After pulling all-nighters in Albany, our state legislative heroes are back downstate and how are they faring? New York State Assemblyman Kenny Burgos was at his district office in the Bronx this week greeting constituents… he gets about a dozen an hour these days, asking predominantly about housing… With the reopening of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program for the first time in nearly 15 years attracting 500,000 applicants within the first week – will our political personalities be headed back up for a special session to deal with congestion pricing, MTA funding and any additional housing legislation this year? Former New York State Assembly Member and current Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson wouldn’t be surprised by a special session called into action by Governor Kathy Hochul as her constituents regularly face evictions, and there’s only 200,000 units to go around. Where will the people be housed?
On Long Island, United Way hosted a luncheon at Crest Hollow Country Club, honoring Sands New York, Haugland Group and Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 28, with about 1,000 people in attendance hailing from both the non-profit and private sectors… New York State Senator Mario Mattera was in attendance with his wife along with Sands executive Ron Reese, in town from Vegas, who accepted the honor on behalf of Sands as Corporate Impact Champion… and Billy Haugland, who accepted his team’s award as Workforce Investment Champion… In the room where it happened… Rosalie Drago, former Commissioner at Suffolk County Department of Labor, now working for Haugland, as well as Sheet Metal Workers’ Anthony Guerrero…
Later that evening, ABLI’s Kyle Strober hosted his quarterly networking event at Heritage Club at Bethpage featuring dozens of political personalities such as New York State Senator Monica Martinez, Assembly Members Michaelle Solages, Jake Blumencranz and Keith Brown, Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP’s Dan Deegan and Greg Kalnitsky, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Comptroller Elaine Phillips… Founding partner of Engel Burman Group, Steve Krieger, was handing out “B2K” branded hats, elevating the spinoff of the Long Island real estate company… We learned that Nassau County boosted revenues to the tune of $150 million from the ICC World Cup Cricket Tournament that occurred all week long in Eisenhower Park… While Comptroller Phillips opted to attend the match with family and staffers in the bleachers, County Executive Bruce Blakeman as well as other international dignitaries, his staff and coordinating team, escorted guests to and from the stadium in golf carts, ushering VIPs through the credentialing process, all whilst federal, county and state police patrolled the grounds of the newly erected stadium which attracted 40,000 people to Nassau County for the games… Other VIP guests spotted included Rep. Tom Suozzi’s former D.C. press secretary, Jay Bhargava, former New York State Senator Craig Johnson, Senator Jeremy Cooney, LIPA’s Gasapare Tuminello, International Cricket Council’s Harry Singh Bolla and Dr. Bobby Kalotee Kumar, Chairman of Nassau’s Human Rights Commission…
After the United States team lost to India, the organizing Nassau County team, including Deputy County Executive for Public Safety, Tatum Fox, Communications Director, Chris Boyle, and County Attorney, Judge Tom Adams, headed to The Lannin in Eisenhower Park for an afternoon celebration of the success of the execution of the huge economic development event for the County. Omar Usmani, CEO, Aeon Nexus, who has experience working in national security and defense, was highly impressed with the operations and safety of the County during the huge international event, was overheard speaking with Greg Kalnitsky, who expressed this event as a
Back in NYC, KPMG hosted an MWBE networking event to attract and educate additional MWBEs as to how they can apply for City contracts alongside KPMG and/or via connecting to one-another. Discussions were held amongst Madjiguene Diop, deputy agency contracting officer for NYC Administration for Children’s Services and Emanuele Innamorato, CIO, NYC School Construction Authority, alongside KPMG’s National Lead Partner for the State & Local Government Advisory practice, Lorna Stark, and colleague Lily Gilbert, who addressed a crowd of about 50 MWBEs on exactly how KPMG can help small businesses get involved in the procurement pipeline for NYC agencies…
We hear Joni Kletter, former Commissioner during the de Blasio administration, hosted a house party for Senator Zellnor Myrie’s Mayoral bid at her home in Park Slope… Across town, a portrait of Zeldin Cares Executive Director Vanessa Simon was unveiled at the EFA Project Space Gallery… Council Member Nantasha Williams celebrated her graduation from CUNY with a Doctorate in Social Welfare… Assembly candidate Julien Segura joined the Young Excellence Society in Harlem as a mentor to show young men how to tie a tie…
COMING UP
**In The Room Media has reserved a block of tickets to The Nova Music Festival Exhibition, an in-depth remembrance of the brutal October 7th attack in Israel, for Wednesday, June 19th. Please let us know if you’d like to join us. The exhibit closes at the end of next week. **
Political Personality of the Week
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman
Bruce Blakeman became Nassau County Executive in January 2022, and served in government on the hyper local levels before this election both as a Hempstead Town Councilman and as a Nassau County Legislator. In varying years, Bruce ran as a candidate for State Comptroller, Congress and U.S. Senate.
He was born in Oceanside and raised in Valley Stream by his mother, Betty, who served in the Women’s Army Corps and his father, Robert, who was a merchant mariner and later Naval Reserve officer, and a New York State Assemblyman. Bruce’s brother, Brad, was on the staff of President George W. Bush.
Blakeman attended Valley Stream Central High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law. He also holds a certificate in Homeland Security management from Long Island University.
During school, he worked on Republican political campaigns and, for a time, was a driver for former First Lady Nancy Reagan. After passing the bar, he worked as a partner at his father’s law firm.
Bruce currently resides in Atlantic Beach with his wife, Segal.
Fast Facts:
- First Jewish Nassau County Executive
- Signed the State’s first Executive Order to restore the rights of parents to send their children to school without masks
- Hosted press conference with Caitlyn Jenner calling a ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports
- Formed a bi-partisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism on Long Island
- Established a life-saving breast cancer resource center named Hewlett House
- Previously married to Nancy Shevell, who is now married to Paul McCartney of The Beatles
- Driver for former First Lady Nancy Reagan