Pro-Blakeman PAC Sends Moving Trucks to NYC in Protest of Hochul

A super PAC supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman deployed a convoy of moving trucks to Manhattan on Tuesday, aiming to send a message to Governor Kathy Hochul about the number of New Yorkers leaving the state.

The political action committee, Strong and Safe New York, organized the demonstration as part of a campaign that attributes the state's population decline to Hochul's administration.

"The Empire Center statistic is that over the last five years, a million people have left New York State because of primarily affordability issues," said Chapin Fay, a spokesperson for the super PAC. "As one of the highest taxed states in the country, it’s hard to start a business, and all those things lay at the foot of Governor Hochul and her party in charge, which is driving people out."

Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and Republican candidate for governor, has also blamed Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani for issues within the state and city.

Eight trucks, primarily from Long Island, were positioned outside City Hall on Broadway, with others circling the block before proceeding to Hochul's Manhattan office. This action follows earlier efforts by the PAC, including billboards with the message "YOU ARE NOW LEAVING NY (LIKE EVERYONE ELSE) VOTE BRUCE BLAKEMAN" placed on major exit routes.

An Empire Center for Public Policy survey of 600 New York residents indicated that 33% are considering leaving the state, and an additional 30% know someone who might. According to the survey, 30% of respondents cited taxes as the primary reason for considering a move, followed by the cost of living at 25%. Politics and governance, safety, and housing affordability were also listed as contributing factors.

The PAC stated that Tuesday's moving truck stunt was intended to place blame on Hochul for the ongoing population decline in New York.