Category Archives: Michael Blake

Photo Highlights of The Decade



As the decade rolls to an end we’ve compiled a brief photographic retrospective with a few of our favorite photos of the 2010s.

Political foes Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo shake hands, seemingly at the urging of RWDSU’s Stuart Appelbaum, as they march in the 2016 Labor Day Parade. 9/10/16

Our decade highlight gallery is available here.

Our focus is on New York politics, both city and state, but the gallery includes other shots of New York.  Among the campaigns we’ve covered are the 2013 and 2017 mayoral races, the 2014 and 2018 gubernatorial races, congressional primaries in 2014, 2016 and 2018, the 2016 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary and the 2019 public advocate special election.  NYTrue.com began in late 2012, with mostly video and little photography in 2012 and 2013, so this is a somewhat truncated decade retrospective that covers 2014-2019.

Special Bonus – Unabridged Gallery:

For those of you who really love New York politics we have an expanded decade retrospective gallery with lots of great shots that didn’t make it into the decade highlight gallery.  Take a look, and a walk down memory lane, here.

We’ve included a few 2013 iPhone shots in a brief addendum at the end of the expanded gallery.

Our 2019 year in photos is available here.

All of our photo galleries are available here.

Photo Gallery: Bronx Dems For Williams



Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ apparent glide path to his June primary and November general election was smoothed with an endorsement from the Bronx Democratic Party and several prominent elected Bronx Democrats.  With the petitioning period ended, Williams will not face any well-known primary opponents.

Electeds joining Williams included Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assembly Member and Bronx Democratic Chairman Marcos Crespo, Assembly Members Latoya Joyner, Jeff Dinowitz, Victor Pichardo and Nathalia Fernandez and Council Members Andrew Cohen and Ritchie Torres.  Assembly Member Michael Blake, who ran against Williams in the February special election, did not attend the rally but appeared immediately afterward and expressed his support for Williams.  That special election put Williams into office through the end of 2019 and the November general election will fill the remaining three years of former public advocate and current NYS Attorney General Tish James’ unexpired term.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: NAN Candidate Forum



The National Action Network hosted a public advocate candidate forum, drawing 12 candidates to its House of Justice in Harlem.  The Rev. Al Sharpton made opening remarks and introduced the candidates but did not moderate or attend the forum.  Candidates participating included Ydanis Rodriguez, Ben Yee, Jumaane Williams, Manny Alicandro, David Eisenbach, Tony Herbert, Nomiki Konst, Dawn Smalls, Ron Kim, Danny O’Donnell, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Michael Blake.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: After Leading Contenders TV Debate



NY1 broadcast the second and final televised public advocate candidate debate, held at Borough of Manhattan Community College.  The “leading contenders” debate featured seven candidates selected pursuant to NYC Campaign Finance Board criteria, Nomiki Konst, Michael Blake, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Dawn Smalls, Rafael Espinal, Jumaane Williams and Ron Kim.  Press photography of the debate was limited to only pool coverage, but full press access was allowed in the post-debate spin room.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: Frederick Samuel Forum



Harlem’s Frederick Samuel Democratic Club drew four candidates to a Harlem public advocate candidate forum co-sponsored by the Michelle Obama Community Democratic Club.  Danny O’Donnell, Dawn Smalls, Jumaane Williams and Michael Blake spoke separately, with Manhattan Democratic Chairman Keith Wright moderating.  The Frederick Samuel Club and Wright previously endorsed O’Donnell.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: Co-op City Candidate Forum



The Co-op City Working Families Party hosted a public advocate candidate forum, drawing nine candidates.  Dawn Smalls, Eric Ulrich and Manny Alicandro participated in the first panel discussion (which I did not attend), Ron Kim, Ben Yee, David Eisenbach, Rafael Espinal and Jumaane Williams participated in a second panel and Michael Blake was interviewed solo by moderator Ray Raimunidi.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: LIC Candidate Forum



Five local civic groups, Hearts Across Queens, Hunters Point Civic Association, Long Island City Coalition, PrimedOutNYC and Sunnyside Woodside Action Group, hosted a public advocate candidate forum at the Irish Center in Long Island City.  Candidates participating included Ben Yee, Danny O’Donnell, David Eisenbach, Dawn Smalls, Jumaane Williams, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Michael Blake, Nomiki Konst, Rafael Espinal and Ron Kim.  Ify Ike, previously a candidate but unsuccessful in getting on the February 26th ballot, also participated.  Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, who previously endorsed Jumaane Williams, was the only non-candidate elected official to attend.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: Candidate Debate & Protest



The first televised debate among public advocate candidates featured 10 contestants in an Errol Louis-moderated slugfest and a protest by one of the six candidates excluded from the debate.  The debate was hosted and televised by NY1.

Continue reading Photo Gallery: Candidate Debate & Protest

Photo Gallery: Medgar Evers PA Candidate Forum



Nine candidates attended a public advocate forum at Medgar Evers College sponsored by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Arena Summit and the Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter of Delta Rho Omega. Candidates included Dawn Smalls, Ben Yee, Jared Rich, Tony Herbert, Michael Blake, Ydanis Rodriguez, Rafael Espinal, Eric Ulrich and Jumaane Williams.

One of the three candidate panels was the complete set of current City Council members running for public advocate: Eric Ulrich, Rafael Espinal, Ydanis Rodriguez and Jumaane Williams.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: VIDA PA Candidate Forum



The Vanguard Independent Democratic Association drew eight public advocate candidates to a forum at Boys & Girls High School in Bed-Stuy.  Participating candidates included Ben Yee, Nomiki Konst, Dawn Smalls, Michael Blake, Jared Rich, Tony Herbert, Rafael Espinal and Jumaane Williams.  The forum was moderated by Esmeralda Simmons and Brian Vines.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: Astoria PA Forum



The Powhatan and Pocahontas Democratic Club and the Taminent Regular Democratic Club co-hosted a public advocate candidate forum that drew ten candidates to Astoria on a bitterly cold night.  Candidates attending included Ron Kim, Danny O’Donnell, Dawn Smalls, Jumaane Williams, Jared Rich, Ydanis Rodriguez, Michael Blake, David Eisenbach, Nomiki Konst and Rafael Espinal.

Neither club endorsed a candidate at the forum and it’s my understanding that neither club intends to endorse in the race.  Of the elected officials attending the forum, Council Member Costa Constantinides has endorsed Nomiki Konst and NYS Senator Michael Gianaris and Assembly Member Aravella Simotas each said that they have not endorsed in the race and are uncertain whether they’ll do so.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.