NEW YORK – On Tuesday, Sept. 12, a fundraiser was held for, New York State Assemblymember and New York City mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis at the Russian Tea Room in Midtown Manhattan. The event was organized by Lou Katsos and was attended by many members of the Greek community and others who support Malliotakis in her bid to unseat the incumbent, Mayor Bill de Blasio. The fundraiser took place at a key moment in the campaign for Malliotakis who needs to meet the deadline on Monday, Sept. 18 for the matching funds program that would guarantee two debates with the mayor. She told The National Herald that she needs 175 people to donate $175 each to meet the required amount, but said that any amount would help to reach the goal.
When asked about the recent New York Times article that said the mayor should debate her regardless of whether or not she receives the matching funds, Malliotakis told TNH that she appreciated the sentiment but noted that de Blasio would not debate her at all if he had a choice. She also told TNH that she would like to debate the mayor five times, once in each of the five boroughs of New York City.
The matching funds would help with TV commercials to spread the word about Malliotakis, who she is and what she stands for as a candidate. One supporter at the event noted that he wished she had started her campaign earlier so that her name recognition would be even stronger than it is today among more New Yorkers. Katsos observed that it was the perfect time for the fundraiser, coinciding with the primary election.
Malliotakis noted that the current mayor is doing a “lousy job” managing the city of New York and is distracted by national and international issues rather than focusing on the city. When asked about President Trump, Malliotakis noted that in New York, supporting Trump doesn’t help and she would “do what’s best for New York City” and her constituents.
In his introduction, Katsos called her a fantastic candidate who deserves to mayor of New York City. Malliotakis then thanked all those in attendance for their support and asked that they also reach out to the community, observing that spending has increased in New York City in the last three years by $15 billion and the mayor should be held accountable for his failures. She said, “The city that never sleeps needs a mayor that stays awake.”
Noting the “tale of two cities” has gotten worse during the de Blasio administration, Malliotakis said, “I want to do the job… [The city] cannot afford another term of Bill de Blasio.”
She noted that five times, New Yorkers elected the Republican candidate for mayor. Most recently Rudolph Guiliani and Michael Bloomberg, and the last time there was a Democratic mayor of New York City it was David Dinkins who she said was also not a good mayor and lasted only one term in the office. She echoed the sentiment of many present at the fundraiser when she said we have to keep de Blasio a one-term-mayor.
Malliotakis noted that before the mayor defines her for the New Yorkers who are not already familiar with her, we have to introduce Nicole, especially through the TV commercials that have already begun to run on some channels and that would reach even more New Yorkers once the matching funds come through.
When the polls closed at 9 PM in New York City, Malliotakis addressed the local media present at the event including NBC4New York and WPIX 11, having already spoken to the Greek media earlier in the evening. After being informed of the unofficial results of the primary that Mayor de Blasio would indeed be her opponent in the election, Malliotakis said she was ready to challenge him on the issues that are important to the people of New York regardless of their status, socio-economic background, race, or ethnicity.
Among those present at the event were Malliotakis’ parents, her Greek immigrant father, George, originally from Crete, and Cuban immigrant mother, Vera.
More information about the matching funds program and about Malliotakis and her plans for issues including education, homelessness, and mental illness, is available online at nicole4mayor.com.
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