Lefty love machine Invoice de Blasio is throwing his jilted ex-gal pal Nomiki Konst a bone — endorsing her consumer Michael Blake’s rebel bid to topple Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY).
Konst, a 41-year-old progressive activist — whom sources solely advised The Put up de Blasio deserted for a fling with South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela — is working as a strategist and spokesperson for Blake’s marketing campaign taking over Torres in subsequent June’s Democratic major.
De Blasio, 64, an ally of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, claims that the sitting Bronx congressman is out of step with the get together.
“New Yorkers and all Individuals are turning towards the political elite. They’re sick of politicians who put donors and energy brokers forward of the individuals of our neighborhoods,” de Blasio mentioned in an announcement Monday launched by the Blake marketing campaign.
“Michael Blake is rooted in The Bronx and has concrete plans to deal with the price of residing and affordability disaster going through Bronxites.”
Torres, a staunch ally of Israel, didn’t endorse Mamdani within the Nov. 4 normal election after the socialist Queens assemblyman gained the Democratic major for mayor towards ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Torres endorsed Cuomo within the major.
De Blasio, who sparred with Cuomo when he was mayor and the latter was governor, mentioned Torres supported the three-term Democrat’s comeback bid “energetically, irrespective of his continuous corrupt and sexist conduct.”
“Michael Blake endorsed Zohran Mamdani for Mayor when Ritchie Torres didn’t and on day one, Michael Blake can be a revered companion within the halls of Washington to Metropolis Corridor and to Albany, bringing actual options to The Bronx,” de Blasio’s assertion mentioned.
Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual misconduct accusations from workers and others that he denies.
Blake, a former Bronx assemblyman, praised de Blasio’s tenure as mayor for specializing in affordability.
“Mayor de Blasio and I proudly supported Mayor-Elect Mamdani who shared in that imaginative and prescient, not like Ritchie Torres who focuses on his personal pursuits,” mentioned Blake.
Blake and others on the left have criticized Torres’ backing of Israel and assist from the American Israel Israel Public Affairs Committee.
However de Blasio was a staunch supporter of Israel when he was mayor, even defending AIPAC in 2019 when others progressives argued the pro-Israel lobbying group was too far to the fitting.
De Blasio and Konst declined to remark when requested if the 2 had mentioned his endorsement of Blake.
Blake and de Blasio weren’t at all times on the identical web page.
He mocked the ex-mayor’s short-lived, ill-fated run for president.
“No, he’s not certified to run for president. He shouldn’t be operating for president,” Blake mentioned in 2019.
Torres was a frequent critic of de Blasio when he served within the Metropolis Council and chaired the oversight and investigations committee.
“Michael Blake isn’t within the Bronx; he’s solely serious about utilizing it to run for workplace for the fifth time, and the end result would be the identical as earlier than: one other loss,” mentioned Torres marketing campaign spokesman Benny Stanislawski.
“There’s a motive Bronx voters belief Ritchie Torres. He’s been their champion in Congress, laser-focused on points like public housing and affordability whereas standing as much as Donald Trump. That’s why he’s going to win once more subsequent 12 months.”
