'Save Our State'
A dispatch from Long Island on primary night, more on lifeguards, and a sandwich
I spent my primary night at Lee Zeldin’s party at The Coral House in Baldwin, where the mood of the night was based off of the candidate’s motto: “Save Our State.”
As supporters entered the catering hall to eat New York hot dogs and pretzels, and especially as the results came in, the vibe was celebratory but also urgent.
The message from Zelding and others was that Gov. Kathy Hochul and other Democrats had ruined New York, and only a Republican could bring it back.
After walking on stage to “All We Do is Win”, Zeldin spoke of New Yorkers on the brink and vowed to turn the state around.
“They don’t feel safe on our streets, and on subways, in their homes, and in their places of employment,” he said during his victory speech. “They feel like life in New York is unaffordable, that their money will go further elsewhere, that in order to live the American Dream it doesn’t always want it to be the New York dream.”
He railed against Hochul, and promised to fire Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg as soon as he is sworn in — which got huge cheers miles away in Nassau County, although I’m unsure how many in that room actually live in New York County.
I met one voter from Queens who is actually still a registered Democrat. But she plans to switch her party affiliation and supports Zeldin because she felt he could address her biggest concerns.
“New York is in a really dangerous situation,” Hailey Chin said. “The Democrats changed from the middle to the extreme left.”
She’s concerned about crime and education. Former Mayor de Blasio messed up the city, she said, especially with his plan for the specialized high school exam, which Mayor Eric Adams is now keeping.
In order to win in November, Zeldin will have to convince a lot of registered Democrats like Chin that New York is both out of control and too in control of our decisions. And he’s the only one who can help them.
Hochul also showed a little of her strategy on primary night, saying Zeldin’s anti-abortion stance could threaten abortion and health care access in New York if he’s elected. She launched Zeldin Facts to remind voters of his extreme conservative views — including voting to overturn the 2020 election results.
“Lee Zeldin isn’t just any Republican,” the site says. “He’s dangerous and extremely wrong for New York.” Each candidate is trying to convince voters that only they can save voters from their opponents.
As I say whenever I have no idea how things will shake out: “Only time will tell.”
Read more at THE CITY.
Other interesting stories from this week
There was news late Friday that could help the city’s lifeguard shortage: the removal of an old dual-waiver restriction as the city continues to negotiate with the union for a higher starting salary and different training for smaller pools. (THE CITY)
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day. (NBC4)
“Beyonce’s ‘Break My Soul’ and the Long Tail of ‘Show Me Love’ (NYT)
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This is HERO WORSHIP, where I talk about sandwiches I like. If you were wondering, I had The Sandwich again last Saturday on the beach and it’s still amazing.
The Napoli at Pisillo, 97 Nassau St.
Earlier this week I found myself hungry and a little tired when I set out for an early lunch around City Hall. When you’re down here you can go in a few directions towards food – north for dumplings at Tasty, west for Nish Nush or Takahachi, and south for Viet Spot or Pisillo. I stood briefly at the top of the steps before I looked at the day ahead of me – it was primary day, which meant a long night and so many unknown annoyances ahead. A day like that deserves cured meats, I thought, so I went south and got Pisillo.
Last year I had a Pisilllo revelation: I was putting too much stuff on my heroes. Usually I’d get hot peppers and an olive spread, maybe a sauce or two. But then a friend picked up a sandwich for us to split and he came back with the Napoli, which I had always thought was maybe too plain – prosciutto, arugula, Buffalo mozz and olive oil. I was very wrong; it was perfect. I haven’t gone back to my old ways since.
As I walked to Pisillo I saw two Sanitation workers sitting in their cars, eating their sandwiches. “That’s what you want to see before you go get a sandwich,” I thought.
And as I put my order in I saw a framed photo of Padre Pio (birth name Francesco Forgione) and then the shrine to him in the corner. To me, everybody’s favorite stigmatic Italian is the Patron Saint of Italian food.
So it all came together for me this week on Nassau Street. The sign of any good Italian spot, whether it’s a pizza joint or restaurant? Civil servants and Padre Pio.
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Thanks for reading!