“Join” the game, Kat!
Governor Kathy Hochul is facing criticism after mistakenly saying she spent the day “on” Long Island, which didn’t sit well with some in Queens.
The Democratic governor, who hails from upstate New York, erroneously used “in” instead of “on” in a now-deleted social media post. A reporter managed to capture the original quote before it was taken down. It was labeled a “rookie mistake” by one observer.
In her post on X, Hochul mentioned, “I spent the day talking to seniors, small business owners, and families on Long Island. The bottom line from those conversations was one thing: Things are too expensive. New Yorkers need relief, and we’re delivering it.”
After deleting the initial post, she reposted the message correctly saying “On Long Island,” but by then, she had already attracted some ire from Long Islanders.
“Another reason Long Island needs to leave!” commented one user on X.
Another joked, “Don’t tell me you don’t know anything about Long Island, just admit it, Kathy.”
In response to the gaffe, one user quipped about her dining choices, saying, “She must have asked for extra mayonnaise on her pastrami,” complete with a facepalm emoji.
One individual noted that while it was a “minor thing,” it might reflect her lack of concern for the state she governs.
Hochul’s Republican challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, also capitalized on the situation as they gear up for their upcoming election in November.
Blakeman, who posted a comment on X saying “Long Island, Kathy,” emphasized that due to high taxes and utility costs, many families are struggling to remain on Long Island.
A spokesperson for Hochul responded to Blakeman, remarking, “If Mr. Blakeman believes that the biggest issue facing Long Island is preposition modification, that says more about his priorities than ours. The Governor remains committed to affordability and public safety on Long Island, despite the Twitter typo.”
Meanwhile, local shoppers in Sayville expressed amusement at the mix-up. One resident, Jeremy Byrd, acknowledged, “The governor absolutely should know better, but this is a stupid thing to be angry about.”
Another resident, Will Sussman, jokingly stated, “Anyone who says ‘I’m on Long Island’ is not fit to be governor.”
However, one shopper, Joe, was more laid-back about it. He remarked, “That’s a bit ridiculous. You’re on an island, but you’re in a town on an island, so I don’t see anything wrong with either.”
