Trying to boost Democratic turnout for Election Day, Gov. Kathy Hochul met with residents and seniors at a public housing development in Manhattan Saturday as part of the final stretch of campaigning. 

The governor received a warm welcome from the residents of the James Weldon Johnson Houses, which included a dance with local elected officials.

Hochul promised to deliver on health care, affordability and safety at the event. 

“Seniors, you deserve to have the best quality of life because you’ve already raised your families, you’re taking care of grandkids and all you want is the dignity to be with friends and in a safe environment, not worry about your meals, not worry about your health care either,” she said. “So those are the fights that I’m going to continue to take to Albany on your behalf.” 

At the event, Hochul mentioned her challenger Lee Zeldin.

She criticized his tight-knit relationship with former President Donald Trump and highlighted his recently revealed text messages to the White House related to voting irregularities related to the 2020 election. 

“Donald Trump has called one of his staunchest supporters, so how is that for an endorsement, said Hochul said. “He was texting the White House and telling them how to create this sense around the election that it wasn’t legal.”

On Saturday morning, Hochul received the endorsement of The New York Times just days after a new poll showed the race between the two candidates tightening to a few percentage points. 

Meanwhile, Zeldin was in the Bronx with one of his top surrogates, Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr., a former state senator and former city councilman. 

The Republican has campaigned on a platform of clamping down on crime and protecting everyday New Yorkers. 

Zeldin cited the case of Jose Alba, the Harlem bodega worker who faced murder charges after fatally stabbing a man after he jumped the counter and attacked him, as an example of what he says is a broken criminal justice system that needs reforming.

The charges against Alba were eventually dismissed by the Manhattan District Attorney. 

“When Jose Alba got out of prison, he decided that his American dream was over,” Zeldin said in a room of Hispanic clergy. 

He went onto say that the Alba case failed to protect the hardworking New Yorker. 

“It is so important that in order for us to be able to live our American dream, that we, our families and our communities must be able to be safe on our streets, in our subways, in our homes and where we work,” Zeldin added. 

The Republican criticized Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams’ subway safety announcement and said it harnesses few resources. 

Mayor Adams and Hochul announced Saturday afternoon their plan to increase subway patrols and dedicated inpatient beds for mentally ill people. 

“They are barely even scratching the surface. And if you think you’re going to stand there in front of the podium and say that your grand solution for EDPs, emotionally disturbed persons, people who are on the street in the subway is that you have beds for up to 50 of them and you’re actually going to pat yourself on the back,” Zeldin said. 

Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 29. 

The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 8.