Vice President Harris was interrupted by a heckler while giving a speech on the bipartisan infrastructure deal and the Biden administration’s Build Back Better agenda in New York on Friday.
Harris was talking about elements of the plan, saying it was about being better on climate and supporting working families, when a man in the audience at the Eden wild YMCA in the Northeast Bronx thought up and interrupted her remarks.
The man in the audience interrupted Harris mid-sentence while she was talking about “better health, better jobs and about families” to state that better infrastructure would have stopped people drowning in their basements in Queens during Hurricane Ida earlier this year.
Harris briefly engaged with the man, telling him, “you are right, brother” and adding “you and I will talk after I give my comments, and I am happy to talk with you.”
“Eight families drowned here in Queens. It could have been prevented if we had the right infrastructure,” the heckler yelled. He was apparently referring to the 13 people who died last month from hurricane Ida’s floodwaters, including 11 who drowned in basements.
City officials have blamed the tragedies on an outdated sewer system that couldn’t handle the torrential rainfall.
“You are right brother,” Harris replied from the podium.
“I am right about that,” the heckler continued.
The man continued to keep talking and shouting out about China’s Belt and Road initiative.
Harris kept speaking saying, “I’m happy to talk to you, but right now let’s talk about the agenda.”
Then secret service agent assured him out of the room.
