Staff Reports
After the lone New York governor debate this week, a New York City entrepreneur put his name behind Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman — and he did it for the reasons many voters feel in their wallets: high taxes, soaring energy bills, and a Albany that refuses to act like a check on itself. The endorsement landed because the debate didn’t feel like a debate about New York. It felt like political theater.
Post-debate endorsement: voters want real answers, not Trump talk
The single head‑to‑head debate on the statewide stage centered on immigration, energy, crime and whether Bruce Blakeman’s ties to President Donald Trump matter. Governor Kathy Hochul kept pivoting to national attacks, trying to tie Blakeman to the president instead of answering hard questions about state policy. That’s exactly what the entrepreneur, a lifelong New Yorker and CEO, called out in his column — and why he said he’d vote for Blakeman. If New Yorkers wanted a lecture about national politics, they’d be watching cable news. We need plans to lower costs and keep people safe.
Taxes and energy costs: the painful math
New York’s all‑funds financial plan sits near $277 billion — a big number that shows how large state spending has become. Independent trackers rank New York among the states with the highest total state and local tax burdens. Families and businesses feel that reality every month. The Energy Information Administration shows New York’s residential electricity rate is roughly 29.9¢ per kWh, far above the national average of about 18¢. That gap hikes bills for homeowners and businesses and gives hard reasons for some to consider leaving for lower‑tax states. Those are real, measurable problems — not campaign slogans.
Checks and balances, public safety and common sense
Democrats control the governor’s office and both chambers in Albany. That makes the idea of a governor who can act as a check on one‑party control an appealing pitch to moderates and small business owners. On public safety and immigration, many voters want a balance: compassion for lawful immigrants and tougher actions against serious criminals. Blakeman has pushed that message, and the entrepreneur who endorsed him said he liked that approach. Voters tired of one‑party comfort need someone willing to ask tough questions about spending and results.
New Yorkers deserve a contest about real issues — budgets, energy, crime, and the future of our state. The post‑debate endorsement is a reminder the race still turns on pocketbook issues and leadership. If the debate made one thing clear, it’s this: voters will decide whether they want more of the same or a governor who will put checks, thrift and public safety ahead of partisan theater. That’s the choice many are making — and why Bruce Blakeman picked up an unexpected backer this week.
