Kicks Off ‘The Cost of Blakeman’ Tour in Mineola
By Hank Russell
Democratic elected officials, labor unions and organizations convened in Mineola on April 29 to kick off its “The Cost of Blakeman” tour. They told those in attendance that a Bruce Blakeman administration would be disastrous for New Yorkers, as the county executive would put his loyalty to President Donald Trump over the state’s residents.
Guest speakers slammed Blakeman for his failed record and dangerous agenda – from raising costs and putting New Yorkers’ safety at risk to enabling Trump’s rogue ICE agents and vowing to rip away healthcare.
“While Blakeman lets Donald Trump’s ICE trample all over New Yorkers’ rights, Governor Hochul is fighting for accountability,” said former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is Governor Kathy Hochul’s running mate.
Adams tore into Blakeman for creating “that MAGA militia” while “let[ting] violent crime skyrocket under his watch, Governor Hochul is fighting to keep New Yorkers safe.” As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, Blakeman announced a plan to deputize armed citizens to assist local law enforcement in certain situations. The plan was blasted by Democrats, community advocates and retired law enforcement personnel over the proposed initiative.
LILP also reported that the NRGG called on New York Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the deputy plan, saying the program was implemented without legislative approval and some of those who became deputies may be some of the demonstrators who assaulted Capitol police officers during the January 6 riots in Washington, D.C. and have since been pardoned.
LILP also reported that Nassau County Democratic legislators and civil rights attorneys filed a lawsuit against Blakeman last year, challenging what they said was the creation of an illegal taxpayer-funded civilian militia. The lawsuit also accused Blakeman of refusing to comply with Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests from Debra Mulé (D-Freeport) and Scott Davis (D-Rockville Centre), both of whom are members of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee. The plaintiffs alleged the county executive “stonewalled, and then effectively denied, the request, without justification,” and also “withheld all information about how the program is being paid …” and “sought to shroud their illegal program in secrecy.”
Democrats also questioned the qualifications of these militia members, as reported by LILP.
“Bruce Blakeman’s civilian militia poses a danger to our law enforcement and our communities,” Moms Demand Action volunteer Terry Clark said. “It creates confusion in emergencies, undermines law enforcement, and puts communities at risk.”
They also accused the county executive of running for higher office to serve himself and Trump.
“New Yorkers need a governor who works for them, not one who works to keep Donald Trump happy,” New York State Democratic Party Chairman Jay S. Jacobs said. “Governor Hochul wakes up every day thinking about how she can deliver for New Yorkers and fight back against Blakeman and Trump’s MAGA nonsense. And she is going to make sure that this November, Bruce Blakeman adds to his long, long track record of losing elections in New York and every level of government – and we’re going to make sure we take that message all across this state.”
“For Bruce Blakeman, it has never been about Nassau County. It has always been about Bruce Blakeman,” Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) said, adding that the county executive is “more interested in auditioning for a role in Donald Trump’s orbit than governing this county. … Bruce Blakeman has spent four years chasing attention instead of results.”
Union members said that Blakeman will raise health insurance costs and that burden will be borne by the taxpayers. “If Bruce Blakeman is willing to place the high cost of health insurance on the backs of CSEA retirees and active members, who are among the lowest-paid Nassau County workers who keep this county running every day, there is no reason to believe he would treat workers across the state any different,” Civil Service Employees Association Long Island Region President Jarvis Brown said.
John Sabo, a healthcare worker and a member of 1199SEIU, said Blakeman is neither loyal to “the people whose jobs and healthcare are at risk,” nor “the people who are terrified to leave their homes and go to their jobs, in fear that masked ICE agents will detain them and take them away from their families,” nor “the workers like me and many of you who have to work two jobs just to get by.”
“Again and again, Governor Hochul delivers – from inflation refund checks, middle-class tax cuts to universal free school meals,” Adams added. “She is bringing results, and she has the receipts to prove it. Blakeman, on the other hand, is leading in Trump’s image.”
“You can’t afford to have Bruce Blakeman in Albany,” Sabo added. “As a lifelong resident of Nassau County on Long Island, I have to ask, do we need more of Donald Trump’s policies in New York?”
In response to the Democrats, Blakeman campaign spokesperson Madison Spanodemos said, “They should call it the Dumb and Dumber tour, considering New York has the highest taxes in America, and utility costs are 50 percent above the national average, all brought on by Kathy Hochul’s failed policies. Now her Lieutenant Governor candidate thinks it’s a good idea to let non-citizens vote. You can’t make this up!”