Blakeman's fundraising 'stand-up' on YouTube

Daily Point

Gubernatorial candidate appears on Utah podcast to rustle up some green

Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, running an underdog campaign against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, should be doing everything he can to get his name front and center with voters before Election Day.

But an appearance with Utah-based YouTuber Stephen Gardner seems like a stretch, even for a candidate trailing by 20 points in a recent poll.

Blakeman made a remote appearance on Gardner's channel earlier this month to press his case for why he should be governor. The internet plea was intended to boost Blakeman's MAGA credentials and cadge for campaign cash.

Gardner has written several financial help books and has more than 2.1 million followers on the channel where he has posted over 3,100 videos on UFOs, stimulus checks, Democrats, world leaders, globalism and much more using AI photos with explosions and headlines like: "THIS IS EVIL!" and "HOLY CRAP! IT'S BAD!"

During the interview Blakeman hit the familiar talking points for a Republican candidate — high taxes, communism, illegal immigration, the cost of green energy, and public assistance fraud.

At one point Blakeman took a strong albeit awkward stand — literally — on supporting citizens over immigrants. When Gardner referenced President Donald Trump's admonishment of Democrats during last month's State of the Union address for not standing for Americans, Blakeman sprang at the chance to show where he stood on the issue.

"My first reaction is I'm going to stand up," said Blakeman, rising to his feet on camera awkwardly so that just his torso and upper legs were visible.

"I love it," Gardner said after Blakeman sat back down, head and shoulders once more in sight. "Thank you very much for that."

Regarding immigration, Gardner chastised Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, for saying he didn't think Democrats were "bringing in illegals because they hope they'll vote for them."

"To me, that seems like such common sense that this is what the Democrat Party's doing," Gardner said, adding it's their "game plan of trying to rule over a city by making everybody dependent on the government."

Blakeman agreed.

"All they had to do was claim political asylum and without any judicial oversight they are allowed to live in this country and live in sanctuary states like New York and California that, basically, the taxpayers are paying for these people from other countries and it's wrong and I do believe it's insidious," Blakeman said. "I do believe there is a plan to bring these people not only for Democrat votes but to undermine the culture and values of America ..."

Blakeman and Gardner did make a point to praise legal immigration, which makes sense in blue New York with large immigrant populations.

"I'm a strong believer in immigration, as long as it's done the right way and as long as we admit people into this country that love America and love American values," Blakeman said.

Added Gardner: "Yeah, I love immigrants. ... When I visited New York, it's like you got Italian food over here, you got Mexican, like, it was such a blend."

As Gardner wrapped up the show, Blakeman made a plea for campaign contributions to help him win in November and save New York.

"We've got to stop the socialists dead in their tracks and make sure that they don't take over one of the largest states in the United States," Blakeman said.

In an emailed statement to The Point, Blakeman's campaign spokesperson, Madison Spanodemos, said, "Over 5,000 New Yorkers have opened their wallets to help defeat Kathy Hochul's high tax agenda that's crushing families and businesses with rising costs. Blakeman's plan to cut utility bills in half and stop Hochul's tax hikes is why the momentum is growing."

Blakeman's Mountain West pitch for dollars makes sense since he only has $1.14 million in his campaign account compared with Hochul's more than $20 million, according to January filings with the New York State Board of Elections. Even if like-minded folks in Utah can't vote for Blakeman, they can cut a check. The July campaign finance filings will show if Blakeman's Beehive State pitch yields a bonanza.

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

Talking Point

Hobnobbing with Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul held a reception at the governor's mansion Monday night for the New York State Association of Counties, which is holding its annual legislative conference in Albany this week. Among those who hobnobbed with the governor: Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo, left, and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. Sources tell The Point that no one from Nassau County, including County Executive Bruce Blakeman, attended. A spokesman for Blakeman did not return The Point's requests for comment.

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

Pointing Out

Opening for commish? Sorry, no vacancy

Put your resumes away, Suffolk County really doesn't have an opening for a police commissioner.

Yet, the job, filled over 13 months ago, is still posted on the county's website, describing the ideal candidate as someone with "extensive experience overseeing a Police department of at least 7,000 sworn and civilian personnel."

Kevin Catalina, 58, who was sworn in in February 2025, holds the job for the foreseeable future.

County Executive Ed Romaine tapped Catalina, who retired from the New York Police Department in 2018. But since he is under age 65 and collecting a state pension, Catalina needs what is known as a 211 waiver from the Retirement and Social Security Law to draw both a taxpayer-paid salary and paycheck. Catalina earns at least $220,000. The often-controversial waivers, good for two years, are usually renewed.

However, the law requires public sector employers to keep positions contingent on a waiver as a current job opening — a due diligence effort to determine if there are other qualified nominees available. The current rules were enacted by the State Legislature in 2008, months after Newsday reported extensively on "double dipping" by Long Island school district superintendents, prompting an investigation by then-Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

— Rita Ciolli rita.ciolli@newsday.com

Pencil Point

Quite lost

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