Gubernatorial hopeful Lee Zeldin slammed Gov. Kathy Hochul as “hypocritical” after she promoted New York’s new electric vehicle mandate — citing her frequent trips across the state in gas-guzzling helicopters.
Zeldin took the shot at the governor after she posted a video to social media of herself driving an electric car Thursday as part of her announcement of the state’s new law requiring all new vehicles to emit zero emissions by 2035.
“The governor posted on social media an hour ago a picture of her and some electric vehicle, as if she’s not flying a plane or a helicopter to go to that press conference and driving her big black suburban to get her from the airport to where she then gets into the electric vehicle,” Zeldin said on John Catsimatidis’ Friday night radio show.
“I just feel like there’s just a lot of hypocrisy here on this particular topic.”
Records previously obtained by The Post revealed Hochul traveled in state helicopters or planes a whopping 140 times in the first seven months since she took office last August.
New York’s ambitious zero-emissions mandate came after California adopted similar rules last month vehicle emissions rules last month, which are stricter than the federal standard.
When asked during Friday’s “Cats at Night Show” interview if New York Democrats have lost their mind in supporting such a bill, Zeldin responded, “they have, actually. They have.”
The Republican congressman said New York is losing out on the opportunity to be energy-independent by banning “safe extraction of natural gas.” Eradicating the ban would bring down energy costs and create new jobs, Zeldin said.
“We are all pro-environment,” said Zeldin.
Hochul’s office declined to comment on Zeldin’s remarks.
