Bruce is gonna construct a “wall.”
Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman is planning to put in high-tech surveillance alongside Lengthy Island’s border with New York Metropolis when Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani takes workplace.
Blakeman — a Republican eyeing a run for the gubernatorial nomination in 2026 — instructed Fox Information in a latest interview that he’s directing police and county employees to line Nassau’s border with Queens with cameras, plate readers and facial recognition tech.
“We’re doing all the pieces essential to ensure that Nassau County is protected,” Blakeman instructed the outlet, calling Mamdani’s insurance policies “pro-criminal” and “anti-American.”
The county govt’s workplace hasn’t disclosed a price ticket for the bolstered border safety however stated he’d fund the worth tag for the devices by asset forfeitures.
Blakeman, a pal of President Trump who received re-election as govt earlier this month, has run on pro-law and order insurance policies and entered into an settlement to coordinate with federal immigration officers — in stark distinction to the sanctuary insurance policies of different municipalities within the Empire State.
Blakeman beforehand introduced he’ll rent extra cops and enhance the county’s present and controversial collaboration with ICE as a response to the election victory of Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has made previous statements vital of the police.
“Our cops are doing an important job, and I’m going to proceed to provide them the personnel and the assets, expertise and gear and coaching that can now permit them to fight any scenario that will jeopardize the safety and security of our communities right here in Nassau County,” Blakeman instructed Fox.
Final month, Blakeman and Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder mentioned getting ready for the incoming Mamdani administration, and famous that he was not sure how a lot intel the Nassau police division would proceed to share with the NYPD.
“We have now data that’s very delicate,” he stated on Oct. 29. “I’m undecided that we wish to share it with them, or in the event that they’ll share it with us.”
These statements got here earlier than tough-on-crime NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch agreed to remain on after Mamdani took workplace.
A spokesman for Blakeman referred The Submit to the Fox interview and declined additional touch upon the surveillance wall.
Nassau County Democrats, nonetheless, blasted Blakeman and accused him of losing taxpayer cash in a bid to get the president’s consideration.
Trump’s ally, Rep. Elise Stefanik, stays the front-runner for the GOP nomination to run towards Gov. Kathy Hochul over Blakeman.
“As a substitute of governing, Blakeman is attempting to show Nassau County right into a backdrop for his political ambitions with a stunt to get Donald Trump’s consideration — against specializing in true public security he’s spending taxpayer {dollars} on high-tech theatrics relatively than fixing our roads, investing in public companies, or addressing the affordability disaster dealing with households throughout this county,” state and Nassau County Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs instructed The Submit.
Jacobs additionally referred to Mamdani’s go to to the White Home, the place he and Trump had a surprisingly chummy hangout.
“And the query stays: when Donald Trump visits Nassau together with his BFF, Mayor Mamdani, will Bruce allow them to in?” Jacobs added.
