As Biden Visits Syracuse, Central New Yorkers Call on Rep. Williams to Support the President’s Budget, Lower Costs

While President Biden Celebrated a $6 Billion Investment in the District, Rep. Williams Had Little to Show for His Efforts at First Town Hall in Nearly a Year

VERONA, NEW YORK — Yesterday, as President Biden visited Syracuse to tout a $6 billion investment in the area, Empire State Voices and Indivisible Mohawk Valley greeted Congressman Brandon Williams with protestors and a mobile billboard truck outside his town hall event in Verona, his first open-forum event in nearly a year. 

Rep. William attempted to pitch his record to local residents, but protestors reminded attendees of the Representative’s marked absence on key issues facing Central New Yorkers and their families across the district. The billboard, which calls on Rep. Williams to support President Biden’s proposed budget and take action to lower costs for CNY families, is part of Empire State Voices’ broader effort to hold Rep. Williams accountable for voting against the interests of working people.

Protestors reminded attendees of the Representative’s marked absence on key issues facing Central New Yorkers and their families across the district. | Credit: ESV

“Rep. Williams will never understand the Mohawk Valley. What’s worse is that he isn’t even trying,” said Sarah Reeske, Organizing Manager of Indivisible Mohawk Valley. “He’s inaccessible, fails to listen to people directly, and votes in lock step with what his party wants instead of what the people of Oneida County want.”

Congressman Williams represents a district deeply entrenched in a cost-of-living crisis, with Syracuse ranking number 2 in the nation in child poverty and experiencing skyrocketing housing costs. Despite the dire need for economic relief in his own backyard, Rep. Williams has focused his attention primarily on national and international issues.

“While families in Central New York have been struggling to make ends meet, Congressman Brandon Williams has been missing in action.” - Maria Martinez | Credit: ESV

“While families in Central New York have been struggling to make ends meet, Congressman Brandon Williams has been missing in action,” said Maria Martinez, Executive Director of Empire State Voices. “This is his first open-forum event in almost a year, and his priorities in Washington reflect that. While hardworking New Yorkers have begged for action to be taken to address high costs, Rep. Williams has ignored their pleas. He’s galavanting around the country fighting his culture war, with little regard for the actual needs of the people he was sent to Congress to represent.”

To learn more about the campaign, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org

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About Empire State Voices 

Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.