I KNOW BRUCE BLAKEMAN SINCE I WAS A KID AND I AM VOTING FOR KATHY HOCHUL FOR GOVERNOR

TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP EDITORIAL 

James Edstrom

I have known Bruce Blakeman since I was a kid. I knew his family long before politics became what it is today. I adored his mother, Betty Blakeman, and I will always have affection for the family. This is not written by someone who never knew Bruce or who has always opposed him. Quite the opposite.

In 2010, I supported Bruce Blakeman. I was a Republican then, and I believed in the Republican Party as I understood it at the time. Years later, I changed my party affiliation to Democrat because I no longer recognized the direction the Republican Party was taking.

Today, I am voting for Kathy Hochul for governor of New York.

That decision comes from my own experiences, my own convictions, and my belief that we are at a critical moment in our country's history.

I can love people from my past without supporting the politics they embrace today. I can cherish memories of a family I have known for years and still believe that the political choices being made now are wrong. Loyalty to people should never require abandoning your principles.

I KNEW BRUCE BEFORE MAGA. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

The Republican Party I once knew is not the Republican Party I see today. In my opinion, it has become increasingly consumed by Donald Trump, personal loyalty to one man, attacks on political opponents, and policies that divide Americans rather than bring them together.

I find the MAGA movement deeply disturbing. Its authoritarian tendencies, its hostility toward people who disagree with it, and its willingness to excuse conduct that would once have been disqualifying are dangerous to our democracy. I believe the movement has taken on increasingly fascistic characteristics, and it is a political direction I want absolutely nothing to do with.

I want to belong to a party that helps people, protects their freedoms, respects their differences, and works to make life better for ordinary families. I want leaders who understand that government should serve the public, not simply punish people they disagree with.

That is why I cannot separate Bruce Blakeman's political choices from the larger movement he has chosen to support. I may remember the Bruce I knew growing up, but I must judge the political leader he is today.

And today, I believe New York needs a different kind of leadership.

I HAVE KNOWN DONALD TRUMP FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS. THIS IS PERSONAL.

Let me make something clear: I am not a newcomer to the world surrounding Donald Trump. I have known the players involved for decades, including Trump himself.

For more than 35 years, I photographed Donald Trump all over New York City. I knew the people in his social circle, witnessed the world in which he moved, and was friends with his first wife, Ivana Trump.

I adored Ivana.

When she died, magazines around the world published stories about my memories of her and what I thought of the woman I had known. I spoke about someone I genuinely cared for and deeply admired.

I remember being with Ivana when Donald first bought Mar-a-Lago. Beyond the celebrity, the money, and the headlines, I remember the woman I knew: sweet, caring, and someone I miss to this day. I will always cherish those memories.

But my affection for Ivana never meant I had to admire Donald.

In my personal opinion, Donald Trump was always a moron, a liar, and a con man. That is my assessment of a man I have known for decades, long before he became president and long before MAGA became a political movement.

I watched Trump's public persona develop over the years. I saw the image, the showmanship, and the constant need for attention. I never understood why so many people eventually came to regard him as someone whose every word deserved unquestioning loyalty.

What frightens me today is not simply Donald Trump as an individual. It is the power he has accumulated, the movement that follows him, and the willingness of political allies to excuse behavior and rhetoric they might once have condemned.

I believe Trump and the MAGA movement pose a serious danger to our democracy, our institutions, and the basic decency we should expect from our leaders. The consequences reach far beyond Washington. They affect our communities, our rights, our relationships with one another, and the future we are leaving to the next generation.

I have watched Trump for more than three decades. I do not need to discover him through a campaign advertisement or a television debate. I have my own history, my own memories, and my own judgment.

And I do not want his politics of resentment and division to define the place I call home.

WHY BRUCE BLAKEMAN'S SUPPORT FOR TRUMP MATTERS

This is where my personal history with Bruce Blakeman meets my deep concern about Donald Trump.

I can remember Bruce from our younger years. I can remember his family with affection. I can love his mother's memory and still look at the political choices Bruce is making today and say that I cannot support them.

His alignment with Trump and the MAGA movement is not some small disagreement over taxes or a local policy. To me, it represents a fundamental difference in what leadership should mean and what kind of future we want for New York.

I do not want a governor who puts loyalty to Trump ahead of the interests of New Yorkers. I do not want our state to become another platform for MAGA politics. And I do not want our rights, our diversity, and our democratic institutions placed at risk because a politician decides that pleasing Trump is more important than standing on principle.

Bruce is entitled to his political choices. I am entitled to mine.

I knew Bruce before MAGA. But I cannot support the politics he represents today.

WHY I AM VOTING FOR KATHY HOCHUL

I am voting for Kathy Hochul because I believe New York needs a governor who will fight for working families, protect fundamental rights, invest in public safety, and stand up to Donald Trump when his policies threaten New Yorkers.

Hochul has pursued tax relief for middle-class families, expanded child tax credits, invested in public safety, supported affordable housing, and advanced initiatives involving child care and school meals. Her administration has also pursued energy-relief programs to help New Yorkers manage rising costs.

I do not believe any politician should be above criticism, and there is always more work to do. New York remains expensive, families are struggling, and people deserve better access to affordable housing, child care, health care, and reliable public services.

But I want a governor who recognizes these problems and works to address them. I want practical solutions, not simply political slogans and attacks on opponents.

Affordability is not a campaign prop. It is about whether people can pay their bills, keep a roof over their heads, raise their children, and retire with dignity.

I believe Kathy Hochul is the better choice for the future I want for New York.

THE LIE -- THE PROMISE TO CUT ELECTRIC BILLS IN HALF

Bruce has promised to cut electric bills in half. It sounds wonderful. Who wouldn't want lower utility bills?

But when a politician makes a promise that extraordinary, voters have every right to ask a simple question: How, exactly, are you going to do it?

Energy costs are complicated. They involve power generation, fuel prices, transmission and distribution infrastructure, and other expenses. Proposals to roll back clean-energy requirements, reduce certain charges, or expand natural-gas production do not automatically translate into cutting every New Yorker's electric bill in half.

A governor cannot simply announce that bills will be cut in half and make the underlying costs disappear.

I also believe voters should ask serious questions about the energy demands of large data centers. These facilities can consume enormous amounts of electricity, depending on their size and operation. If we are concerned about the cost and availability of power, how will expanding electricity-hungry development affect ordinary ratepayers?

I want lower bills, too. But I want realistic solutions, transparent numbers, and a plan that experts can examine.

New Yorkers deserve more than a promise that sounds great in a campaign advertisement.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR POLITICAL THEATER

Crime matters. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe on their street, in their neighborhood, on public transportation, and in their home.

But public safety should not be reduced to cherry-picked statistics, frightening slogans, or blaming every problem on one political opponent.

I want competent policing, accountability, effective prosecution, support for victims, and prevention that keeps people from becoming victims in the first place. Crime statistics should be examined honestly, and public officials should be held accountable for results.

No governor should get a free pass. But no candidate should be allowed to pretend that complex crime trends have a single cause or an easy solution.

I want leaders who work with local officials and law enforcement to make communities safer, not politicians who use fear as a campaign strategy.

New Yorkers deserve facts and results, not endless campaigning on their anxieties.

LGBTQ+ NEW YORKERS DESERVE RESPECT, NOT A POLITICAL TARGET

One of the things that troubles me most about today's political climate is the way LGBTQ+ people have become targets in partisan battles.

I believe LGBTQ+ New Yorkers deserve the same dignity, freedom, safety, and opportunity as everyone else. Their rights should not be treated as bargaining chips for politicians looking for applause from a political base.

I cannot support political leadership that advances policies I believe stigmatize LGBTQ+ people or make them feel less welcome in their own communities. I want a governor who stands up for civil rights, not one who treats people's identities as political weapons.

This is personal for me. I believe in treating people as human beings, not as political talking points. No one should have to wonder whether their government views them as less deserving of protection because of who they are.

I can have affection for Bruce's family and still strongly oppose political positions I believe harm the LGBTQ+ community. Those two things are not contradictory. They are the difference between personal relationships and public responsibility.

IMMIGRATION, ICE, AND THE KIND OF NEW YORK WE WANT

Immigration is another issue that demands seriousness and compassion. We need sensible laws and an immigration system that works. We also need due process, accountability, and respect for human dignity.

I am troubled by political approaches that encourage people to see immigrants as enemies or treat aggressive enforcement as a virtue regardless of the circumstances.

Cooperation between local government and federal immigration authorities raises important questions about public safety, civil rights, and whether victims and witnesses will feel safe reporting crimes.

These are not trivial questions. They affect real families and real communities.

I want policies that make people safer without abandoning our basic principles. I do not believe cruelty is a substitute for competence, and I do not believe fear should be the foundation of public policy.

New York should be a place where the law matters and human dignity matters, too.

NASSAU COUNTY HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS — AND TAXPAYERS DESERVE ANSWERS

Before Bruce Blakeman asks New Yorkers to trust him with the governor's office, I believe voters should take a hard look at his record as Nassau County executive.

Nassau County is one of the most expensive places in the country for homeowners. Its property-tax bills are notoriously high, putting enormous pressure on families, retirees, and people trying to afford a home on Long Island.

According to the Nassau County Comptroller's Office, the typical Nassau homeowner pays approximately $12,500 a year in property taxes, based on median property values. Roughly $8,000 goes to the local school district, about $1,775 goes to Nassau County, and the remainder goes to towns, villages, and other local taxing districts.

That distinction matters: the county government does not control every portion of a homeowner's property-tax bill. School districts, towns, villages, and special districts all play a role. But as county executive, Blakeman is responsible for the county's own spending priorities and financial management. Residents have every right to ask what his administration is doing to control costs and improve services.

And the county budget raises serious questions.

Newsday reported that Nassau adopted a $4.4 billion operating budget for 2026. Although the county portion of the property-tax levy was kept flat, the budget relied heavily on reserves to cover expenses. The Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the county's fiscal watchdog, raised concerns about using reserves to support routine spending rather than preserving them for unexpected costs.

Now, the proposed 2027 budget has grown to $4.6 billion. Newsday reported in October 2026 that the county plans to use nearly $44 million from its reserves to help balance that budget. The county's fiscal watchdog has also continued to scrutinize its financial position, and the county must demonstrate that it can manage its finances responsibly.

Keeping the county tax levy flat is not the same as reducing a homeowner's overall tax bill. And repeatedly relying on savings to cover operating expenses raises a fair question: what happens when those savings become harder to replenish?

Nassau residents work hard for their money. They deserve clear answers about spending, staffing, sales-tax revenue, reserves, and the long-term stability of county finances.

Then there is Nassau University Medical Center, a vital safety-net hospital serving people who may have nowhere else to turn.

Newsday reported that the hospital's parent organization had accumulated a $1.4 billion deficit by the end of 2024. Auditors repeatedly raised serious concerns about its financial future. In December 2025, the health system projected a $167.1 million deficit for 2026, without accounting for potential state aid. Newsday also reported that the hospital had failed to break even in 24 of the previous 25 years.

This is not a minor bookkeeping problem. Nassau University Medical Center treats more than 80,000 emergency patients annually, many of whom are uninsured or rely on public insurance programs. Its future affects the entire community, especially vulnerable residents who depend on its services.

Blakeman and state officials have disagreed over the hospital's governance and the state's increased role in overseeing it. Whatever one's politics, patients and taxpayers deserve transparency, responsible management, and a credible plan to preserve essential medical care.

I am not suggesting that every one of Nassau County's problems began under Bruce Blakeman. That would be unfair. Some challenges have deep roots, and property taxes are determined by several layers of local government. But Blakeman is the county executive now, and his record deserves scrutiny.

If he wants to become governor, he should be prepared to explain how he would make government more affordable, manage public finances responsibly, and address major institutional problems.

New Yorkers do not need another politician who promises the world while asking voters to ignore the details. They need leadership, accountability, and results.

Before Bruce Blakeman asks for a promotion to Albany, I believe he should answer those questions right here at home.

I AM NOT GOING TO PRETEND I KNOW WHAT BRUCE WOULD DO

I am also concerned about the extraordinary loyalty Donald Trump demands from political allies.

Trump was convicted in New York in the criminal case involving falsified business records. The New York governor has constitutional pardon authority over state convictions, subject to the state constitution's rules and exceptions.

I am not claiming that Bruce Blakeman has promised to pardon Trump. But given Blakeman's political alignment with Trump, I believe voters have a right to ask where he stands on the independence of our justice system and whether he would ever consider using the governor's pardon power in a case involving Trump.

That is a legitimate question, not an accusation that he has already made such a promise.

The governor's office is not a personal favor to be bestowed on political allies. It carries a responsibility to the people of New York and to the integrity of our institutions.

I want a governor who puts the law and the public interest above loyalty to any one politician.

MY VOTE IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NEW YORK CITY

For me, this election is about more than political parties. It is about the kind of city and state we want to leave to the next generation.

New York City is a place built by people from different backgrounds, different countries, different faiths, and different walks of life. Its strength comes from its energy, its diversity, its creativity, and the freedom people have to live their lives without being told they do not belong.

I do not want a politics of hate to take that away from us. I do not want New Yorkers living in fear of their neighbors or wondering whether their rights will survive the next political fight. I do not want our state's future dictated by Donald Trump or by politicians who believe their path to power requires embracing his movement.

My vote for Kathy Hochul is a vote to protect New York City and send Donald Trump a message: his politics of hate and division are not what I want for New York.

And because Bruce Blakeman has aligned himself with Trump and MAGA, I believe this election is also a referendum on that choice. I cannot support a political direction that I believe puts our values and our democracy at risk.

I want New York to remain a place where people can disagree without becoming enemies, where LGBTQ+ people are treated with dignity, where immigrant families are not reduced to political scapegoats, and where government works to solve problems rather than manufacture outrage.

I want leaders who help people. That is what I believe public service should be about.

I LOVED BETTY BLAKEMAN. I STILL ADORE THE FAMILY. BUT MY VOTE IS MY OWN.

I want to make something clear: this is not written out of hatred for Bruce Blakeman or his family. I loved his mother, Betty, and I have genuine affection for the family. My memories of them are part of my own life, and I am not going to erase those memories because I disagree with Bruce's politics.

But affection does not mean silence. Knowing someone for years does not mean giving them your vote forever. Supporting someone once does not obligate you to support every decision they make afterward.

I supported Bruce in 2010, when I was a Republican. Years later, I changed my party affiliation because the direction of the Republican Party no longer reflected my values.

I have watched the rise of MAGA and the growing hostility in our politics, and I have reached a point where I cannot support that movement or the leaders who choose to stand with it.

I want to be part of a party that helps people. I want leaders who protect rights, respect differences, take public service seriously, and work toward solutions rather than constantly searching for someone to blame.

I have known Bruce since childhood. I knew Donald Trump long before he became president. I loved Ivana Trump, and I still miss her. These are personal memories and relationships that have shaped my life. They are also why I feel strongly that I must speak honestly about what I believe is happening to our country.

I can honor the people I cared about without pretending that I agree with their politics. I can remember the good in my past while making a different choice for the future.

I KNEW BRUCE BLAKEMAN BEFORE MAGA. I SUPPORTED HIM WHEN I WAS A REPUBLICAN. I LOVED HIS MOTHER, BETTY, AND I WILL ALWAYS HAVE AFFECTION FOR HIS FAMILY. I KNEW DONALD TRUMP FOR DECADES, AND I HAVE NEVER BELIEVED THAT HIS PUBLIC IMAGE DESERVED THE UNQUESTIONING LOYALTY HE NOW DEMANDS.

I cannot support the politics Bruce represents today. I cannot support the direction Trump and MAGA are taking this country.

My vote is not about erasing my past. It is about standing up for the future I believe New York deserves.

I have made my choice, and I am not afraid to say it.

I AM VOTING FOR KATHY HOCHUL.

MY VOTE IS FOR NEW YORK CITY. MY VOTE IS FOR OUR RIGHTS, OUR VALUES, AND OUR FUTURE. AND MY VOTE IS A MESSAGE THAT TRUMP'S POLITICS OF HATE DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME.