By Hank Russell
Both candidates for governor recently took to mudslinging and name-calling, with one accusing the other of racism — without actually using the word.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican challenger for governor, just released a digital ad, in which the Democratic incumbent, Kathy Hochul, is repeatedly saying that there are “Black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word ‘computer’ is.”
A female voiceover says, “Get a grip, Kathy Hochul. You don’t get to define their potential with tired stereotypes. … Shame on you, Kathy Hochul. You are the worst governor in America.”
The closing scene shows Blakeman at a diner talking with Black customers while the voiceover says, “Bruce Blakeman believes in every kid in every neighborhood.”
On his social media page, Blakeman posted on the clip, “Kathy Hochul should be ashamed of herself for using racist stereotypes about black kids. I will admit to everyone, that there is no 12-year-old black kid in New York State that’s worse at a computer than me.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to the Hochul campaign. Spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said the governor “misspoke” and “immediately apologized.” Chitika said that Hochul “got back to work delivering for every child with universal free school meals, creating distraction-free classrooms with a bell-to-bell cell phone ban, and putting New York on the path to universal childcare.”
Chitika took a shot at Blakeman, saying he “has been unapologetic about each and every one of his attacks on Black New Yorkers.” She cited a state appellate court decision to reinstate a $1.7 billion lawsuit against the county, claiming the tax assessment system discriminated against homeowners of color, his refusal to make Juneteenth a county holiday and his “propping up” of Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, who, when he was sergeant, allegedly used a racial slur at a Black female officer.
“New Yorkers deserve leaders who fight for them, not cowards who traffic in division and extremism to score points with Donald Trump,” Chitika said.
LILP reached out to the Blakeman campaign to respond to the allegations, but did not hear back as of press time.