Police slam Lafazan as "misleading;" Solages apologizes; "Clownish" House GOP

                                                                              

Nassau police unions lambast Lafazan, endorse Goetz

Police slap Lafazan

The leaders of Nassau's three police unions today blasted Nassau Legis. Josh Lafazan, an incumbent Democrat from Woodbury seeking re-election in November, for putting out "misleading" and "disgraceful" campaign ads that claim he is supported by law enforcement.

The three unions have endorsed Lafazan's Republican opponent, Samantha Goetz, a deputy county attorney from Locust Valley.

Samantha Goetz

PBA president Tommy Shevlin said that Lafazan had repeatedly claimed in mailers that he was the only candidate supported by law enforcement and the only candidate "endorsed by law enforcement."

"This is not true," Shevlin said at a news conference at the PBA's Mineola headquarters. "It is very misleading and it is very concerning."

He added. "We don't normally do these types of press conferences but we think the people should know who they're voting for. We take our endorsements very serious. To get endorsements from all three law enforcement unions is a great honor."

He added, "We are not going to allow someone to misrepresent that."

Superior Officers President Ricky Frassetti labeled Lafazan's ads as "disgraceful" while Detectives Association President William Bourguignon emphasized police support for Goetz. 

"Samantha will never cave to “defund” the police extremists, and will ensure our Detectives have the resources they need to solve their cases and protect our communities,” Bourguignon said.

This Lafazan mailer appeared previously on this blog. Note his claim that he is the only candidate supported by law enforcement.

On the flip side, he says he is the only candidate endorsed by law enforcement.(It's difficult to see in this copy but the claim is in the seal)  He doesn't specify which law enforcement or when but clearly Goetz has been endorsed by law enforcement.

The police unions aren't kidding about taking their endorsements seriously.

Last year they complained publicly about a mailer from then Republican candidate Brian Curran, a former Assemblyman from Lynbook who was seeking to be elected to his old job. The mailing indicated that Curran had been endorsed by all three Nassau police unions. But the Superior Officers Association and the PBA actually endorsed incumbent Democrat Assemb. Judy Griffin of Rockville Centre.

For what it's worth, Curran won and Griffin lost.

Solages apologizes

You might remember that Nassau Legis. Carrie Solages, a Democrat whose district includes Elmont and Valley Stream, went on a rant after the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel --  as the world expected Israel to retaliate by bombing the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip.

At a mosque in his district, Solages, accompanied by Nassau police, said, "I want to protect my community against any Islamophobia...

"We have to encourage peace. We cannot have the bombardment of entire cities in Gaza....I'm asking international community not to allow the invasion and war against the innocent people of Gaza."

The problem was that Solages did not acknowledge or express any sympathy for the civilian Israeli women, children, disabled and seniors massacred by Hamas, the elected leaders of Gaza.

Solages made up for it a few days later:

                                                                               

House clown show

House Republicans are making Congressman George Santos, an admitted liar and alleged money launderer, look good in the midst of their internal feuds and fits of pique.  

While unrest rises throughout the world, sparking fears of World War III, and while Americans are looking for leadership from their elected officials, the House has been in locked in political turmoil -- refusing to agree on a House Speaker.

Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted three weeks ago, apparently because Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz had a personal snit with McCarthy. 

Gaetz and seven other conservative Republicans voted against McCarthy, supported by the full Democratic House membership.

Since then, speaker candidates have come and gone; none have been able to cobble together the 217 Republican votes needed to confirm a new speaker.

Just today, Majority Whip Tom Hemmer (R-Minn) dropped out after being nominated for the post.

Long Island Republicans Anthony D'Esposito, Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota added to the chaos by voting for former Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who lost a challenge to Dem. Gov. Kathy Hochul last year,  instead of candidate, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan. They were the only ones who voted for Zeldin.

The three put out a statement before the vote insisting that Jordan address their concerns.

But after Jordan reportedly agreed to demand Salt Cap relief, the three still voted against him.

 

Nick Lalota, Andrew Garbarino, Anthony D'Esposito

Pundits from left to right are calling the House actions "clownish." 

It's hard to disagree.