Two far-left Mayor Zohran Mamdani-backed House hopefuls are plotting a socialist push in DC even before being elected \u2014 and it could cost the Big Apple more than $215 million in crucial anti-terror funds.<\/p>\n
Leading Democratic Socialists of America candidates Darializa Avila-Chevalier and Claire Valdez have hatched a scheme<\/a> with congressional \u201cSquad\u201d members to vote down the Department of Homeland Security budget next year as they try to help create a powerful bloc of socialists in office in the nation\u2019s capital, according to insiders.<\/p>\n The anti-DHS plan would come at a cost to the local radicals\u2019 de facto DSA leader Mamdani, who has pushed for the funding and would have to answer for his comrades stripping New York City of the more than $215 million in counter-terrorism grants \u2014 but the radicals don\u2019t care, the sources noted.<\/p>\n Radical upstart Darializa Avila Chevalier unseated longtime Rep. Adriano Espaillat in NY-13\u2019s Dem primary this year. Robert Miller for NY Post<\/p>\n Claire Valdez won the Democratic primary in NY-7. William C Lopez\/NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cThey are trying to figure out how to hurt DHS even if it costs NYC millions\u00a0[of dollars],\u201d a source fumed. <\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t care what it costs NYC. They are there to make a point.\u201d<\/p>\n Avila-Chevalier and Valdez are expected to sail to victory come November after securing wins in primaries earlier this year. <\/p>\n Avila-Chevalier is seeking a House seat repping parts of Manhattan and The Bronx, while Valdez, a state assemblywoman who represents portions of Brooklyn and Queens, hopes to win a congressional seat for that area.<\/p>\n Already in their sights is the Urban Areas Security Initiative, or UASI, which was created in 2003 as a direct response to 9\/11<\/a> and provides nearly $600 million in grants for high-profile urban areas to prevent terror attacks.<\/p>\n New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has railed against any cuts to the terror-funding program. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post<\/p>\n Mamdani, along with his Albany frenemies, Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James, have repeatedly bemoaned the Trump administration for withholding some of the funds as recently as earlier this month.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not talking about reports or studies or abstract security proposals,\u201d Hizzoner griped Sept. 1<\/a>. \u201cWe are talking about the money needed to fully fund 12 bomb squads across New York.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are talking about the money needed to ensure that\u00a0in the event of\u00a0a catastrophic attack, the FDNY can communicate internally and respond effectively. And we are talking about making sure that should New Yorkers ever face a radiological threat, our first responders have the training, the\u00a0equipment\u00a0and the capabilities they need to respond.\u00a0 Avila-Chevalier and Valdez\u2019s half-baked plot to flex their socialist muscles as freshman Congress members and stand against DHS has involved an assist from \u201cSquad\u201d Reps. Ilhan Omar<\/a> (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib<\/a> (D-Mich.) \u2014 despite putting Mamdani and his admin in a bind.<\/p>\n
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\u201cTo put it simply, there is no excuse for the federal government to leave the nation\u2019s largest city to shoulder this burden alone.\u201d<\/p>\n