New York Post
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Steven Vago, Craig McCarthy, Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul for excluding two Little Italy neighborhoods from an immigrant enclave map released over the summer. Speaking on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Blakeman said traditional immigrant communities like Italian-Americans are being disrespected by the current administration. He promised to defend these groups if elected governor and specifically mentioned that Christopher Columbus statues would remain untouched under his leadership.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman criticized New York City's mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, accusing them of neglecting traditional immigrant communities such as Italian, Irish, Polish, Jewish, and German groups. Speaking on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Blakeman stated that these communities are being "left behind." The controversy stems from a map released by the city over the summer that identified 30 immigrant communities across the five boroughs but omitted two Little Italy neighborhoods. Mamdani acknowledged the oversight, promising to make “additional changes” including adding Little Italy to future versions of the map.
Written for “Immigration Policy Criticism” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.65, but every quote it verified points right, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 9369: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-14
Traditional immigrant groups that built the Big Apple are being shoved aside by City Hall, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman told reporters from the heart of Italian culture in the Bronx.
asserted
Blakeman → build → Bronx
Speaking on Arthur Avenue, Blakeman said Italian, Irish, Polish, Jewish and German communities are “being left behind” by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani — who sparked controversy by leaving the city’s two Little Italy neighborhoods off an immigrant enclave map released over the summer.
asserted
who → speak → summer
“I do think there is an attack on the immigrants that built this county, that buit this state and built this city,” the Nassau County executive said.
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executive → think → city
“I think they’re being left behind by this current administration here in New York City and the governor.
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they → think → City
“They don’t recognize the achievements that those immigrants made,” Blakeman said.
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Blakeman → recognize → that
Mamdani’s “New York City Immigrant Enclaves” map identified 30 immigrant communities marked with flags across the five boroughs — but omitted Little Italy, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.
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map → identify → neighborhoods
A red-faced Mamdani said the city would be making “additional changes” to the botched map in the future, “including Little Italy.”
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city → say → Italy
He even tried to blame former Mayor Eric Adams for the blunder.
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He → try → blunder
But the damage was done, with critics, including the City Council Italian Caucus, calling the map “incomplete at best and insulting at worst” in July.
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critics → do → July
Blakeman said Sunday Italian-American New Yorkers and other entrenched immigrant groups in the five boroughs are being disrespected — something he won’t do if elected governor.
“They were left off the immigrant tourists map,” he told reporters.
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he → say → reporters
Blakeman also defended Christopher Columbus, the controversial explorer who has become the target of lefty protests in recent years — including Mamdani.
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who → defend → Mamdani
A 2020 tweet posted by the then state lawmaker resurfaced last year, showing Mamdani flipping off a statue of Columbus in Astoria, with the words: “Take it down.”
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Mamdani → post → it
“I’ll say one thing, when I’m governor there will be no taking down of Christopher Columbus statues,” Blakeman said Sunday.
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Blakeman → say → statues
“That won’t happen.”
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That → happen → ?
Officials at City Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Officials → respond → comment
Bruce Blakeman, the GOP candidate for governor, said lefty pols are casting traditional immigrant groups aside.
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pols → say → groups
Tomas E. Gaston for NY Post
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's botched immigrant enclave map omitted two Little Italy neighborhoods in the city.
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map → omit → city
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani claimed he would update his botched immigrant enclave map that sparked controversy..
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that → claim → controversy
