Author: Andrew Davis

Chairman Kassar’s Weekly Wrap Up 9/6/24

Chinese Agent Charged in NY Government

The recent revelation of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spy infiltrating some of the highest levels of New York State government is not just a fleeting headline—it’s a grave national security threat that demands our full attention. For years, a CCP agent by the name of Linda Sun worked as the Deputy Chief of Staff for two New York governors. Just recently, Linda was charged as a Chinese agent on counts of fraud, money laundering, and other crimes. Recently I went on the Dominic Carter show on WABC Radio to discuss this in detail, you can listen here. Kathy Hochul claims she had no idea Linda had any connection to the CCP, but she never found it odd that Linda was living a lavish lifestyle. She had multiple houses across the Country and a 4 million dollar house in New York. At this high of a level there is supposed to be a rigorous background and vetting. So the question is, what was Kathy getting out of hiring her? This breach of trust goes beyond a simple failure. It’s a testament to how vulnerable we’ve allowed ourselves to become in the face of China’s aggressive espionage efforts. 

This issue didn’t start here. Last year, we discovered that the CCP was brazenly setting up illegal “police precincts” on American soil, including in New York, to monitor and intimidate Chinese dissidents and Americans who oppose the regime. And now we find out that their infiltration reaches even further into the heart of our own government. The fact that we have allowed a foreign adversary to plant an operative in such a sensitive position is absolutely intolerable.

Let’s be clear—the U.S. relationship with Communist China has been deteriorating for years, but our ability to defend against their sophisticated espionage operations hasn’t kept up. In New York, we are seeing the devastating consequences of that failure firsthand. Any attempt to minimize or dismiss this as an isolated incident would be a dangerous mistake. You can read our full press release here:

NYC Top Officials Homes Raided

Like this week couldn’t get any crazier, the homes of two top officials close to NYC Mayor Eric Adams were raided by the FBI Wednesday. FBI agents raided the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. It is not clear at the time the reason for the raid, but rumors are circulating it is in connection with corruption in campaign fundraising by the Adams campaign.

According to a Fox report, Several NYPD executives, including NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, were asked to turn over their phones immediately to investigators at the US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Investigators will also reportedly be looking into emails within the department. In addition, according to reports, Tim Pearson, a top aide to Adams was also told to turn over communication devices. As the story unfolds, we will keep you updated, but there certainly seems to be something sinister going on.

Trump Pulling Ahead in Swing States

According to the NY Post, “Trafalgar, which polled between Aug. 28 and 30, sees Trump sweeping 44 electoral votes from the pivotal Blue Wall states in November, eking out narrow wins in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin inside the polls’ margins of error.” In addition, other swing states like Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina have a similar trend where Trump is pulling ahead by one to two points.

This new polling comes as no surprise to me. President Trump is working tirelessly everyday traveling the Country and spreading his winning message. He is the only candidate in the race willing to do unscripted interviews, town halls, Q and As, and has a clear policy agenda. The exact opposite is true for Vice President Harris. After declining 2 extra debates, needing Tim Walz to help her sit in a softball interview, or shielding herself from the press, it is obvious she is not ready to lead the strongest Nation in the world. The American people are watching, and they demand answers from Harris, but it seems the Harris campaign wants to keep their policy in the dark. This will not be a winning strategy, and we expect Trump to pull ahead even further after Tuesday’s debate. 

Chairman Kassar’s Weekly Wrap-Up 8/16/24

Harris’ Abysmal Record

Next week, Democrats from around the country will meet in Chicago to nominate their ticket for President and Vice President, and frankly, they have some explaining to do. Aside from the fact that not a single vote was cast for Kamala Harris, Harris’ record as District Attorney, Attorney General, U.S. Senator and now as the Vice President on issues that are important to Americans is abysmal. Her choice for Vice President, Tim Walz, is no better, and pushes her further to the left. 

During her time as a California prosecutor, Harris waged war against American energy independence by prosecuting U.S. energy producers. When it came to crime she weaponized the justice system, using prosecutorial misconduct to keep innocent people behind bars. During her four years in the Senate, Kamala Harris was ranked the second most liberal Senator. Time and time again she introduced legislation and signed on as a co-sponsor to legislation that never passed. Instead of using her time in the Senate to improve our nation, she used it as a time to get famous. After being approached by Republican Senators who wanted to pass bi-partisan legislation, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said that he “got the impression she was there to run for President. She just didn’t seem interested in legislating.” Harris decided just two years into her term that she would run for President in 2020. Harris refuses to work together with conservative voices to make America better for all and seeks unilateral control for her anti-American agenda. 

As Vice President, Kamala Harris continued to push Biden to the left while failing at her own tasks. She has admitted that she was the last person in the room three years ago when 13 servicemembers gave their lives for our country. She was appointed Border Czar and the crisis our country faces at the border has only gotten worse. Now as she runs for President, we still know very little about what plans and policies she is running on. However, one policy we do know about is something I can agree with. It is often said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, and Kamala Harris’ new campaign plan is to imitate President Trump: announcing “No Tax on Tips” in the same city that Trump had announced it in earlier this summer. 

Sadly, Tim Walz is no better than Harris. At a time where she needs to appear to reach out to moderates across the nation, her V.P. pick shows how far left America will go in a Harris-Walz administration. As Governor, Walz signed laws that allowed late-term abortions, raised taxes, marched with protestors to abolish ICE and watched as Minneapolis burned during the riots of 2020. 

But there is hope for the future. Tomorrow, the Conservative Party will nominate Donald Trump and J.D. Vance to be our candidates for President and Vice President. The differences between the extreme left wing agenda that Harris will implement and Trump’s  America First agenda is startling. This November we have a choice to make. Those who see the economy, public safety, national defense, and being the strongest country in the world as important for the health of our nation know that the Trump-Vance ticket is the only option. We implore all New Yorkers to vote conservative this November. You can find more information about tomorrow’s convention here.

Nassau County Mask Ban – Hochul Backs Criminals

This week, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed a bill that would ban wearing a mask in public, except for health and safety reasons or religious customs. This bill was passed after anti-Israel protesters engaged in violence and disrupted people’s lives while wearing masks earlier this summer at colleges across the state. While originally supporting the idea for NYC subways, Hochul changed her opinion and now only supports steeper punishments for crimes committed while wearing a mask. What the Governor doesn’t seem to realize is that people wear masks to get away with committing crimes. What she proposes does nothing to help police catch the criminals on our streets. Governor Hochul is oblivious to what New Yorkers are going through and what they need. You would have thought she had learned her lesson after almost losing to Congressman Lee Zeldin in 2022 because of the rampant crime hitting New York, but instead Hochul stands with criminals rather than everyday citizens. 

Proposition One:

“Prop 1 would mandate extreme ‘trans rights’ in New York — and that’s not even the worst of it”

By: Post Editorial Board

“New Yorkers are set to vote on the controversial “Equal Protection of Law Amendment”

If nothing else moves New Yorkers to vote this November, Proposition 1 should: It would not only write the most extreme “trans rights” into the state Constitution, it would legalize rank discrimination on the basis of . . . pretty much every far-left agenda item.

Democrats are selling this “Equal Rights Amendment” as protecting abortion rights, which are in no way under threat in New York and aren’t really what it’s about anyway.

It’s without question the greatest bait-and-switch in Empire State history.

New York’s Constitution bans discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed or religion; Prop 1 would add new protected categories: ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health care.

The supposed advance in abortion rights is that it outlaws discrimination against you because you had an abortion, which is beyond boutique.

Meanwhile, the scrum of other protections adds up to, among other things, stripping parents of their rights over allowing minors to go on puberty blockers and undergo transgender surgery.

Worse, the measure also legalizes reverse discrimination in order to “prevent or dismantle” the banned forms of discrimination.

That is, New York’s left-leaning politicians and judges could mandate discrimination on the basis of race, age, gender, religion etc. as long as they claim to be fighting other such discrimination.

This is a license for rank injustice and insanely divisive social engineering — not to mention for ambulance-chasing lawyers to file a host of insanely vexatious suits.

The broad language of the proposal — dubbed Proposition One — has sparked a fierce debate over what could happen if it gets passed.

None of that is likely to appear in the ballot language describing Prop 1: While the issue is still being litigated, the insiders will likely get their way, and they want you to believe this is somehow about responding to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which simply left abortion law up to the states.

That is, the Democratic establishment backs it purely as something that will drive up turnout for Democratic candidates — and doesn’t much care about what a horror show it’ll usher in.

Answering that feckless cynicism is ample reason to vote against every Democrat on the ballot while you’re voting NO on Prop One.

But it’s the duty of every sane New Yorker to at least show up to reject this madness.”

You can read the full NYP article here.

Statement From NYS Conservative Party 7/15/24 VP Pick

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
July 15, 2024

Statement on JD Vance as Trump Running Mate by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar

“President Trump has made a brilliant choice in selecting celebrated author, Marine Corps veteran, and U.S. Senator from Ohio J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential pick. Mr. Vance personifies the tens of millions of disaffected Americans, of all ethnicities and backgrounds, who could only watch as millions of well-paying manufacturing jobs vanished from our nation in recent decades. In selecting Mr. Vance as his vice presidential running mate, President Trump is sending an unmistakable message to the voting public: America comes first.

“The Conservative Party looks forward to campaigning with President Trump and Senator Vance throughout New York, a state now in play. It’s full steam ahead ‘til Election Day.”

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Chairman Kassar’s Weekly Wrap Up 7/12/24

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE)

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the crucial SAVE Act, a significant step towards upholding the integrity of our elections and partially addressing the ongoing migrant crisis exacerbated by President Biden, Governor Hochul, and the Democratic Party. Despite opposition from 198 Democrats, the bill received unanimous support from the New York congressional delegation, reflecting their commitment to securing our borders and ensuring fair elections. We extend our thanks to the New York representatives for their support and dedication to safeguarding the interests of their constituents and the nation as a whole. You can read our full press release on the SAVE Act here.

Biden’s Leadership Crisis

Yesterday, President Biden’s highly anticipated “big boy” one-hour press conference, aimed at demonstrating his fitness for another term, was marred by numerous gaffes, causing more internal mayhem for Democrats. Notably, he mistakenly referred to former President Trump as his Vice President, confusing him with Kamala Harris. At the NATO summit, Biden further embarrassed himself by addressing the President of Ukraine as “Putin” in front of global leaders.

These blunders are not just political missteps; they underscore serious concerns about Biden’s mental acuity and his ability to handle the responsibilities of the presidency. This is not a partisan issue; the president’s compromised mental state poses a significant national security risk, and his continued leadership is increasingly untenable. This problem is not going away for Biden, with calls from prominent supporters, donors, and legislators calling on him to drop out of the race. Shockingly, the media even seems to be turning on Biden as well. With the most liberal-leaning networks finally coming to the conclusion that Biden is unwell; we expect a lot more “bombshell” reports to arise come November.

Preview Of GOP National Convention

The 2024 Republican National Convention will take place from Monday, July 15th to Thursday, July 18th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The city is set to welcome delegates, party leaders, and supporters from across the country for this event in the presidential election cycle. Each day will feature a combination of policy discussions, strategy meetings, and keynote addresses. The culmination of the event will be the formal nomination of the Republican candidate for President of the United States. Delegates from all states and territories will gather to cast their votes.

The convention will feature a lineup of prominent speakers, including party leaders, influential politicians, and rising stars within the Republican Party. I was especially happy to see Governor Ron Desantis announced as one of the speakers. The united effort to elect Donald Trump as our next President couldn’t be more enthusiastic and the momentum is on our side. In accordance with election law, the New York State Conservative Party is also required to hold its own Convention, which will take place in August. We look forward to nominating our endorsed candidate, Donald J. Trump, as the official Conservative Party candidate in NYS that will appear on line “C” in November. More information will follow.

Statement From NYS Conservative Party 7/9/24 SAVE Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Andrew Davis, 845-522-1915
Andrew@cpnys.org
July 9, 2024

Common Sense: Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) by Chairman Gerard Kassar

The New York State Conservative Party is amazed that most Democrat members of Congress are opposed to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which is expected to pass the Republican-led House of Representatives this week. The SAVE Act addresses the critical need to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure that only United States citizens are permitted to vote in federal elections. 

The SAVE Act addresses the disturbing trend of some municipalities allowing non-citizens to vote and sends a clear notice that this will not be tolerated. This trend raises significant concerns about the sanctity of our voter rolls and the integrity of our electoral process. The NYS Conservative party is proud that our ten member New York Congressional Delegation unanimously supports its passage. The SAVE Act takes decisive action to combat these concerns by requiring states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls whenever documentation or verified information is received indicating that a registrant is not a U.S. citizen. 

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has also highlighted a loophole in the National Voter Registration Act that does not require proof of citizenship during registration for federal elections. This loophole has led to instances of non-citizens being registered to vote with no repercussions. Federal law currently prohibits states from verifying citizenship status during registration for federal elections.

The President, Senate and House Democrats oppose the SAVE Act, citing this is another way to make it harder for people to vote; some democrats are even calling it a “non-issue”. Overwhelming, the majority of Americans consider election integrity as one of the major issues facing the American people. To no one’s surprise, President Biden has already signaled the possibility of a Presidential veto if it is sent to his desk. 

The SAVE Act is a common sense step to shore up election integrity, and to partially combat the Democrat caused immigration crisis. It is imperative that our elections remain free from interference and that every vote cast is legitimate and legal. The question is, why are Democrats, and the President unanimously opposed?

Chairman Kassar’s Weekly Wrap Up 5/31/24

TRAVELS

I spent a good part of the past week on the road supporting our candidates, visiting with party leaders, supporters and attending events across the state. 

Joe Cairo, the Nassau GOP Chairman, invited myself and Nassau Conservative Party Chairman Dan Donovan to join the GOP organization at Nassau Night in Albany. Elected officials ranging from County Executive Bruce Blakeman, State Senators, Assemblymembers, local elected officials, party officials and Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, were a reminder of how strong the GOP and Conservative Parties are in Nassau County. 

The next day began with an early breakfast with Albany area financial supporters of the Party. I then made my way down the Thruway to Orange County where I held a press roundtable with Congressional candidate Alison Esposito, Assembly candidate Tom Lapolla, and Orange County Conservative Party Chairwoman Grace White. We had good press coverage with many of our party people in attendance including the esteemed former Chairman John DeLessio.

Dorey Houle, the Republican and official Conservative Party candidate for State Senate in Orange County faces a Conservative Party primary from Tim Mitts, who re-enrolled as a Conservative on February 14th – the last possible day. It is clear that he is a spoiler put up by liberal Democratic Senator James Skoufis to drain votes from Dorey, who came within a hair of beating him two years ago.  Grace, Allison, and Tom used the roundtable to not only discuss important issues in their campaigns, but also to express our strong support for Dorey.

Then, onto Tappan in Rockland County with our Director of Operations, Andrew Davis, to push for the re-election of Assemblyman John McGowan. The Assemblyman, a former Prosecutor, has a 92% Conservative Party rating. He faces a serious challenge from a well-funded Democratic local office holder.  Once again there is a Conservative Party primary by a candidate who is quick to admit that he is no more than a spoiler candidate.  John is the official party nominee. I was pleased to be joined by County Executive Ed Day, GOP Chairman Lawrence Garvey and Conservative Party Regional Vice Chairman Bill Beckmann for the enlightening press conference. 

Later in Eastchester, I gave remarks at State Senate candidate Tricia Lindsay’s incredibly successful fundraiser. It was wall-to-wall people in a large room with enthusiasm and excitement permeating the air. Our Eastchester Chairman, Bob Fois, was front and center. It was great to share speaking duties with Bobbie Anne Cox, State Senator George Borrello, County Legislator Jimmy Nolan, Joe Pinion, and GOP Chairman Doug Colety. 

I hope to spend many days over the next six months on the road meeting with Party leaders, candidates, the press, supporters and anyone wishing to help the Conservative cause.

Trump Verdict

In a deeply flawed decision, President Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in a highly biased Manhattan courtroom. This was a verdict most Americans view as a culmination of a prolonged and politically motivated campaign to undermine a president who has consistently championed American values and fought against the entrenched establishment.

I accompanied President Trump for one day of the trial, at which time I saw firsthand the prejudice displayed by Judge Merchan against President Trump. In addition to the judge, I watched the prosecutors given every opportunity to affect the jury outcome, while the defense attorneys were stymied at every opportunity. It was a Manhattan jury, probably the worst place in America for Trump to get a fair trial. Unfortunately, I was proven right. 

In my opinion, this conviction backfired on the Democratic party; Americans will remember this come November. 

This relentless pursuit of President Trump has diverted significant resources and attention away from pressing national, state, and local issues that New Yorkers really care about. As you saw in the deep blue Bronx last week, New Yorkers are fed up with failing Democrat policies, and this distraction will not deter them from voting for Trump. 

Looking ahead to November 5th, the New York State Conservative Party is committed to rallying behind President Trump, confident that the American people will see through this unjust prosecution and vote to restore common sense back to office. The New York State Conservative Party, and our members, proudly stand with President Trump.

“Equal Rights Amendment” Everything You Need To Know

2024 NYS Equal Rights Amendment 

THE ISSUE: The NYS State Legislature has adopted a proposed constitutional amendment — the Equal  Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA will appear as Proposition 1 this November 2024 on our statewide  ballot. 

New York’s ERA is the first proposed state constitutional amendment in the United States to include transgender and abortion rights. Specifically, the ERA expands existing state constitutional  protections to include, among other things, rights of all persons, including minors, regarding sexual  orientation, gender identity, gender expression and reproductive healthcare. Appendix I contains the  language of the ERA.  

Proponents portray this amendment as required to protect abortion rights in New York. Abortion was  legalized in New York in 1970 and this law is not under any genuine threat of modification or repeal.  Further, the 2019 Reproductive Health Act greatly expanded abortion rights in state law. Moreover, New  York’s Constitution and numerous state laws already protect all persons from discrimination.  

So why is the ERA being placed before the voters this year? Simple: Partisan policymakers think by  falsely portraying abortion rights as under threat they will inspire enhanced voter turnout for their side.  It is a cynical move, but one with alarming implications.  

The broad and ambiguous language of the ERA would create new constitutional rights and likely become  the subject of litigation by activist groups seeking to create new “rights” inconsistent with the views of  most New Yorkers. Serious unintended consequences are likely to result. Among these new “rights” are  “gender identity” and “gender expression” covering “all persons” including minor children. The ERA would grant minors the right to medical transgender procedures without parental consent or  notification. As a new constitutional “right”, the ERA would override any existing statutes limiting  medical interventions to minors. Schools would likely be banned from disclosing students becoming  transgender to their parents. Indeed, parental non-disclosure is current State Education Department  policy. Passage of this amendment would also prohibit schools from barring biological males from  participation on female sports teams, jeopardizing the fairness of such contests.  

The ERA bars “discrimination” based on “age.” Without clarity this provision could also be construed as overriding specific statutory provisions protecting minors against rape or sexual abuse by those over 18  years of age. Laws which enhance penalties for committing crimes against those over the age of 64 may  be challenged as illegal age-based distinctions under interpretations of this amendment. The ERA will  also have a chilling effect on free speech for religious organizations or charitable groups providing  medical, educational, or other services including adoptions and foster care.  

Amplifying these concerns, the legislature will likely consider the following bills – all placing further  limits on parental rights: 

  • S.352 /A.6761 : Allows minors to make their own medical decisions without parental knowledge or  consent.  
  • S.762-A / A.276-B : Provides treatment for sexually transmitted diseases to minors without a parent’s  or guardian’s consent.  
  • A.4604: Requires comprehensive “sexuality instruction” for grades K-12.

New York’s Department of Education released a legal update in 2023 entitled “Creating a Safe,  Supportive, and Affirming School Environment for Transgender and Gender Expansive Students” setting  up an adversarial relationship between parents and children whereby children of any age can determine  if their parents should be involved with their decision to transition. The Education Department advises  school administrators to inform parents of their child’s purported desire to change genders but only if  the child grants permission for the school to do so. 

The ERA is not what its sponsors would have you believe. All the new “protections” contained in the  amendment are now contained in current state law. The amendment is unnecessarily vague and subject  to judicial interpretation. One thing is clear however: the sponsors intend to dramatically curtail rights of  parents over their minor children in their efforts to enhance transgender rights. 

WHAT VOTERS SHOULD KNOW: Concerned New Yorkers formed a Ballot Proposition Committee to  oppose Proposition 1. The Coalition to Protect Kids-NY (CTPK) aims to educate voters on the  unintended consequences of the ERA. See www.protectkidsny.com for additional information. 

CTPK conducted a poll in October 2023 and found that without being fully informed there is 63%  support and 24% opposition against the amendment, with 13% undecided. However once informed,  support plummeted to 29% with 49% against with 22% undecided.  

THE STRATEGY: 

1-Litigation: On October 30, 2023, Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes filed a civil action against New  York’s Senate and Assembly leadership and the state Board of Elections. The claim was grounded in the  fact that the legislature failed to follow the New York State Constitution’s deliberate and clear process  designed for the adoption of an amendment to the Constitution. Oral arguments will be held in  Rochester in mid-April.  

2- This ballot initiative will be up for popular vote on November 5th and proponents are effectively  mobilizing across New York State to characterize the Amendment as a right to abortion. CTPK seeks to  educate voters — and especially parents — through communications and political outreach utilizing a  strong team of seasoned political and communications professionals as well as grass roots community  leaders and organizations. CTPK has a fundraising team and is developing a diverse grassroots network  of policy influencers across New York State. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP 

Spread the Word: Please circulate the messaging contained in Appendix II. More information can be  found in CTPK’s website www.protectkidsny.com

APPENDIX I – TEXT OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (PROPOSITION 1 ON 2024 November ballot) 

The text in BOLD capital letters is new; the text in yellow highlight (strike through in brackets [ ] ) is old  law and will be omitted. 

  • 11. A. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, creed [or], religion, OR SEX, INCLUDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, PREGNANCY, PREGNANCY OUTCOMES, AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND AUTONOMY, be subjected to any discrimination in [his or her] THEIR civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state, PURSUANT TO LAW. 
  1. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL INVALIDATE OR PREVENT THE ADOPTION OF ANY LAW, REGULATION, PROGRAM, OR PRACTICE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT OR DISMANTLE DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF A CHARACTERISTIC LISTED IN THIS SECTION, NOR SHALL ANY CHARACTERISTIC LISTED IN THIS SECTION BE INTERPRETED TO INTERFERE WITH, LIMIT, OR DENY THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON BASED UPON ANY OTHER CHARACTERISTIC IDENTIFIED IN THIS SECTION.

Appendix II Messaging: Proposed NYS State Constitutional Amendment: Equal Rights Amendment 

  • New York State’s government seeks more authority than parents in making medical decisions for  their children.  
  • The State Legislature has adopted a proposed constitutional amendment dubbed the “Equal Rights  Amendment” which will appear as Proposition 1 this November 2024 on our statewide ballot. 
  • Partisan policymakers will portray this amendment as necessary to protect the right to abortion in  New York. Abortion was legalized in New York in 1970 and this law is not under any genuine threat of  modification or repeal. Further, the 2019 Reproductive Health Act further enshrines into state law  the right to abortion. 
  • New York’s Constitution and numerous state laws already protect all persons from discrimination.  However, the broad language contained in the amendment would create new constitutional rights  which will be the subject of litigation and efforts by activists groups to create new “rights” not  consistent with the views of most New Yorkers.  
  • Among these new “rights” are “gender identity” and “gender expression” and language would cover  “all persons” including minor children. If adopted by the voters, the ERA would grant minor children  the right to medical transgender interventions without parental consent or even notification. The  amendment makes no provision to protect specific statutory provisions which protect minors against  rape or sexual abuse by those over 18 years of age or laws which enhance penalties for committing  crimes against those over the age of 64. All such age-based distinctions could be considered  “discriminatory” under interpretations of this amendment.  
  • The ERA will have a chilling effect on free speech for religious organizations or charitable groups  providing medical, educational, or other services including adoptions and foster care.  
  • Amplifying this, the Albany legislature will be ideally positioned to pass the following bills sitting in  committee – all placing further limits on parental rights: 

o S.352 /A.6761 : Allows minors to make their own medical decisions without parental  knowledge or consent.  

o S.762-A / A.276-B : Provides treatment for sexually transmitted diseases to minors without a  parent’s or guardian’s consent.  

o A.4604: Requires comprehensive “sexuality instruction” for grades K-12. 

  • The NYS Department of Education released a legal update in 2023 entitled “Creating a Safe,  Supportive, and Affirming School Environment for Transgender and Gender Expansive Students”  which essentially sets up an adversarial relationship between parents and children whereby children  of any age can determine if their parents should be involved with their decision to transition. The  Education Department advises school administrators to not inform parents of their child’s purported  desire to change genders.  
  • A ballot proposition committee has been formed to oppose Proposition 1. The group – www.protectkidsny.com – is seeking to organize grass-roots opposition to this proposal. Please  circulate their website among all your social media channels so that voters may be informed as to  this dangerous proposal. 

Click the YouTube Link below for a short explainer Video “Vote No To Stop The Parent Replacement Act”

Statement From NYS Conservative Party 4/19/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
April 19, 2024

Statement by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar on 2024 State Budget

Brooklyn-NY…“Anyone who views this state budget as a victory is deluding themselves. It’s too expensive, too expansive, too progressive, and too self-serving for the Democratic Party. The People of New York deserve to be outraged.

“Governor Hochul, who loves to claim victory by saying how much worse her budgets could have been, has again done nothing to address the screaming needs of New Yorkers. New York has a serious housing crisis, yet we see abandoned properties everywhere. Rent regulated landlords can’t keep properties up with Major Capital Improvement (MCIs) reimbursement rates capped at $30,000. And now, after destroying much of New York City’s housing market with counterproductive rent regulations, Mrs. Hochul and the Democrats are bringing regulations statewide with ‘Good Cause Eviction.’

“Low-income parents across New York, the very population Democrats purport to champion, are desperate for more charter school slots, while Mrs. Hochul and her colleagues continue to dump money into a broken system that necessitated charter schools in the first place. The Governor talks a big game about cracking down on crime, but does nothing  — zero —  to roll back cashless bail or to bring back crime fighting tactics that actually work. Approximately 1.4 million former New York neighbors have abandoned the state for lower-tax environs since 2010, and the Democrats keep piling on more. It will now cost you $15 to drive into midtown Manhattan.

“Everywhere you look, New York is out of the mainstream, as it continues to rank as the state with the worst business outlook in America. One would think that Mrs. Hochul and the Democrats would finally wake up. This budget makes it clear they will not. It will be up to voters to save New York. Those running Albany have their heads in the sand.”

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Statement From NYS Conservative Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
March 7, 2024

Statement on State of the Union by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar

Brooklyn-NY…“This nation is suffering a variety of problems, domestically and internationally, and President Biden’s highly partisan address tonight did nothing to fix them. His speech, which can only be described as wandering and angry, confirms the need for change at the top.”

Statement From NYS Conservative Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
March 4, 2024

Statement on Unanimous SCOTUS Decision to Protect Trump’s Right to Appear on Colorado Ballot by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar

Brooklyn-NY…“It’s heartening to see a Supreme Court unanimously agreeing that The People — not the courts  — are the ultimate arbiter of who stands for President.  President Trump’s victory today is a victory for all Americans. The Court wisely knew where the boundaries of federalism lay, and for that we all should be relieved.”

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