of holding a very powerful position where they can use their power to harm people, especially staffers, he was not held accountable for his actions."

Cuomo apologized for making people uncomfortable, but was adamant he did nothing wrong. 

The former governor and his counsel continue to allege the attorney general's report contains errors and omits evidence, and suggest that the investigation was politically motivated.

Representatives with Gov. Hochul's office did not respond to requests for comment reflecting on changes in Albany since her predecessor stepped down.