Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor, criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul during his State of the County address. Blakeman highlighted his tough stance on crime and support for ICE policies. He emphasized that Nassau County does not limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities and has worked with federal agents to remove thousands of criminal migrants.
Blakeman presented his administration's immigration and public safety approach as a blueprint for the state, emphasizing his opposition to using taxpayer funds for migrant programs. He pointed out the decrease in major crime rates and overdoses in the county, citing data showing a 7% drop in crime and a 10% reduction in overdoses. Blakeman stated that collaboration with ICE has led to the removal of over 2,000 undocumented migrants since last year, many of whom were accused of serious crimes.
Despite focusing on immigration and public safety, Blakeman also defended the county's ban on transgender athletes in girls' sports and supported preserving Native American-themed school mascots in local communities. He highlighted the county's fiscal success, noting that property taxes have not been raised in four years, and his administration has received bond rating upgrades while eliminating planned tax hikes from the previous administration.
However, Nassau Democrats criticized Blakeman's address as political posturing, accusing him of prioritizing his gubernatorial ambitions over fulfilling key promises. Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton expressed disappointment in Blakeman's shift towards running for governor immediately after his re-election, calling him one of the most partisan officials she has encountered. DeRiggi-Whitton raised concerns about infrastructure issues being overlooked due to partisanship and delays in public-safety grants for Democratic-led districts. She emphasized the importance of maintaining Nassau County's status as the safest in America, achieved under the previous Democratic County Executive Laura Curran.
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