Long Islanders Demand Rep. D’Esposito Invest in Communities; Oppose Republican Effort to Raise Retirement Age, Cut Social Security Benefits
Long Island Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has Failed to Denounce the Republican Proposal to Raise the Retirement Age, Cut Social Security, and Strip Critical Programs of Funding
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK — Today, Empire State Voices, Make the Road Action, and Social Security Works were joined by local advocacy groups, union members, and concerned Long Islanders for a press conference and rally outside Congressman Anthony D’Esposito’s district office in Garden City.
With lawmakers poised to begin negotiations over 2025 funding levels, speakers called on Rep. D’Esposito to fight for investments in their communities, rather than cutting the programs that working families rely on. The coalition included representatives from Battleground New York Action, 1199SEIU, Communications Workers of America, New York Working Families Party, Long Island Progressive Coalition, New York Communities for Change, MoveOn, and Bend the Arc.
Standing in front of a billboard truck that echoed their message, residents demanded that Congressman D’Esposito break his silence and oppose the Republican Study Committee’s recently proposed budget. | Credit: EMPIRE STATE VOICES
Standing in front of a billboard truck that echoed their message, residents demanded that Congressman D’Esposito break his silence and oppose the Republican Study Committee’s recently proposed budget, which would raise the retirement age, cut Social Security benefits, and increase the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs for millions of New Yorkers. The proposal would also take away food and housing assistance from working families while extending tax cuts to large corporations and the ultra-wealthy.
“This budget contains some of the most anti-worker, anti-retirement language we’ve seen this entire Congressional session,” said Dylan Wheeler, NY-04 Organizing Director for Empire State Voices. “Rep. D’Esposito, you’ve been silent for long enough. It’s time you speak up for the people of Long Island, speak up for your constituents, and speak out against this horrendous budget that would take away benefits from working families and harm communities across Long Island.”
“It is disappointing that our Congressman D’Esposito is failing to stand up and defend working-class Long Island families like mine.” -Yehovani Villalobos | Credit: EMPIRE STATE VOICES
While the Congressman has remained silent on the RSC’s recent proposal, his voting record over the past year raises serious concerns about his potential support for these measures. In last year’s first round of funding negotiations, Rep. D’Esposito voted to slash nearly all government funding by 30%, including cuts to the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, K-12 education, and nutrition assistance for women and infants.
Rep. D’Esposito also recently voted to add a citizenship question to the next census, in a clear attempt to intimidate immigrant communities from participating. This would result in an undercount, leading to less funding for Long Island and harming communities nationwide that depend on federal resources. Our communities deserve a full and fair count.
“It is disappointing that our Congressman D’Esposito is failing to stand up and defend working-class Long Island families like mine,” said Yehovani Villalobos, a Long Island resident and member of Make the Road Action. “Instead of cutting funding to programs that help families pay for medicine, housing, and retire with dignity, our leaders must protect and invest in our communities so that we all have a better future.”
While the Congressman has remained silent on the RSC’s recent proposal, his voting record over the past year raises serious concerns about his potential support for these measures. | Credit: EMPIRE STATE VOICES
“We are here today to urge—no, to demand—that Representative D’Esposito stand up and fight for his constituents that have the most to lose if the Republican Study Committee has their way with their next budget,” said Michael Gendron, a representative of Communication Workers of America. “Low and middle-income workers and seniors cannot afford to live with the changes that the RSC wants to force on us. We need our representatives—representatives like Anthony D’Esposito—to start representing US! We need Representative D’Esposito to tell the RSC: ‘NO!’”
“Congressman D’Esposito is a Republican, but he has a choice,” said Joe Sackman, Chair of the Long Island Progressive Coalition. “He can stand up for Long Islanders and not join in this madness. Instead, he can embrace the true values of the working class of this nation. This government isn’t meant to serve just the interests of the ultra-wealthy. It’s meant to serve all of us.”
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.
About Make the Road Action
Make the Road Action builds political power rooted in immigrant and working-class communities, promotes progressive policy solutions, and strengthens the movement for justice through electoral and grassroots organizing.
