Mayor Eric Adams broke bread with Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman — a robust GOP chief and ally of President-elect Donald Trump — Tuesday evening on Lengthy Island.
The dinner at Italian restaurant Cipollini in Manhasset raised eyebrows amongst political insiders who steered the Democratic indicted mayor was looking for a presidential pardon — however Adams’ press secretary insisted that “They didn’t speak about Trump.”
The 2 mentioned methods the town and Nassau County can work “more durable” collectively, significantly on the problem of violent gangs plaguing the swath of Lengthy Island, stated Metropolis Corridor rep Kayla Mamelak.
The pols might be seen smiling whereas seated at a desk within the white tablecloth joint, in a snap posted on X by a Politico reporter. They had been joined by Howard Fensterman, a Lengthy Island lawyer and businessman who organized the sitdown, sources stated.
Fensterman is the legislation associate of Frank Carone, a longtime consiglieri to Adams who served as his first mayoral chief of workers.
The dinner — which Adams drove to from Albany, the place he attended Gov. Kathy Hochul’s annual “State of the State” tackle earlier Tuesday — lasted about two hours and had been deliberate for about per week, a supply stated.
A spokesperson for Blakeman earlier stated he was unable to attend the governor’s policy-setting speech due to “urgent enterprise” in Nassau County.
Adams — a self-proclaimed vegan who typically eats fish — had the $45 branzino and a salad, whereas Blakeman additionally stored it mild with a $29 rooster paillard and a salad, a supply stated.
The mayor, who’s up for re-election this 12 months, faces a historic federal bribery and corruption indictment alleging he accepted unlawful overseas donations to his 2021 mayoral marketing campaign. He has pleaded not responsible.
Adams will face off in opposition to a crowded area of challengers within the June Democratic mayoral major.
Blakeman can be up for re-election this 12 months and favored to win a second time period. He has additionally been talked about as a possible Republican candidate within the 2026 gubernatorial race.
Supply hyperlink
