He’s the Bolshevik-buster.
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman is amping up his fight to vanquish socialism from New York, showcasing a new initiative with The Post this week he says will protect the Empire State now and in the future.
His “Protect the New York Dream” agenda is a multi-pronged approach focused on protecting homeownership, merit-based public education, private-property rights and jobs, Blakeman said.
“When [Gov. Kathy] Hochul and [NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani] tell homeowners that their success is a problem, tell high-achieving students that merit doesn’t matter, and give politically connected organizations greater control over private property, they are undermining the very people who built this state. That ends when I’m governor,” crowed Blakeman.
Blakeman – who has narrowed the Democratic incumbent’s lead in the gubernatorial race to 10% based on a Siena Poll released Tuesday – said the initiative is in response to a wave of socialist policies, such as NYC’s controversial new pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes championed by Mamdani with little to no opposition from Hochul.
The initiative includes fighting to protect and expand the Gifted & Talented programs and NYC’s specialized high schools — like Stuyvesant HS in Manhattan and Brooklyn Tech – from Mamdani’s efforts to phase out merit-based admissions because he believes they deepen systemic inequities.
Blakeman said that if elected, he’d guarantee students are rewarded for academic excellence and achievement – and that educational standards would not be lowered.
He’s also pledged to protect New Yorkers’ right to own, control and sell their properties without government interference.
He pointed out that Hochul’s running mate, former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, is a big supporter of the Mamdani-backed “Community Opportunity for Purchase Act.”
The stalled Stalinesque legislation is designed to control how private property is sold, and it would slam $30,000 fines on landlords who refuse.
It requires select “community land trusts” and other nonprofits providing affordable housing to make first offers to buy residential buildings with at least three units once they’re on the market – and then match competing private-sector offers.
He also reiterated his desire to reverse high tax burdens and progressive local agendas that he claims are causing businesses and taxpayers to flee to Florida.
Blakeman — whose campaign has centered around vowing to make New York safer and more affordable — pledged in May to provide “historic” financial relief for residents during his first 100 days as governor.
This includes approving across-the-board, 10% income-tax cuts for people earning under $250,000; and eliminating all state income tax on the first $50,000 earned annually for single filers and $100,000 for joint filers.
“People came to New York from across the world because they wanted to live in a nation of peace, freedom, and opportunity,” said Blakeman.
“Now, politicians like Zohran Mamdani and Kathy Hochul are bringing those socialist ideas to New York, making it nearly impossible for people who work hard to get ahead. I have news for the Hochul-Mamdani Team: the New York Dream is not dead, and I will fight to protect it.”
Hochul spokesman Ryan Radulovacki insisted New Yorkers would be best served by re-electing Hochul to another four years in office because she’s not beholden to President Donald Trump.
“Governor Hochul passed universal free school meals and a bell-to-bell cell phone ban in schools, cut red tape to lower housing costs, and brought middle-class taxes to historic lows,” he said. “But Blakeman refusing to build affordable housing and bragging about it, then letting” Trump slash education funding in New York “and raise costs on families, is still ‘100% MAGA.’”
