Blakeman wins again, this time on migrants, while judge recuses herself in Democratic redistricting case

 

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman takes on Gov. Kathy Hochul last year

Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman again appears to have prevailed over Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and city Democrats -- this time about taking undocumented migrants into Nassau.

Also today, the first judge to be handed Nassau's Democratic court challenge to a Republican-drawn legislative map recused herself from the case, though the reason is not very clear. But her recusal will likely delay the late-filed lawsuit seeking to change county legislative districts even though candidates are already campaigning for election this November under the new lines.

First, the Blakeman victory.

New York City officials, desperately seeking housing for some 100,000 undocumented migrants that have deluged the city, last week suggested they be housed at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.

Mayor Eric Adams also filed a letter in a court case,  asking Hochul to step in and force suburbs to take some of the migrants, which the governor had said were welcome in New York.  He suggested several state-owned sites on Long Island.

But Blakeman last week declared he would not accept migrants into Nassau County.

"Nassau County is not a sanctuary county," he said." We are not inviting immigrants and migrants into the county that are here from south of the border and not using the proper and normal channels that have have been used in the past.

"Nassau County views this as a federal problem, not a local program. There are no plans whatsoever to house migrants within the borders of Nassau County."

Some hundred people posted comments on Blakeman's Facebook page, applauding his firm stand. 

Today, Newsday reports that Hochul will not force counties outside of New York City to accept migrants.

Maybe her decision was swayed by a Siena College Research Institute poll this week that found 82 percent of New Yorker viewed the influx of migrants as a "serious problem" while a majority thought New York had done enough for the uninvited newcomers.

But Hochul's decision definitely gave Blakeman a win.

Remember Blakeman also took on Hochul and won when he refused to issue mask mandates to fight the coronavirus pandemic when he first took office last year. He also directed school districts to make their own decisions on whether to mask students.

Hochul huffed and puffed that she was the one who decided such health matters, but Blakeman won in the end.

Meanwhile, today, Supreme Court Justice Randy Sue Marber recused herself from hearing the Democratic party's challenge to the new county legislative redistricting map, approved by the Republican majority on the Nassau legislature.

Under a new state law, judges now have to explain why when they recuse themselves.

But Marber didn't offer much in explanation.

She cited a "party/practioner's conflict with Chambers' staff. " But that's all.

Newsday last month reported the Nassau County Democratic committee and 20 registered voters filed suit to overturn the new district map approved by the legislative Republican majority,  "alleging the map creates districts favoring Republican candidates, limits competition and dilutes the voting power of communities of color." 

Here is Marber's recusal.

                                                                                   





 


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