We are in a crisis, nationally and locally. New York is suffering: Over 22,600 have died from coronavirus in New York State, while a huge and growing number of people are unemployed, and businesses are shutting their doors.
And what is our representative in Washington, D.C., Lee Zeldin, doing? He isn’t fighting for us — he is playing politics. He’s parroting Donald Trump’s nonsense.
Last Friday, the House voted on a $3 trillion package that would, most significantly, provide relief to our state and local governments, eliminate the SALT tax, and provide funding for virus testing and contact tracing. Additionally, it would provide hazard pay for essential workers, extend unemployment benefits, provide student loan debt relief, protect renters from eviction and homeowners from foreclosure, protect the U.S. Postal Service, and protect our elections.
This should have been an easy one to support. But not for Lee Zeldin — who voted no.
This isn’t a partisan issue. Here’s what Zeldin’s fellow Republican, Congressman Peter King, had to say: “New York is going to die — my county, Nassau County, [and] Suffolk County is also in my district; not only are they running up tremendous costs, their revenue losses are unbelievable. …
“This is a natural disaster, and the money has to come in. … Many people are concerned about what party leadership is going to say, but the reality is, you’re elected to Congress to represent your district: [New York] has gotten screwed for so many years, whenever I get a chance to even the score, I do it.”
Lee Zeldin voted against a bill that is good for Suffolk County, Long Island, New York and all of America. Then he went off to spend the weekend at Camp David with Donald Trump. Party over constituency.
And if Lee Zeldin can’t see that, then Lee Zeldin shouldn’t be in Congress.
When I take his seat, I’ll fight every day to do the right thing. Count on it.
Perry Gershon
East Hampton
Mr. Gershon is a Democratic candidate for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives — Ed.
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