22 NOVEMBER, 2011   CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PDF VERSION OF THESE COMMENTS

LAST NIGHT, CONGRESSWOMAN NAN HAYWORTH FACED HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT HER PHILOSOPHY AND HER RECORD. AND, AN AUDIENCE OF 60 PEOPLE FOUND HER ANSWERS AND APPROACH WANTING. THE AUDIENCE WAS LARGELY COMPRISED OF FOUR GROUPS OF PEOPLE: THOSE FROM MINISINK INTERESTED IN STOPPING A NATURAL GAS COMPRESSOR SCHEDULED FOR CONSTRUCTION IN THEIR BACKYARDS, VICTIMS OF HURRICANE IRENE WHO REMAIN WITHOUT SUFFICIENT ASSISTANCE, DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACTIVISTS AND HAYWORTH STAFF/NEW WINDSOR POLITICIANS AND A FEW SPRINKLED REPUBLICAN ACTIVISTS.

DR. HAYWORTH STARTED WITH AN AWKWARD AND DISJOINTED DEFENSE OF HER PRIORITIES. SHE FOCUSED ON THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL DEFICIT AND HER CLAIM THAT IT WAS URGENT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BE SHRUNK SO AS TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS OF "US PEOPLE". SHE LAMENTED THE FAILURE OF THE SUPERCOMMITTEE, COMPLIMENTING ALL THE MEMBERS ON THE SINCERITY OF THEIR POSITIONS, BUT OFFERING NOTHING CONCRETE OF HER OWN. SHE MADE NO MENTION OF FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES OF ANY SORT.

AFTER THIS RATHER BRIEF AND DISJOINTED STATEMENT, SHE BEGAN TAKING QUESTIONS:

IMMEDIATELY, THE RESIDENTS FROM MINISINK BEGAN MAKING THEIR CASE AS TO WHY FERC SHOULD DISAPPROVE THE MILLENIUM APPLICATION FOR A COMPRESSOR STATION IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. DR. HAYWORTH ENCOURAGED THE RESIDENTS TO ORGANIZE AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. BUT, SHE DID NOT SUPPORT THEIR POSITION. INSTEAD, SHE PORTRAYED HER ROLE AS INSURING THAT FERC FOLLOW FEDERAL LAW. THIS POSITION PLAINLY DID NOT SATISFY THOSE FROM MINISINK. OTHERS ASKED HER FOR LEADERSHIP ON THE ISSUE; SHE DEMURRED AND MADE IT SOUND LIKE HER ROLE WAS TO MONITOR THE PROCESS, NOT LEAD OR AVIDLY REPRESENT THE INTERESTS AND VIEWS OF THOSE WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT DIMINISHING PROPERTY VALUES AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND THREATS.

FOLLOWING ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON THIS SUBJECT, PETER REILLY FROM ROCKLAND COUNTY STOOD UP AND BEGAN A SYSTEMATIC ATTACK ON DR. HAYWORTH'S CLAIMED SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. HE CITED HOUSE BILLS AND AMENDMENTS SHE SUPPORTED WHICH DILUTED THE CLEAR AIR AND CLEAN WATER ACTS. HE CITED THE SPECIFICS IN A CLEAR, IF MODEST, MANNER. AS PETER SPOKE, HAYWORTH STRAINED HER BODY AND SCOWLED AND SMIRKED. HE FINISHED AND SHE IMMEDIATELY SAID THAT WHILE MOST REPUBLICANS GET 'Ds' FROM THE SIERRA CLUB, SHE HAD AN "A-" RATING. SHE CLAIMED THAT HER VOTES WERE AN EFFORT TO STRIKE A PROPER BALANCE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. SHE HAD TO SUPPORT CURBING REGULATIONS ON CEMENT PLANTS, SHE ARGUED, OR 20% OF THEM WOULD CLOSE AND WE WOULD GET CEMENT FROM SOME UNNAMED FOREIGN COUNTRY. PETER ASKED HER WHETHER ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS OPPOSING HER POSITIONS WERE WRONG AND SHE REPEATED HER "WE NEED BALANCE" RHETORIC AND MADE CLEAR SHE WOULD NEVER IMPERIL THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE NEXT SPEAKER ASKED DR. HAYWORTH WHETHER SHE WOULD SPONSOR STRONGER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM LEGISLATION FOCUSED ON FORCING PACS TO DISCLOSE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. SHE DEMURRED, GAVE A RAMBLING ANSWER ABOUT HOW VOTERS NEED TO BE SKEPTICAL OF THE SOURCES OF INFORMATION THEY READ AND ULTIMATELY SAID SHE WOULD NOT SPONSOR SUCH LEGISLATION, BUT MIGHT SUPPORT IT DEPENDING ON WHAT WAS IN IT.

IRENE HURRICANE VICTIMS TOOK THE FLOOR NEXT. THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DELAYS IN GETTING ASSISTANCE AND THE ABSENCE OF FOCUS ON PROJECTS OF CONCERN TO THEIR COMMUNITY, I.E., BRIDGES AND ROADS. BEFORE SHE RESPONDED, DR. HAYWORTH BROUGHT TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM FOUR FEMA WORKERS AND A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SBA. WITH AMPLE COMMENTARY FROM GEORGE GREENE, TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR SUPERVISOR, HAYWORTH MADE IT APPEAR THAT SHE WAS DOING EVERYTHING IN HER POWER TO HELP PEOPLE RESPONSE TO THE NATURAL DISASTERS. SHE WAS UNSPECIFIC BUT QUITE SELF-IMPORTANT…SHE SET UP THIS OR THAT MEETING AND BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO, SHE CLAIMED, NEVER BEFORE HAD SPOKEN. AGAIN, THE CITIZENS WERE RESTIVE, NOT PACIFIED, AND PRESSED FOR DETAILS, TIME TABLES AND RESULTS. THE CONGRESSWOMAN DEFERRED TO SUPERVISOR GREEN AND BLAMED THE STATE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT MAKING ITS SHARE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO 'PUBLIC ASSISTANCE' PROJECTS FUNDED BY FEMA THROUGH THE STATES.

AFTER ABOUT 25 MINUTES ON FEMA, I SPOKE. I TOLD THE CONGRESSWOMAN THAT RECENT EVENTS MADE CLEAR THAT GOVERNMENT'S ROLE NEEDED TO BE EXPANDED, NOT CONTRACTED. I ATTACKED THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS FOR DE-FUNDING FEMA AND NOTED THE INCONSISTENCY IN HER IDEOLOGY OF CUTTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT A TIME WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUCH SIGNIFICANT NEEDS. I ATTACKED WAR FUNDING AND OUR BACKWARDS PRIORITIES. I EXPLAINED THAT WE NEEDED MUCH GREATER FEDERAL COMMITMENT TO FUNDING MAJOR INFRA-STRUCTURE PROJECTS, NOT LESS, AND NOTED THAT THE SAME NATURAL DISASTERS AS RECENTLY BEFELL OUR COMMUNITIES COULD REPEAT THEMSELVES WITH THE SAME DEVASTATING EFFECTS. I ALSO NOTED THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN HAD BEEN DILATORY IN RESPONDING AFTER THE HURRICANE, LINKING ASSISTANCE TO DECREASED FEDERAL SPENDING IN OTHER AREAS.

WITH THAT, HAYWORTH INTERRUPTED AND DISPUTED SHE EVER MADE SUCH A STATEMENT. SHE DENIED THAT CONGRESS HAD GUTTED FEMA AND PROCLAIMED HER SUPPORT FOR THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT. SHE DENIED SHE WAS FUNCTIONING FROM ANY IDEOLOGY AND STATED THAT SHE JUST WANTED TO HELP THE PEOPLE. SHE HAD BEEN ASKED, SHE EXPLAINED, BY A DEMOCRAT FROM VERMONT TO JOIN A BI-PARTISAN COMMITTEE AND SHE WORKED WITH EVERYONE. SHE THEN SAID TO ME, "SHAME ON YOU FOR COMING HERE WITH YOUR IDEOLOGY AND FOR TAKING THE TIME OF THESE GOOD PEOPLE WITH YOUR IDEOLOGY." I TRIED TO RESPOND, BUT GEORGE GREEN THREATENED ME WITH EXPULSION IF I DID SO.

FOLLOWING THIS EXCHANGE, THE CHESTER TOWN SUPERVISOR, NAVAL RESERVIST STEVE NEUHAUS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE CLOSING A UNIT AT A LOCAL VA HOSPITAL WHICH DEALS WITH PTSD VICTIMS. THE CONGRESSWOMAN EXPLAINED THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO AVERT THIS CUT.

DR. HAYWORTH CLOSE WITH COMMENTS ABOUT THE TAX CODE, ADVOCATING A "FAIRER, FLATTER" FEDERAL TAX POLICY.

IN SUMMARY, THE MEETING REPRESENTED A CONTINUATION OF AN IMPORTANT DIALOGUE OVER NATIONAL PRIORITIES. OUR CONGRESSWOMAN OPPOSES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXCEPT WHERE IT CAN ASSIST RESIDENTS OF HER DISTRICT. THIS IS PARADOXICAL AND ILLOGICAL. SHE ATTACKS FEMA EXCEPT WHEN NATURAL DISASTER STRIKES HERE. SHE WANTS CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT, BUT WILL NOT CHAMPION CRITICAL LOCAL CONCERNS, I.E., MINISINK. SHE SUPPORTS A FLATTER TAX CODE [READ, MORE TAX BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHY] WHILE RAILING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENT FEDERAL DEFICIT. THE NEWSPAPER BARELY CAPTURED THE STRONG CITIZEN REVULSION WITH THESE POSITIONS, BUT THAT SENTIMENT WAS PLAIN LAST NIGHT IN NEW WINDSOR.

MICHAEL SUSSMAN [AP]

FOR INFORMATION EMAIL: response@democraticalliance.com

Join the CSEA and the Democratic Alliance
7:30 PM TONIGHT, SUNDAY, NOVEMBR 13TH 2011
for a
CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL
at the home of Legislator Amo, 16 Summit Road, Central Valley, NY

DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE PUBLIC SERVICE FORUMS 

Click above for a Printable PDF Version of this flyer.

In the fall of 2002, a group of progressive Democrats formed the Democratic Alliance in a series of meetings held in Goshen and Chester. Our original Board of Directors included Tom Bregman, an environmental activist from Cornwall, community activist Dawn Hulse-Sierra, from Greenville, Rev. Marguerita Pellott from Woodbury, Rev. Paul Jacquith from Goshen and Beth Law, an educator from Slate Hill. Michael Sussman, Esq. from Chester served, as he has since, as the group’s convener or chair.

From the outset, the Alliance has focused on local, state, national and international issues, seeking to raise public debate and discourse on the directions of government at all levels. To this end, DA has sought to unify Orange County Democrats around a progressive agenda. In 2003 and again in the spring 2007, we held “Come Speak Out Democrat” forums throughout the County. These forums were intended to allow members of our party [and others] to come and relate what Democratic Party priorities should be.

Drawing from the views expressed at these forums, DA has engaged in a persistent effort to speak truth to power.

Some highlights of our activity, further shown on this web site, include the following:

— advocating for a fair system of taxation in New York State, with less reliance on property taxes, which are regressive, and more reliance on a progressive income tax. We invited Frank Mauro, from the Fiscal Institute in Albany, to a forum in early 2003 to address these issues and have continued to lobby for these objectives.

— opposing unfunded mandates of No Child Left Behind while advocating for increased funding for education and increased services for all children, including those with disabilities. We hosted a summit of area school superintendents in April 2003 and heard from parents and teachers concerned that area schools were NOT properly treating disabled children or following state law governing the disciplining of all students. These insights led Mr. Sussman to file many successful lawsuits for parents and children and against school districts who continued to systematically violate the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act [IDEA] and New York State Education Law’s provisions governing the disciplining of students.

— opposing tuition increases at State Universities and Colleges which price many middle income families and their children out of even state sponsored college educations.

— In 2003-04, DA sponsored more than 35 public forums at which Mr. Sussman presented a critique of the Bush administration’s disrespect for civil liberties, as most clearly shown by the provisions of the Patriot Act. Many of the worst provisions of the Act sunsetted and Congress refused to re-authorize other provisions which blatantly violated constitutional rights.

— DA also strongly supported the actions of patriots who have opposed this administration’s counter-productive and immoral policies and found themselves prosecuted. We invited attorney Lynn Stewart to the Goshen Inn in December 2004. There, Lynn, gave a stirring explanation of the prosecution the government had initiated against her. We stood with Judith Karpova, a human shield prosecuted by the Treasury Department for her inspirational trip to IRAQ in the days before the commencement of that war. We represented the West Point 8, courageous residents of Peekskill and other Westchester County Communities, prosecuted for wearing antiwar tee-shirts at a basketball game at West Point in February 2004. Through our pressure, the charges against the West Point 8 were dropped and litigation continues opposing barment orders issued against them by the Military Academy.

From the onset, DA members, working with Orange County Peace and Justice, Women in Black, Code Pink and other organizations, have been at the forefront of local efforts to oppose the Iraqi invasion. We have sponsored forums on the war, organized numerous vigils and demonstrations in Goshen and at West Point to dramatize local sentiment. Each spring, as the Bush administration has sought to use West Point as a back-drop for a defense of its policies, DA has called for and led regional protests against the war. We have done so in cooperation with local police authorities and always adhered to the highest standards of non-violent resistance.

Since 2003, DA members have engaged in repeated, active voter registration drives in Middletown and Newburgh, our county’s two largest cities and the home of thousands of unregistered voters. Our drives have succeeded in registering between 700-800 voters. We expect to continue these efforts and applaud others, like Omari Shakur, who himself registered between 600-700 voters in Newburgh during the summer 2007.

Alliance members have been steadfast in their belief that proper law enforcement does not include disrespect of civilians. In Newburgh, we have led the fight for a police civilian review board, issuing a comprehensive report in October 2007 which laid out concrete recommendations for improving the accountability of that police department and expanding the representation of racial minorities in it.

Responding to the call for leadership brought by active member, George Figueroa, DA has participated in County efforts to insure that prescription drugs are available to those in need. The federal prescription drug legislation passed in 2006 provided for government subsidy of drug purchases, but left a major hole, after consumers spent about $2,500 on drugs. The government subsidy then ended, causing all in need to expend their own funds. Many complained to Haga Si, an advocacy organization started by Mr. Figueroa who brought together representatives from local political leaders to community activists to insure proper provision for those in need. We continue to advocate a single payer national health insurance policy which will eliminate greed from the medical/insurance system and insure full coverage to all residents of the United States.

DA supports the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney because they initiated an illegal war using lies and manipulation. We have strongly supported the initiation of Congressional hearings to expose these lies and manipulation. We reject the view that having such proceedings will hurt the Democratic Party and believe this process will prove to Americans that the Democratic Party stands for something and is not merely motivated by the next election.

The Democratic Alliance has open meetings each month at the Goshen Inn. Meeting notices will be posted on this web site. You need not be a member of any specific political party to attend or participate in meetings or activities.

You may get additional information about the Democratic Alliance by calling 294-3991 and speaking with Michael Sussman or George Figueroa. You may also write us at PO Box 1005, Goshen, New York 10924.

E-mail your views to: response@democraticalliance.com