MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) — As New York’s race for governor continues, both candidates are focusing on affordability, with Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighting insurance fraud and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman pointing to rising electricity costs.<\/p>\n
Hochul on Tuesday announced the arrests of 16 people charged with staging car crashes to collect insurance money, a practice she said contributes to higher insurance premiums across the state.<\/p>\n
It happens, on average, four times a day, somewhere in the State of New York; car crashes staged to collect insurance money.<\/p>\n
“The average New Yorker pays some of the highest auto insurance rates in the entire country about $4,000 a year,” Hochul said.<\/p>\n
The governor signed reforms this year aimed at reducing premiums by 10%.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Blakeman campaigned in Washington Heights alongside George Pataki, New York’s last Republican governor, and blamed Hochul for high utility costs.<\/p>\n
“People are telling me wherever I go how expensive their utility bills are. We got to get back to common sense and running our government and having an energy policy that works for the people,” Blakeman said.<\/p>\n
Blakeman said he would cut utility bills in half by rolling back clean energy surcharges on electric bills, ending restrictions on natural gas production and lifting Hochul’s moratorium on data centers.<\/p>\n
“With AI, it’s the future we all know it’s the future,” Blakeman said.<\/p>\n
Hochul rejected Blakeman’s proposals, calling his approach unrealistic and extreme.<\/p>\n
“I don’t pretend to say energy costs are going to be slashed in half on Day One,” Hochul said. “Just picture his vision for New York: hyperscale data centers all over New York State, smokestacks billowing out of fossil fuel generated power plants, as well as oil rigs and fracking rigs everywhere. I have a very different vision.”<\/p>\n
The state is mailing out energy rebate checks. Most experts believe the biggest driver of high utility rates is aging infrastructure that has long been neglected and needs to be upgraded.<\/p>\n
———-<\/p>\n
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered<\/a> <\/p>\n * More Manhattan news<\/a><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/p>\n * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts on the go<\/a> <\/p>\n * Download our connected TV app<\/a> <\/p>\n
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News<\/p>\n