Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of neglecting the outer boroughs during a rally held in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

Rally Highlights Outer Borough Concerns

Blakeman, a likely challenger to Governor Kathy Hochul, addressed approximately 50 supporters at the site of a planned 150-bed homeless shelter on 86th Street. He emphasized his connection to Queens and Brooklyn, characterizing them as suburban communities.

Focus on Local Control and Transparency

Blakeman argued that residents in these neighborhoods prioritize local control and transparency, qualities he believes Mamdani and Hochul are failing to deliver. “These are more suburban neighborhoods than urban neighborhoods,” he stated. “And people like the character. If they wanted a more urban environment, they can live in Manhattan.”

He continued, “They want local control. They want transparency, and they’re not getting it from Zohran Mamdani or Kathy Hochul. We’ve got to start letting the people in the outer boroughs’ voices be heard, and when I’m governor, their voices will be heard.”

Alternative Solutions to Homelessness

The rally occurred amidst ongoing protests against the proposed homeless shelter, with local residents expressing concerns about potential community disruption. Blakeman proposed a multifaceted approach to address the city’s homeless crisis.

Proposed Funding Shifts

Blakeman advocated for substance abuse treatment, job training, and mental health services. He also criticized the city’s spending priorities, suggesting that the $17 billion allocated for neighborhood jails could be redirected to renovate Rikers Island and increase affordable housing options. “There are 9,000 available areas that can be occupied and renovated,” he said. “We can take that $1 billion to fix up Rikers Island and the rest of the money can be for affordable housing and solve the city’s budget deficit.”

“We’re not anti homeless. We don’t want to hurt the homeless,” Blakeman added.

As many as 100 NYPD officers were deployed to maintain order during the rally. City officials maintain that the homeless shelter is a necessary step to address the city’s homeless population. Blakeman’s campaign continues to position him as an advocate for outer-borough residents.