By Dan Murphy
Saying “I’m running against the establishment, and I need your help,” Long Island congressman and democratic candidate for Governor Tom Suozzi came to Westchester last week, holding a meet and great at the Coach Diner in White Plains on March 12, and holding a Facebook live town hall with Westchester and Rockland County democrats on March 7.
Suozzi has identified three key issues that New Yorkers are concerned about and has made them the focal points of his campaign.
I-Crime and Safety- With 74% of New Yorkers saying the crime is a serious problem in New York City, and 65% say they personally worry about being the victim of a crime, more cops on the streets-69%, stricter gun control laws-58%, and homelessness is a serious problem, 83%, Suozzi has discussed common sense answers to the issue of crime
Suozzi pointed to his leadership when he served as Nassau County Executive on Long Island, (the 12th largest PD in the country), “we had the lowest crime rate in the United States,”
“We need to make changes to bail reform,” said Suozzi, who agreed with County Executive George Latimer and other democrats that “crime is down in the suburbs, but crime is bad in New York City.”
Suozzi has released a 15-point plan to fix bail reform that includes giving judges the discretion to take violent and repeat offenders off the street, and to remove any DA that refuses to enforce the law. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has refused to prosecute certain criminal cases. Suozzi said that “it’s not up to the DA to determine what laws to enforce. If you want to change the law, then run for Assembly.”
Suozzi endorses NYC Mayor Eric Adams and was offered the job of Deputy Mayor of NYC after his election. “I support his positions on bail reform and reducing crime in New York City. We have to hold people accountable; they can’t get arrested and re-arrested.”
Suozzi also recognized that homelessness and mental illness has become a large piece of the crime problem in New York City. 75% of our prison population has a mental health or drug and alcohol problem.
“We have to give people the power to take someone off the streets, who is a danger to themselves and others, and get them health care and housing.”
Suozzi is talking about another issue that you seldom hear from today’s progressive New York Democratic Party: property taxes. Suozzi represents and lives on Long Island, which together with Westchester County pays among the highest property taxes in the United States.
One of Suozzi key issues while serving as a member of Congress, was to repeal the SALT (State and Local Taxes) tax cap imposed under former president Donald Trump. Suozzi pushed for its repeal and got it in the House, but it died in the Senate without passing.
Another way in which Suozzi is a different type of Democrat, is how he believes that many of the problems in New York State can be resolved with good management, and without the need for more taxes and spending. “Our state government is poorly managed; we spend so much money. I’m running for Governor because of property taxes in NY. 300,000 people left New York State last year, and taxes and crime are the reasons why they are leaving. I want to bring common sense, and my experience to get things done in Albany. I know how to run a government.”
Suozzi also acknowledged that education in the suburbs is uneven. “Some school districts in Nassau and Westcheter county are great, while others are struggling. We need to help those schools that are underperforming.”
A proud, lifetime democrat, Suozzi touts his environmental record. “95% of our existing green spaces should stay as they are, and any new development should be close to train stations. But we can’t have our utility rates go through the roofs. We need common sense.”
At the White Plains Diner event, which was well attended by more than 100 people, Suozzi called for an immediate repeal of the gas tax in New York State, to help New Yorkers keep their gas tanks full, with a current price of $4.50 a gallon and rising.
Suozzi stood on a chair to speak to the crowd saying, “We need 600,000 democrats to vote for us on primary day, and we are going to do it.”
According to the polls, Suozzi’s campaign for Governor has not yet picked up any steam. He sits at 9% in most polls, with Governor Hochul at 41%, and NYC public advocate Jumaane Williams at 13%. Even disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo sits ahead of Suozzi in the polls.
But his campaign team says to give it time. The TV ads are now running, criticizing Governor Hochul for her refusal to make changes to bail reform and attempt to tie her to a vote while in Congress to weaken gun laws. Suozzi is well funded, with $5 Million in his campaign coffer and he continues to raise money in the suburbs.
Suozzi is running with Diana Reyna, a former New York City Council member and ex-deputy Brooklyn borough president, who is running for Lt. Governor. Reyna was the first Dominican American woman elected to public office in New York State.
John Zogby, Founder and Senior Partner, Zogby Strategies said, “While Governor Hochul is posting impressive numbers and the GOP candidates may draw blood before their primary, New Yorkers are in a sour mood this year. No lead is in the bag.”
