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Nassau County’s executive told Gov. Kathy Hochul to “stay out of Long Island” Friday, leading the governor to snap back minutes later as she took the same stage.
Bruce Blakeman’s comment comes as Republicans pummeled Democrats in last year’s election on the island, leaving them in control of most major local elected offices.
“Should I just walk off the stage right now?” Hochul quipped back, taking the podium minutes after Blakeman’s panel discussion wrapped.
Hochul referred to Blakeman and newly elected Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine as some of her “favorite county executives,” to rolling laughter from the crowd of hundreds of elected officials and business leaders.
“You don’t want me to take all the money with me, though, right?” Hochul said.
Blakeman complained that Hochul and Albany Democrats shoved bail reforms onto law enforcement, instituted unfunded mandates on local governments, and forced local elections into odd years — all ignoring Long Islanders in the process.
“Well, they’re facts,” Blakeman fumed in an interview with The Post.
“I’m not looking for a fight with the state. The state has picked a fight with us on Long Island, not once, not twice, not three times, but at least four times in the last year, and at some point there has to be some pushback.”
Despite the dust-up, both leaders were quick to try to let tensions simmer down.
“Bruce,” Hochul said shortly after her quip.
“Long Island is here and I’m with Long Island because New York cares about Long Island immensely. I love Long Island. How can you not love Long Island? So nothing will keep me away from Long Island.”
“I am very, very open to having a relationship with state government, but it’s got to be fair and even-handed and not based on threats or punitive action,” Blakeman said before wishing Hochul and the state legislature a happy new year.
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