Did Apathy Cost Lee Zeldin and Alison Esposito the Governor's Office?

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]I took a shot.

[00:00:01]Uh it it opened up other doors. I I I did that speech entitled don't hang up, and I believe that. You know, I don't know what's in store for me going forward. We were all very hopeful with you and Lee and that, you know, uh >> [snorts] >> pro law enforcement. I mean, we we see what's happened.

[00:00:26]We'll talk about what you feel about the you know, the current state on the Governor Hochul and you know, May Amm and And you know, I think that some of the cops didn't even know we were running. You know, I I I don't the the the whether it was, you know, the PBA or the unions that that were, you know, we were they were very you know, most of the unions were very supportive and tried to push it out, but there were still cops that I would run into and they would be like, "What do you mean you retired?"

[00:02:10]Or, you know, no, I had no idea that that this was going on or when is the election? And it was 6 months after the election.

[00:02:17]Um I I and I think that I think that that that we forgot we you know in New York everybody says, "Well, it's a blue state. My vote doesn't count." It really does. Especially when it comes to non-presidential year or or off local elections, things like that. We determine our politics and what we want our our state and our cities to do. Um So, I mean, I don't know that that it fell short. I I know that every cop is I I always like to say is plus eight, you know? And our officers, we have a lot of officers in that nationally. Like let's let's just take them all together. And every cop is at least plus eight.

[00:02:56]There's got There's eight family members and friends that are waiting for that cop to come home to hear that Velcro at the end of the night to make sure that they're safe and that they want their their their fight their best interests at heart cuz our heroes go out every day putting their lives on the line for strangers, not knowing if the next call is going to be their last. You know, we want to make sure that they get the training and the resources that they need to do a very very difficult job. Um and I think that most people are on board with that. So, I mean, where we fell short is I you know, a lot of times it's funding and it's getting the word out.

[00:03:28]Um it's maybe the opponent screaming louder or having a bigger, uh you know, media presence, things like that. But at the end of the day, we as officers have to take our responsibility too. And elections matter. You know, they they they matter and and you cannot just say my vote doesn't count. And I went up and down the state. And there were there were, you know, uh a whole bunch of people that were like, "Oh my god, you have to win because this is going to happen if you don't." And, you know, then I would say, "Well, you got to get all your friends out to vote." "Oh, no, no, we don't vote. We don't want the government to know where we are." Like, no, you can't do that.

[00:04:03]Like, that's that's that So, it's it's it was very challenging and it was very stressful and it was and it was it was really almost disheartening. You know, like you feel defeated because, you know, for a very long time, you know, and I thought I had a work ethic. Lee was like I thought he had a body double, you know.

[00:04:21]It was we did everything we could up up and down the state, in and out of communities, you know, riding the subways, talking to people. And the the most disheartening thing was the I I would support you, but I don't vote. Um and just I think I I I I think that, you know, again, it was it was challenging. It was rewarding though, too, because I really got to speak to New Yorkers from all walks of life and really hear their concerns and what they envision for their family and their their neighborhoods and their state.

[00:04:56]And, you know, I I I just I want to keep fighting for those who who want me to fight for them.

[00:05:04]And do you Why do you think you didn't get the endorsement of the PBA?

[00:05:12]Well, you know, sometimes politics plays politics, you know? I I don't I don't know the answer to that. I mean, I I could [clears throat] hypothesize, I could, you know, but I I I wouldn't be something that I would put out here because I don't know what they what were thinking. I I do know that, you know, sometimes politics is a is a is a very difficult game. And, you know, if you cross certain people and and you're wrong, you know, they'll destroy you.

[00:05:39]So, it's it's hard. I'm not I'm not going to walk in anybody's shoes and I'm certainly not going to put anybody down.

[00:05:45]You know, they they you make decisions based on the best interest that you think of of your membership and and that's how they did it.

[00:05:54]Yeah, and John and I talked a lot about that. They talked a lot more politics.

[00:05:59]Like I I've said in the past, you know, uh Rob and I we we have really no choice but to to speak on some politics because it's it's it's infected the police department so much that a lot of the things that we talk about are incidents that really are, you know, go back to the political atmosphere or laws that have changed, you know, with with the bail reform and raise the age and you know, uh just the plethora of things in local government with the diaphragm law and you know, the repealing of 50-A and uh you know, uh the the just on and on and on, you know, the loss of qualified immunity uh in New York City. It's just These are the things that that they're that they're dealing with. And then you look at the candidates and you wonder why isn't the why aren't the police unions backing pro-police, pro-law enforcement uh you know, candidates and even when they don't outwardly, you know, endorse them, when you look on, you know, the website, you can see that donations were made to certain candidates uh you know, that the that that the membership doesn't even know about, right? So, they're they're paying their membership dues and then and then they're paying, you know, a little bit more towards the political fund, to the plat to the PAC. And they don't know where that money's going. They're trusting that their membership is going to do that. And like you said, I understand. So, all right. So, they endorse you and Lee and it hopeful wins and then now she's not going to, you know, go But if you look, she she's not signing off on pro-police legislation anyway. Right. But again, you got to I'm not in their shoes, you know. You're you're hedging your bets, you know.

[00:07:44]>> Did they interview you and Lee?

[00:07:46]We spoke. Yeah. Okay.

[00:07:48]Yeah, no, we spoke. We spoke. We we sat down and had a conversation. Again, you know, that's We had a conversation. I I was very open, honest, and candid.

[00:08:02]Uh as I as I usually am.

[00:08:04]Um but I again, you can't I can't play Monday morning quarterback. I'm not in their shoes. Uh you you hedge your bet on a Democrat usually controls state. Um and you know, you it's difficult because police unions are just getting into the political world, you know.

[00:08:24]>> Yeah. Uh Nassau and Suffolk County, you know, Suffolk County especially, they did they they're they're fully into it for the police unions. And our unions are are getting closer, but we we as cops stayed out of politics, right? I mean, we they we we did our voting, but we stayed out of politics because we're serving both sides. I'm not asking if you're a Democrat or Republican when I'm responding to a call. So, they they stayed out of that political messy situation. And maybe that was the PBA's kind of we're going to still, you know, stay out of the potentially messy situation for our members. We're trying to get legislation. Again, this is all me just Yeah. thinking. Um you know, I would have I would have loved uh their support. I would have appreciated it. Um but again, I can't come down on anybody who's trying to do what they feel is the best for their their officers, their membership.

[00:09:21]So, So, your political aspirations didn't end there.

[00:09:26]So, Yeah, but it was it was much the same thing. I I grew up and I live in in Orange County. Um and I, you know, that was me at the border wall. Um but I I yeah, I I ran um for United States Congress. Again, it was it was much of the same thing. It was you know, it's just very difficult to break into this this world and a in a state that you know, that leans leans Democratic when they that those come out and vote.

[00:09:56]And so it was challenging. Again, you know, these are these were opportunities that presented themselves and an opportunity for me to make a difference. And I can't say that I would not um that I would turn down an opportunity to make a difference. So um you know, it's been an interesting world. It it been an interesting change for me.

[00:10:17]Um he uh I yeah, that that was the I the I told uh President Trump if he if he wanted me to uh to drop out and take over his security detail, I would I would handle that for him.

[00:10:33]>> [laughter] >> So um it it was after uh after the attempt on the first attempt on his life. So um this is just shows you how divided we are. You know, we we have to we have to as Americans stop concentrating on what separates us and concentrate on what unites us as Americans. And and it's certainly not always talking about gender or skin color or religion or background or where you come from. You know, we we have to we are an amazing people, a resilient people.

[00:11:10]Uh If you go back to September 11th, I did a a a a I don't know. I sat on a panel couple of years after September 11th with other law enforcement, not from New York City.

[00:11:23]And they were talking about how that day went for them and how awful it was and and how it was for the country and and everything. And then when they finally got to me, I was the only New York City cop. Right? Um and I said, "Ladies and gentlemen, yeah, September 11th was one of the worst days on American soil in American history.

[00:11:44]But I will submit that it was also one of the best days.

[00:11:51]Because I saw a community, a resilient spirit of Americans that put their differences aside for a while. And they were there was Victory Lane where uh you know, they were lining up with signs because there was nothing They wanted to do something. And they they didn't know what to do. So, they would just line up and and say, "We love you."

[00:12:15]to the construction workers and the cops and the firemen and everybody who was down there, you know, risking their lives and doing their job. Doctors from all over the states, the the the tri-state They were standing outside of hospitals waiting to treat the injured, offering their services. I've never seen resilience like that. So, yeah, I mean, you can look at It is It was a horrible, horrific day. We lost so many people. It was terrorist attack on our soil, you know, but look at the way that the the flags that were being flown. The the the Look at the way our Americans responded. Look at the way that they they united together. And it certainly wasn't, "Oh, I I I can't hug you because you're a Democrat or a Republican." I We were Americans. And and I just want I want to come back to that. Um just common sense, middle-of-the-road strategies that provide the that provide the opportunity for the American dream for our people.

[00:13:12]And that's that's that's it. And it it seems so simple. It seems so simple. It does It seems so simple, but it seems like we're more and more divided even now than we were in 2022.

[00:13:28]Uh you two you talk about the attack on the president. Uh you guys you guys uh during your campaign trail uh Lee Lee Lee was attacked. Let's take a quick look at that. Yeah, Lee was attacked. Is our last stand for New York.

[00:13:45]And there's only there's only one option.

[00:14:01]See, now what people if they don't remember that that gentleman that came on stage had brass knuckles with spikes on them.

[00:14:14]And you can't really see it very well, but I'm never a fan of slow motion. Right behind that speaker is some ex-cop who doesn't forget what it's like.

[00:14:35]And I see from this >> I was stretching, I think. I see from this angle uh somebody taking care of business.

[00:14:45]It it seems from that angle cuz you can't tell in a picture, but it looks like they had it in control over it you know, all everything was in control and I was just you know, stretching out to make sure I wasn't injured.

[00:14:56]Um So, yeah, that individual was in crisis.

[00:15:01]Yeah. No, and it doesn't again and it's it's not about it was about getting that weapon out of his hand, which wasn't getting you know, everybody was in danger at that point because if they were spiked brass knuckles. They were you know, that that that jogging anti-rape knuckles.

[00:15:17]They look like like the little Hello Kitty things that is what he kind of had, which of course he got made fun of, and we were Lee and I were walking a parade route and there was a kid with a Hello Kitty backpack, and I looked at the backpack and I looked at Lee and I went too soon? Is this too soon?

[00:15:31]>> [laughter] >> Um but Uh yeah, so it was about getting the weapon out of his hand. He was in crisis and again this goes to being able to support our veterans and our law enforcement. I'm I'm actually doing work with a tech company Envy Mind Health that works for performance and resiliency and you know helping you know maybe drop that suicide rate down from the veterans and the first responders. But this guy was drunk, he was in crisis, he active duty returned from active duty his wife left him, he was drinking and somebody told him that Lee had a problem with veterans and he decided to take things into his own hands and that again goes to the dangerous rhetoric on both sides.

[00:16:17]On both sides, we have to make sure that we're we're speaking responsibly.

[00:16:23]Um when we talk about the other side, when we talk about those who disagree with us, those who are different backgrounds because you have people what happens is you create a moral imperative where someone with maybe mental illness or someone who believes that it's their responsibility to take action, you prompt them into taking action. So it's it we have responsibilities too when we have when we have the mic and a platform, there's a responsibility that goes along with that. You you know salacious and malicious allegations and blatant lies, divisive terminology, divisive word you have to be very very careful with all of that, you know? Um and it's a responsibility that I don't take lightly.

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