Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman blasted Gov. Kathy Hochul’s New York City pied-á-terre tax proposal, calling it a “war on homeownership and the American Dream,” as the governor’s campaign pounced on Blakeman’s growing links to Trump administration policies harming New Yorkers.
Hochul announced on Wednesday, April 15, a yearly tax surcharge on second homes in New York City valued at $5 million or more and are owned by people who have a separate primary residence outside of the Big Apple.
The tax is expected to help close the city’s budget gap by bringing in at least $500 million per year in recurring payments, according to Hochul’s office. The governor pledged an additional $1.5 billion in state funding for New York City in February after Mayor Zohran Mamdani pushed for an additional city income tax of 2% on anyone earning more than $1 million a year and an increase of the state’s top corporate tax rate to 11.5% to assist in filling the deficit.
What Hochul, Blakeman say about pied-á-terre tax
“New York City is the greatest city in the world, and the people who call it home should not be left carrying the burden alone,” Hochul said. “As governor, I understand the importance of stabilizing the city’s finances without compromising on essential services New Yorkers count on.
“If you can afford a $5 million second home that sits empty most of the year, you can afford to contribute like every other New Yorker.”
Blakeman criticized the measure, saying Hochul’s promise not to increase taxes “expired faster than the families fleeing New York’s affordability crisis.”
“Whether you’re affluent or middle-class, Hochul and Mamdani are looking to hike your property taxes and take half your house through a new inheritance tax,” Blakeman said in a written statement on April 15.
“Unlike Hochul, I’ll actually keep my word when I’m governor: I’ll cut your taxes, slash your utility bills in half, and protect the American Dream,” Blakeman added.
Blakeman has said he has never raised taxes, but according to reporting by New York Daily News earlier last week, he voted to raise property taxes in Nassau County while serving in the County Legislature in 1998 and 1999.
Trump backs Blakeman twice in same week
President Donald Trump’s public support of Blakeman was on display last week as the president touted the Nassau County executive’s gubernatorial campaign both on social media and to reporters outside the White House.
“Bruce Blakeman, the highly respected and very popular Nassau County Executive, who is running for Governor, is surging in the New York State Polls. He is one of the best politicians in the U.S. Watch him work his magic!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday, April 14.
And from the White House’s South Lawn on Thursday, April 16, Trump again praised Blakeman in response to a question about the Republican candidate for governor’s recent denial of matching campaign funds.
“He will be a great governor … Bruce Blakeman is a great, great gentleman,” Trump said. “And if Bruce Blakeman gets in, your taxes are gonna go way down and a lot of good things are gonna happen … everybody loves him.”
In response, Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki bashed Blakeman’s connection to Trump.
“Bruce Blakeman is on board with every way Donald Trump makes life harder for New York families, from enabling ICE’s abuses of power on Long Island to jacking up costs thanks to expensive, illegal tariffs, and he’s getting the praise he wants most — from Trump himself.”
Blakeman vows to pardon former NYPD officer convicted of manslaughter
Blakeman took to the steps of New York City Hall on Monday, April 13, to promise to pardon a former New York Police Department officer who was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in February.
Former NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran was sentenced to three to nine years in jail last week in connection with the death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey. In August 2023, Duran, 38, threw a cooler full of ice and drinks at Duprey’s head while Duprey was riding on a scooter attempting to flee police, causing him to crash into a tree and slam in to the ground, USA TODAY reported.
Duprey wasn’t wearing a helmet and died minutes later. Police said the victim was trying to evade police after he was allegedly caught selling drugs in an undercover sting. Duran is the first NYPD cop in a decade to be found guilty of killing a civilian at work, and over 11,000 officers signed a petition pushing for no prison time.
In response to Duran’s conviction and sentencing, Blakeman said he would pardon the detective squad sergeant on his first day as New York’s governor.
“This past week, what we’ve seen is something I would say is a travesty of justice,” Blakeman said. “It has hurt the NYPD and law enforcement professionals throughout the state of New York.”
“(Dupre) chose to get on a motorbike without a helmet and flee the scene,” Blakeman added. “And Sgt. Duran, thinking out of the box, threw a cooler in his way so he would not harm fellow police officers or the general public. That’s what we call intuitive policing.”
Blakeman also said it was “unfortunate” that Duprey died and Duran “didn’t intend to use lethal force.”
NY aims to ban masks for ICE in new plan; congressman battles naysayers in town hall
Here are some additional topics related to the governor’s race that the USA TODAY Network-New York has reported on this week:
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Blakeman’s Trump ties, Hochul’s NYC tax plan top NY governor’s race
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
