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Audience largely agrees with pol as critics hand out leaflets outside by Victoria Zunitch Chronicle Contributor
Constituents of Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, Bronx) spent a good deal of time agreeing with his agenda and approach to the Trump administration at a Tuesday night town hall, although several did so rather contentiously. “Why aren’t the Democrats supporting healthcare for all? Why isn’t Nancy Pelosi supporting Medicare for all?” one constituent demanded. Crowley had mentioned earlier that he recently signed on to support HR 676, the “Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act,” a single-payer plan introduced every year by U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) since 2003. Crowley said he can’t answer for other representatives, but reiterated his support for the single-payer bill. The town hall attracted a crowd of about 150 to the auditorium of IS 145, the Joseph Pulitzer School, on 80th Street in Jackson Heights. Several constituents made long, angry statements about certain issues. Each time, both Crowley and the crowd listened silently for an extended period of time until eventually, an audience member shouted, “What’s your question?” One such constituent vented his complaints about Israel and the Palestinians. Once the crowed interrupted the attendee’s speech, Crowley reiterated his support for a two-state solution. “I believe in giving Israel resources to protect itself. That doesn’t say Israel is a perfect nation,” Crowley said. Crowley also said he doesn’t believe President Trump has either the intellectual ability or the temperament to reach his stated goal of achieving peace in the Middle East. In his introductory remarks, Crowley, who is the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, used no uncertain terms to show his opposition to Trump and his agenda. “Unforgivable,” Crowley declared numerous times. He said it is unforgivable that Trump has launched a verbal attack on Crowley’s Muslim and immigrant constituents; implemented policies that “perpetuate crime” by creating fear of authorities in undocumented immigrants that prevents them from helping police with investigations; and proposed a healthcare plan that will, according to the Congressional Budget Office, leave 23 million Americans without coverage. Crowley also directly addressed the fact that a few people outside the school were distributing handouts with information about recent negative press stories concerning him. The New York Post has been reporting recently on several of
Peggy Hill asks how Democrats can effectively counter the PHOTOS BY VICTORIA ZUNITCH policies of Trump.
Rep. Joe Crowley addresses his constituents at a town hall in Jackson Heights. Crowley’s financial dealings. For example, the tabloid reported on May 10 that Crowley is using campaign money to rent an office outside his district that is owned by a limited liability company controlled by his brother. The article noted that rules of the House of Representatives sometimes allow such arrangements under certain conditions and that a Crowley spokesman declined to address whether or not those conditions had been met. “I know that there are people with leaflets outside. I will not be silenced. Not by Donald Trump and not by the [Independent Democratic Conference],” Crowley said. The Chronicle asked the office of IDC leader state Sen. Jeffrey D. Klein (D-Bronx, Westchester) if the group was involved in the distribution of fliers Tuesday night, but the office didn’t respond as of press time. Several constituents addressed the broader issue for Democrats of how to clarify their message, and get it across nationally, and generally be a more successful party. “Our message, I think, wasn’t quite good enough,” one said.
“The message was good but it wasn’t delivered” during the election, Crowley countered. Crowley constituent Peggy Hill of the Bronx stated that it appears protesting and marching isn’t working, and asked Crowley what more can be done to advance “our interests.” Specifically, she noted that Democratic regions like New York and California contribute a disproportionate share of tax money to the federal government but aren’t getting much back, especially under Trump. “He’s already said down South is where he wants to spend the money,” Hill said. But Crowley encouraged protesters to press on. “I think that those kinds of things do have an impact,” he said.’’ Justin Warner, of Jackson Heights, vociferously voiced ethical concerns about the administration, including but not limited to, how Trump “cozies up to murderous dictators, flamboyantly colludes with the regime of Vladimir Putin” and Trump’s own statements in an Oval Office meeting with Russian officials concerning his relieving pressure on himself by firing former FBI Director James Comey. “I think what the president intimated in those meetings, from what I read, is a construct of obstruction” of justice, Crowley said. Crowley said he has faith in former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who was recently appointed as special counsel by the Justice Department to investigate ties between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials. But he noted that a proper investigation takes time. Q “Follow the facts where they lead to,” Crowley said.
Councilman Lancman praises the decision Associate Editor
The Department of Environmental Protection will not be recommending an increase in water rates to the Water Board for the rest of fiscal year 2018, an email obtained by the Chronicle shows. “The water and sewer system’s finances have been strong over the past year, and are expected to remain so in the coming year, for several reasons,” DEP Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs and Communications Michael DeLoach said in an email. It was unclear who the message was sent to; DeLoach did not immediately respond when asked who the recipients were. Queens leaders and activists recently criticized Mayor
de Blasio for raising water rates in previous years when the additional funding was not needed for maintaining the city’s sewer and water infrastructure. De Blasio himself chastised the policy when he was the public advocate. Earlier this year, the DEP testified before the City Council that no extra revenues were needed this year to keep the system running. Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows), a vocal opponent of what he considered unjustified raises in the water rates, expressed relief. “I am pleased that the Mayor finally listened to homeowners and civic associations, and will not be proposing a water rate hike in the upcoming year,” the lawmaker
said in a prepared statement. “New York City homeowners have been hit with unnecessary water rate hikes for far too long, and it is about time the City followed the facts when proposing rates, instead of playing political games.” Today, the water rate is $3.81 per 100 cubic feet and the combined water and sewer rate is $9.87 per 100 cubic feet, according to the DEP. “The minimum water and sewer charge per metered household remains at $1.27 per day,” a Lancman spokesman said. The Water Board, which did not take action on raising rates at a public meeting last month, will have a hearing on the rates on June 16 at 22 Reade St. in Q Manhattan; the event starts at 9 a.m.
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DEP to not recommend raising water rates by Ryan Brady
Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 1, 2017
Dem Rep. Crowley sees friendly crowd