By Hank Russell
The Nassau County Executive’s Office has accused a local union of using “an antisemitic slur” in its flier to its members. A spokesperson blasted the union’s timing, considering it was sent out during a major Jewish holiday.
Long Island Life & Politics obtained a copy of the flier sent out by the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. (CSEA) Local 830. In the flier, the CSEA accuses Bruce Blakeman of “trying to replace [our] negotiated health insurance plan with a sub-par insurance plan behind [our] back[s]” and “[planning] to force us into a high-deductible plan.” It also shows a picture of Blakeman wearing horns and saying, “We’ll make them pay more and not even tell them!”
Christopher Boyle, Blakeman’s spokesperson, said he was infuriated with the depiction of the county executive. “With all of the antisemitism that is present, it is despicable that on the eve of the holiest Jewish holiday [Yom Kippur], the CSEA employee union would depict County Executive Blakeman, who is a Jew, with horns which is an old antisemitic slur,” he said.
In response to the CSEA’s accusations on the flier, Boyle said, “[County Executive] Blakeman will not capitulate to the union’s demands for a different healthcare provider that they didn’t bargain for, which would cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.“
LILP reached out to CSEA spokesperson Wendi Bowie. She said she was unfamiliar with the flier. LILP sent her a copy and called again. She did not respond as of press time.
LILP also showed the flier to MInority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove). She had no comment.
“It’s no wonder Delia DeRiggi-Whitton has no comment since she started the antisemitic hate speech by calling the county executive, veterans and former law enforcement ‘brownshirts,’ which means ‘Nazi stormtroopers,’” Boyle said.