Blakeman : Mamdani New York Allows Police Officers to Be Targeted

5tjt.com · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman slammed Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul following Monday’s shocking assault on NYPD officers in Washington Square Park, where a mob hurled chunks of snow and ice at officers during the blizzard. Blakeman called the attack “a disgraceful and dangerous reflection of Mamdani’s anti-police rhetoric.” While most New Yorkers stayed home with their families, hundreds of police officers braved whiteout conditions—missing meals, enduring freezing winds, and protecting neighborhoods block by block. In Washington Square Park, that service was repaid with ice and packed snow thrown at their heads. “Watching uniformed officers get pelted with ice and snow while protecting the public in brutal weather is disgraceful,” Blakeman said. “These are human beings—fathers, sons, and friends—holding the line in subzero windchill while others treated them like targets. Unfortunately, this is the predictable result of years of anti-police rhetoric from politicians who demonize law enforcement for political gain.” Blakeman especially criticized Hochul and Mamdani for portraying law enforcement as the problem rather than the protection. “You cannot normalize contempt for police and then act surprised when that contempt turns physical,” he said. As Governor, Blakeman pledged to introduce a comprehensive “Police Protection Act” that would impose enhanced felony penalties for assaults on officers during declared emergencies and mandatory minimum sentences for individuals who intentionally target law enforcement. “This proposal draws a bright line,” he said. “If you attack a police officer—especially during an emergency—you will face serious, automatic consequences.” Blakeman contrasted this approach with Nassau County, where public safety funding is prioritized and law enforcement consistently receives public support. “In Nassau County, we do not apologize for supporting the men and women who protect us,” he said. “We recognize their humanity. We recognize their sacrifice. And we will not allow them to be politically convenient punching bags.” He called for immediate arrests and prosecution of those responsible for the Washington Square Park assault and urged Mamdani and Hochul to make clear that targeting police will never be tolerated. “This isn’t about politics,” Blakeman concluded. “It’s about whether the people who stand between order and chaos know their leaders stand behind them. Right now, too many officers feel like they’re standing alone.” Senate Democrats Reject Measure To Prevent Domestic Violence And Protect Public Safety On February 24, every New York State Senate Democrat voted against a common-sense proposal that would help prevent domestic violence and ensure public safety. The bill (S.8876), offered as an amendment on the floor by Senator Patricia Canzoneri Fitzpatrick, would have created a persistent domestic violence registry, similar to New York State’s sex offender registry, in an effort to protect and inform victims and the public. “The goal of a persistent domestic violence registry is to empower victims of domestic violence with information, potentially saving their lives. As the mother of 3 young women, this legislation would help me sleep better at night—as I’m sure it would help any parent—knowing that my daughters, and all New Yorkers, can arm themselves with information, so that they hopefully never fall prey to abusers,” said Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. Earlier this year, Tennessee became the first state in the nation to launch a similar registry. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, domestic violence offenders have a high rate of recidivism, with approximately three fifths of those convicted of domestic violence offenses being rearrested within two years. Additionally, the Rockefeller Institute has found that 66-75 percent of females murdered by their partners were previous victims of abuse. “These staggering and disturbing numbers highlight the need to take action to help women before they become a victim, or worse, a statistic. This amendment would be a critical step forward in protecting and empowering women,” concluded Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. When given the opportunity to take steps to prevent domestic violence and ensure public safety, every single Senate Democrat said “no” and struck down the bill. n Green New Deal-Style Mandates—Including Offshore Wind Subsidies and Gas Bans—Are Driving Utility Bills Through the Roof Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) joined his Republican colleagues in Albany to confront what he described as climate mandate madness Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) joined his Republican colleagues in Albany to confront what he described as climate mandate madness, warning that policies imposed by Governor Hochul and the Democrat majority are driving utility bills higher and making New York increasingly unaffordable for families and small businesses across the state. Since 2019, residential electricity costs in New York have surged dramatically, placing enormous strain on families, seniors on fixed incomes, and small businesses throughout the state. These increases were not inevitable—they are the direct result of Democrat-led government policies forcing a rapid transition away from reliable and affordable energy sources toward more costly alternatives. At the center of these increases are Green New Deal-style mandates enacted by Democrats in Albany, including restrictions on natural gas in new construction, billions of dollars in offshore wind subsidy commitments, and sweeping electrification requirements. Among the most extreme examples is the All-Electric Buildings Act, which bans natural gas hookups in most new buildings and forces homeowners, developers, and renters into more expensive electric-only systems. In addition, state leaders continue pushing massive offshore wind developments off Long Island’s coast, requiring enormous wind turbine installations that depend heavily on public subsidies and long-term ratepayer support. “The governor and her Democratic colleagues are pushing offshore wind projects that rely on massive industrial turbine installations, disrupt our marine environment, and drive up energy costs,” Brown said. “These turbines aren’t free. Taxpayers and ratepayers are the ones footing the bill while the environmental and financial consequences continue to grow.” At the same time, the Democrat majority has imposed electric school bus mandates requiring school districts to abandon reliable diesel fleets and replace them with electric buses, along with costly charging infrastructure and electrical upgrades—expenses that ultimately fall on taxpayers and local communities. “Albany Democrats, led by their Democratic Socialist wing, are forcing families to bankroll an energy agenda that is making New York less affordable by the day,” Brown said. “These policies aren’t paid for in theory—they’re paid for by families and businesses every single month when their utility bill arrives.” Compounding the burden, ratepayers are also funding billions through state-directed surcharges, subsidies, and infrastructure programs tied to Albany’s climate agenda. Meanwhile, regulators continue approving rate increases while pushing forward policies that increase costs and raise serious concerns about long-term reliability. Brown and his Republican colleagues are continuing to challenge these policies directly on the Assembly floor, exposing the real-world financial impact on taxpayers, ratepayers, homeowners, small businesses, and school districts across New York State. “Government can pass mandates, but it cannot repeal reality,” Brown said. “Banning natural gas in new buildings and forcing schools to electrify their bus fleets doesn’t reduce costs—it increases them. Every one of these mandates carries a price, and that price is paid by the people of New York.” “These policies were imposed by politicians, and they can be reversed by politicians,” Brown concluded. “New Yorkers should understand exactly why their utility bills are rising—and exactly who made that decision.” Assemblyman Ari Brown represents the 20th Assembly District, including Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Woodmere, Inwood, Island Park, Lawrence and Oceanside, along with the barrier island communities from Atlantic Beach to Point Lookout, including Long Beach.