Long Island woke up to another reminder that nature doesn’t negotiate with political theater — a heavy, blizzard-like snowfall left Nassau County digging out and County Executive Bruce Blakeman telling viewers cleanup will take “a few days” on Fox’s Big Weekend Show. Local officials and residents know the drill: crews work around the clock while families shovel and dig out cars, and patience is required when a real storm piles up double-digit totals.
There’s no mystery about why cleanup won’t be instant: crews cleared main arteries first while side streets, sidewalks, and driveways waited their turn, and freezing temperatures threaten to turn the mess into immovable ice if work drags. Brave public servants and private citizens alike have been out on the streets since dawn, but their efforts are being made harder by wind, drifting, and the sheer volume of snow dumped on homes and businesses.
What should be routine cooperation, however, descended into partisan theater when Blakeman publicly blasted Governor Kathy Hochul for refusing federal assistance — calling that refusal “very foolish” as residents still try to claw their way back to normal. When people are stranded and equipment is needed, posturing about who gets credit is not leadership; it’s an insult to the hardworking men and women clearing the streets.
This isn’t just about shovel-ready manpower, it’s about competence and priorities. Counties like Nassau and Suffolk have pleaded for resources in past storms, and sensible leaders accept whatever help gets roads cleared and communities safe — not cling to pride while people suffer in the cold. The state’s job is to coordinate and deploy resources efficiently; when that doesn’t happen, local taxpayers and small businesses pay the price.
We should be thanking the plow operators, first responders, and neighbors who showed up to do the real work while politicians bicker. If Gov. Hochul’s office thought turning down federal aid made them look fiscally responsible or strong, reality will judge them by blocked roads, delayed ambulances, and businesses shuttered for days. That’s not leadership — it’s a calculation gone wrong, and voters remember.
Hardworking Americans don’t want political excuses, they want cleared roads, safe schools, and power restored — and they want officials who will put people before press releases. Nassau County’s cleanup will take time, and the honest, practical response is to marshal every available resource and stop letting partisan pride slow relief. If Albany wants to show it cares about residents, it will stop the games and get help where it’s needed now.
