Bruce is gonna build a “wall.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is on a mission to deck out the county’s border with Queens with state‑of‑the‑art surveillance gear. Once Mayor‑Elect Zohran Mamdani takes the helm, he plans to deploy cameras, license‑plate readers and facial‑recognition software along the border between Long Island and New York City.
In a recent Fox News interview, Blakeman— a Republican eyeing the 2026 gubernatorial nomination— explained that he’s directing police and county workers to line the perimeter with high‑tech sensors. “We are doing everything necessary to make sure that Nassau County is safe,” he said, calling Mamdani’s policies “pro‑criminal” and “anti‑American.” The county executive’s office has yet to disclose how much the upgraded border security will cost, but Blakeman said he plans to cover the expenses through asset forfeitures.
Blakeman has a track record of law‑and‑order rhetoric. He’s a friend of President Trump, who was re‑elected as executive earlier this month, and he’s agreed to work closely with federal immigration officials— a sharp contrast to the sanctuary stances some other municipalities in New York state have adopted. He’s also announced plans to hire more police and strengthen the county’s collaboration with ICE, in response to Mamdani’s victory. “Our cops are doing a great job, and I’m going to continue to give them the personnel and the resources, technology and equipment and training that will now allow them to combat any situation that would jeopardize the security and safety of our communities here in Nassau County,” Blakeman told Fox.
Last month, Blakeman and Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder discussed preparing for the incoming Mamdani administration and the uncertainty over whether the county police would continue to share intel with the NYPD. “We have information that’s very sensitive,” Blakeman said on Oct. 29. “I’m not sure that we want to share it with them, or if they’ll share it with us.” These remarks came before tough‑on‑crime NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch agreed to stay on after Mamdani took office.
A Blakeman spokesman pointed the Post back to the Fox interview and declined to comment further on the surveillance “wall.” Nassau County Democrats slammed Blakeman, accusing him of squandering taxpayer dollars in a bid to snag President Trump’s attention. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Trump ally, remains the front‑runner for the GOP nomination against Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2026 race.
State and Nassau County Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs told the Post that Blakeman’s actions are more about political spectacle than true public safety. “Instead of governing, Blakeman is trying to turn Nassau County into a backdrop for his political ambitions with a stunt to get Donald Trump’s attention— opposed to focusing on true public safety he’s spending taxpayer dollars on high‑tech theatrics rather than fixing our roads, investing in public services, or addressing the affordability crisis facing families across this county,” Jacobs said. He also noted Mamdani’s recent visit to the White House, where the mayor and Trump shared a surprisingly friendly moment. “And the question remains: when Donald Trump visits Nassau with his BFF, Mayor Mamdani, will Bruce let them in?” Jacobs added.
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