He’s pulling a Kamala.
The Big Apple’s avowed socialist Comptroller Brad Lander has retooled some of his most radical left-wing positions, as he gears up for a run in a possible special election in New York City, according to critics and his own public comments.
Lander is one of several candidates waiting to see if Mayor Adams leaves office amid a federal indictment for bribery. Unlike most city elections, there would be no primary, and the ballot would feature a menagerie of aspirants for the top job.
The comptroller now appears to be hedging his bets after Vice President Harris received 600,000 fewer votes in NYC than President Biden in 2020.
The most notable heel turn has come on taxes. Soaking the rich has been canon for Lander and his fellow socialists since the days of Lenin. Lander himself has often invoked the mantra that the rich must “pay their fair share” throughout his political career.
But during a Citizens Budget Commission hearing in September, Lander threw his own past proposal to raise personal income taxes on top earners under the bus.
The comptroller insisted the idea had only been to temporarily relieve popular programs such as Universal Pre-K that faced funding shortfalls.
On crime and policing, Lander was once a “defund the police” crusader. While in the City Council he said, “I am fighting for $1 billion in cuts to the NYPD this year, and I am committed to voting no on a budget that does not make significant cuts to the NYPD.”
But Lander struck a different tone in September, telling a gathering of the Association for a Better New York that “police are critical to prevent and respond to violence, get illegal guns off the streets, and solve crimes.”
In his 2009, 2013, and 2017 campaigns, Lander was opposed to real estate developers and lobbyists. “NOT PAID FOR BY PACS, CORPORATE LOBBYISTS OR DEVELOPERS,” his City Council website once blared.
However, the issue is no longer mentioned on his campaign donation site. Lander has raked in contributions totaling almost $15,000 from developer interests and lobbyists, campaign records show. It’s unclear when he decided to pivot away from this promise.
Critics said the shuffle recalls Vice President Harris’ spectacularly unsuccessful attempt this year to pivot away from her own woke presidential campaign of 2019.
“If he sees the city or voters coming to the center, that’s where he’ll go,” said Democratic Queens Councilman Bob Holden. “It’s all about Brad Lander. It’s not about constituents or New Yorkers.”
A City Hall insider added: “Brad Lander cannot run away from voting to defund the NYPD multiple times — and being a self-described, dues-paying Democratic socialist.”
Lander’s former colleague, Staten Island councilman Joe Borelli was more blunt: “Kathy Hochul is really turning everyone into Republicans.”
Lander campaign spokesperson Rebecca Rodriguez called her boss “pragmatic.”
“New Yorkers are fed up with a city that isn’t delivering for them and Brad knows that to turn things around, we need strong leadership at City Hall that makes our neighborhoods safer, more affordable, more livable, and better run,” Rodriguez said.
