Category Archives: Nicole Malliotakis

Spend Better, Not Less?



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis is harshly critical of increased City spending under Mayor de Blasio, but she doesn’t have a plan to reduce that spending.  Malliotakis held a City Hall press conference this afternoon to criticize de Blasio for “outrageous amounts of money being spent on consultants” in the Department of Education.

Malliotakis regularly criticizes the $85 billion overall size of the City budget and the $15 billion increase in the budget since de Blasio took office.  Today I asked Malliotakis how much, if at all, she would cut the $24 billion Department of Education budget.  After a lengthy critique of de Blasio’s spending, including the line that de Blasio “has spent the taxpayers money like a Saudi prince,” Malliotakis offered that she’s “looking to make sure that that money is spent properly” but acknowledged that she does not have any plan to reduce the City’s spending.

Video:

Here’s our full exchange:

Malliotakis: No Opinion On Healthcare Bills



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis had little of substance to say Wednesday concerning the ongoing effort by U.S. Senate Republicans to repeal or dramatically change Obamacare.  Malliotakis replied “I haven’t read these bills” when I asked for her view of the Senate’s motion to proceed, adopted Monday, and whether she supports any of the iterations being considered by the Senate this week.  (“I haven’t read the bills” has been Malliotakis’ repeated answer on this topic, offered in May and June.)

Malliotakis did urge Congress to “stop bickering” and “work together”, but did not offer any policy views.  When I asked whether she’s supportive of continuing the Medicaid expansion, a key target for many Congressional Republicans, Malliotakis said “I can be ok keeping the Medicaid,” but immediately turned to expressing concerns over higher insurance policy premiums and deductibles.

Reductions or eliminations in Medicaid would likely have profound effects on New York City, both directly in the hospitals it runs and on the several million Medicaid enrollees in the City.

Video:

Here’s our exchange during Wednesday’s City Hall press conference:

Malliotakis Press Conference: Deportation Edition



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis came to City Hall Wednesday for a press conference criticizing Mayor de Blasio’s “sanctuary city” policy and pledging to increase cooperation with federal government’s efforts at deporting people unlawfully in the United States.

Malliotakis strongly emphasized the limits of her support for assisting federal deportation efforts, however.  She began with a detailed statement of support for City policies that provide some protections to persons unlawfully in the U.S., saying that as mayor she would continue Executive Order #124, implemented by Ed Koch and continued by Dinkins, Giuliani, Bloomberg and de Blasio.  That executive order prohibits City employees from reporting immigration status to the INS.  Among the practical effects of that prohibition: the NYPD does not ask and will not report on the immigration status of a person reporting a crime.

Malliotakis was harshly critical of Mayor de Blasio’s efforts at limiting NYPD and Department of Corrections’ enforcing immigration detainers.  The City currently enforces those immigration detainers only in limited circumstances, with those circumstances including a for persons convicted of specified “serious” crimes.  Malliotakis proposes expanding that list of specified crimes.

Video:

Here is the full press conference.

Malliotakis re Dietl



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis brushed aside rival candidate Bo Dietl’s recent complaints on not being granted a waiver allowing him to run in the Republican mayoral primary and his assertion that the New York State Republican chairman and New York County Republican chairwoman quashed his prospects in order to boost Malliotakis.  Speaking last night as she arrived at a campaign appearance in Middle Village’s Juniper Valley Park Malliotakis professed disinterest in Dietl’s efforts.  She also denied any involvement or influence in the Republican party leaders’ decision to again decline to grant Dietl a Wilson-Pakula.

Shortly after we spoke Malliotakis and Dietl encountered each other –  video of their encounter is available here.

Here’s what Malliotakis had to say:

When I Become Mayor …



It was smiles and jabs as mayoral candidates Bo Dietl and Nicole Malliotakis crossed paths tonight in Middle Village’s Juniper Valley Park.  The candidates were there to work the crowd at Italian Night, a concert drawing several hundred people. There’s been some significant long-distance friction between them recently as Republican leaders quashed Dietl’s final effort at getting a Wilson-Pakula and running in the Republican primary.

They smiled for the camera (singular, as I was the only reporter there), with some forced joviality smoothing the light jabs they each tossed toward the other.  Dietl sought to claim the turf immediately, declaring “this is Italian, this ain’t Greek, this is my neighborhood” as he walked up to Malliotakis.  They didn’t shake hands, much less hug, with Malliotakis’ hand on Dietl’s shoulder the only greeting gesture.  “Are you gonna be nice to me now Bo, I heard you’re calling me names on Curtis Sliwa” said Malliotakis.  Dietl offered that when he becomes mayor “I want you to help me … cause Staten Island needs a lot of help.”  Malliotakis quickly countered that when she becomes mayor “I will not make you my police commissioner.”  (Dietl retorted “I’ve been offered that already by your friend Malpass.”)

Their sparring over, Malliotakis introduced herself to a couple of parks workers in a truck as she and Dietl began walking.   As Malliotakis continued walking Dietl stopped to talk to those workers, soon calling out to the departing Malliotakis “they’re with me, they’re with me … they love the Bo man.”

Update – Photo Gallery:

Our photo gallery is available here.

Going, Going … Bo?



Could Bo Dietl still end up in a Republican mayoral primary?  That prospect has appeared dead since Dietl lost his lawsuit seeking reinstatement as a Republican and the five county Republican leaders declined any interest in granting Dietl a Wilson-Pakula, but he has yet another chance tonight.  Dietl is set to appear at a meeting of the Queens County Republican executive committee to pitch his candidacy, seeking an endorsement and a Wilson-Pakula.  Nicole Malliotakis is also expected to appear, seeking the Queens County GOP endorsement in the wake of Paul Massey’s withdrawal from the race.  The Queens Republican Party initially supported Paul Massey, but Massey abruptly announced his withdrawal from the race on June 28th.  As we reported on July 6th, the Queens GOP then set tonight as the date for considering its post-Massey options.  Continue reading Going, Going … Bo?

Malliotakis Money: July Edition (Updated)



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis raised $250,00 in the two month reporting period that ended last week. It was a decent, but far from outstanding, fundraising performance for the expected Republican nominee in her first full reporting period.  Malliotakis joined the race in April, about two weeks before the previous reporting deadline, and reported raising about $94,000 in that truncated period.  With reported expenses of $64,000 this period, Malliotakis ended the reporting period with $275,000 in cash on hand.

Malliotakis’ financial picture may markedly improve with matching funds from the City’s Campaign Finance Board.  An analysis by Politico estimated that based on her reported fundraising Malliotakis may receive just over $600,000 in City matching funds, which are given at a 6-1 ratio for qualifying contributions.  Malliotakis has not yet qualified for the program, however, and her receiving matching funds therefor remains uncertain.  Time is short for Malliotakis, with a limited opportunity to reduce the large current fundraising gap with her expected general election rival, Mayor Bill de Blasio, who reported $2.5 million cash on hand in the prior (mid-May) report. Continue reading Malliotakis Money: July Edition (Updated)

Malliotakis Money



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis expressed optimism about her fundraising today, but had little information to offer.  Speaking at a Dyker Heights press conference, Malliotakis said “it’s going well,” but added “right now it’s a little difficult” due to people focused on graduations and vacations.  “I don’t know, I would like to know myself, I gotta talk to my treasurer” Malliotakis replied when I asked for a expected amount raised in her next campaign finance report. Continue reading Malliotakis Money

Malliotakis, Massey … & Bo?



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis offered a gracious farewell to former rival Paul Massey today, but she has not yet received his endorsement or the endorsement of the two Republican County chairman and organizations that supported him.

Speaking at a press conference today in Dyker Heights at which Malliotakis highlighted a street with trash and debris, Malliotakis said that she was surprised by Massey’s withdrawal, that she called Massey and thanked him for “the good, spirited debate” they had shortly before Massey’s withdrawal and “wished him well.”  She also “thanked him for coming into the race and expressing ideas.”   Malliotakis has not yet received Massey’s endorsement, although it appears that she has asked him for it.  She expressed hope that “the whole Party will coalesce around me,” but said only that she hopes it will happen after completing petitioning. Continue reading Malliotakis, Massey … & Bo?

Travis Parade



The Travis 4th of July Parade drew mayoral rivals Bill de Blasio and Nicole Malliotakis together Tuesday, as they attended the annual event in the Staten Island neighborhood of Travis.  Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer were the two off-Island electeds participating, while Assembly Member Malliotakis was one of many Staten Island elected participating.  Others included Borough President Jimmy Oddo, NYS Senator Diane Savino, Assembly Members Michael Cusick (also the parade Grand Marshal), Ron Castorina and Matt Titone, City Council Members Steve Matteo and Debi Rose and Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon.  Republican comptroller candidate Michel Faulkner also attended. Continue reading Travis Parade

Malliotakis Press Conference: Homeless Crisis Edition



Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis held a press conference this afternoon promoting her plan to address homelessness in New York City.  It’s an issue that she, and other de Blasio challengers, have frequently spoken of over the past months.   Today Malliotakis outlined a series of steps should she would take as mayor to address the “homeless crisis”, including establishing “pop-up intake shelters,” creating an interagency taskforce, limiting the number of nights homeless individuals may be housed by the City in a hotel, seeking to move “empty nesters” in large NYCHA apartments into smaller apartments  and entering into an agreement with New York State to fund supportive housing units.

Continue reading Malliotakis Press Conference: Homeless Crisis Edition

Malliotakis On Healthcare Bills



I haven’t read the bills.  That was Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis’ response today when I asked whether she supports either or both of the two pending Congressional bills aimed at dramatically changing the Affordable Care Act.  Those two bills include the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA), the healthcare bill drafted by Senate Republicans which was publicly released last week but has not yet been voted on, and the American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA), approved in the House on May 4th.  Malliotakis did express an opinion on the Faso Collins amendment, a provision contained in the AHCA that would require New York State to take over Medicaid expenses of counties outside of New York City, leaving New York City as the lone New York locality to continue to shoulder Medicaid costs, saying that New York City’s exclusion is “problematic.”

Malliotakis gave a similar answer on the AHCA nearly two months ago, declining to express an opinion because she had not read the bill.  There is a lot to be said for reading a full bill in order to express an opinion, but it’s also an easy dodge.  It’s certainly legitimate to reach, and express, opinions on legislation based on good analysis by others, whether in the press, from staff or other interested parties.  In this case, Malliotakis is avoiding expressing a view on an issue that has been at the center of political discussion for months, with two months elapsing since the House bill was publicly available, and that may profoundly affect the City she hopes to lead in six months.  It’s worth noting that Malliotakis generally is responsive to questions and willing to declare her position on specific issues.

We spoke at a Malliotakis press conference outside City Hall.

Video:

Here’s our exchange: