Empire State Voices Launches NY-04 Effort Holding Rep. D’Esposito Accountable
The Advocacy Organization Expands to NY-04 as New York House Republicans Fail to Focus on Lowering New Yorkers’ Day-to-Day Costs
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK — Yesterday, Empire State Voices (ESV) officially launched its advocacy efforts in New York’s 4th Congressional District, hosting local residents for a community conversation about economic issues being ignored by Representative D’Esposito.
The evening featured a panel discussion with ESV Executive Director Maria Martinez, former State Senator John Brooks, former Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, and Long Island Activists and Nassau Working Families Party representative Joe Sackman. The conversation focused on economic issues facing residents in the district, from healthcare costs and inflation to tax fairness.
In the first seven months since taking office, Rep. D’Esposito has voted to protect wealthy and corporate tax cheats, give corporations $6 billion in tax breaks, and make it harder for seniors to access the Social Security and Medicare benefits they earned.
“Rep. D’Esposito hasn’t been in office long, but he’s already made it crystal clear where his priorities lie, and it’s not with the people of his district or the very real issues they’re facing,” said Maria Martinez, Executive Director of Empire State Voices. “Tonight is an effort to uplift their voices and let their stories be heard. New Yorkers are tired of being left behind. We’re demanding real action from our representatives—an action that will lower our day-to-day costs and allow us and our families to thrive, not simply scrape by.”
“It’s time that the people in government understand that their job is to serve the people, not the party,” said former State Senator John Brooks. “We’re in a situation now where so many people are so quick to turn their back on people in need. That’s not who we are. That’s not what we’re about… It’s time that we ask for solutions.”
“Don’t just listen to [what Rep. D’Esposito says], because he’s all about talking the talk, but that guy never walks the walk,” said former Assemblywoman Judy Griffin. “I have listened to him make speeches and it’s always the same thing, but when it comes down to it—when he has the chance to vote to help people—he doesn’t.”
“When you cut our services, when you cut funding to schools, when you cut funding to hospitals and Medicaid, the cost comes back onto us,” said Joe Sackman, Long Island Activists and Nassau Working Families Party representative. “There’s always a cost to this, and we are the ones who are paying it over and over and over again. That has to change.”
Panelists Judy Griffin, John Brooks, Maria Martinez, and Joe Sackman | Credit: JAY BRANDON / ESV
Residents of NY-04 came out to discuss issues ranging from healthcare costs and inflation to tax fairness | Credit: LESLIE ROSE
To learn more about the campaign, please reach out at 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.
