CONSERVATIVE PARTY RELEASES LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

The Conservative Party has released its 2024 NYS Legislative Program. The program appears as one document, but essentially is in two parts. The first part consists of a statement of principle on important issue areas such as Taxes and Finance, Law Enforcement, Education, Government and Ethics, just to name a few. The principles are followed with specific legislative recommendations.

The second part is our 2024 Legislative Priorities. These are current items such as opposition to sanctuary cities, congestion pricing, another Congressional Reapportionment, and several other items. If these priorities come up for a vote, the Members of the Legislature are notified that we will rate them.

I recommend that candidates are given a copy, and the program makes its way to public events such as county fairs, campaign stops, etc. Ultimately, this will help grow our movement and help navigate you through the year.

SCHUMER NEEDS TO MOVE BILL BANNING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS FROM PUBLIC LAND

A few months ago, The House of Representatives passed legislation with bipartisan support offered by Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis which entailed banning the use of federally owned public lands such as parks, from being used to house asylum-seeking migrants that have arrived in NYS by the hundreds of thousands.

She had Floyd Bennett Field in mind when she offered the legislation, but there are countless applications around the nation.

As I mentioned, this very sound piece of legislation passed the House and has been sitting in the US Senate as a hostage to Majority Leader Schumer’s support for Biden’s “open border” policy. As a New Yorker, who coincidentally lives fifteen minutes from Floyd Bennett Field, he should know better. As a national leader, he should be hearing the pleas of his colleagues from both parties in the House and Senate.

Schumer needs to act on this bill now.

 NYC COUNCIL AT IT AGAIN

As you may have read, NYC Mayor Adams vetoed a piece of anti-policing legislation that came out of the City Council. You can view the bill here. The bill would be another blow to the NYPD doing their job by creating a mound of new, albeit completely unnecessary, paperwork.

The City Council has indicated that in the next few weeks they will vote to override. There are many Council members committed to opposing an override. The Conservative Party believes we must flip only a handful of members. To that end, we have embarked within the City of New York on a social media campaign urging New Yorkers to contact their local Council Members.

The NY Post article can be found here, as well as a link to the City Council website for telephone numbers here.

View and share our Ad on Facebook, and X (Twitter): If you wish to help the Party expand its buy, please donate.

PROPERTY RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK PODCAST

For our 18th episode of Patriots Podium, I was delighted to be joined by Michael Tobman of the Rent Stabilization Association (RSA). I am grateful to have known Mike for many years, and he has a notable political background as a communications professional, the author of many OP-ED pieces, and a former consultant to both campaigns and professional associations. Mike is currently the Director of Member Relations for the RSA which is the state’s largest landlord association. This was truly a phenomenal episode and I know many of our members/supporters are landlords, deal with rent, own properties, etc. With Democratic policies handcuffing landlords, it is the RSA that stands up for the rights of small property owners. Tune in as we discuss the attack on property rights, good cause eviction, regulation rent laws, and much more! Click any of the links below to listen:

YouTube                              BuzzSprout                                         Apple Music                                       Spotify

We are pleased to announce that Congresswoman Claudia Tenney will be addressing CPPAC attendees on Sunday, February 4, 2024. As Co-Chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, Rep. Tenney will be addressing the topic of “Securing the Vote”.

Claudia Tenney was first elected to serve as a member of the United States House of Representatives on November 8, 2016. As a freshman member of the 115th Congress, she served on the House Financial Services Committee. She currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Claudia was elected to the House of Representatives for a second time in November 2020.

Prior to her election in November 2016, Claudia served as a member of the New York State Assembly. She was first elected to the Assembly on November 2, 2010.

Claudia is an accomplished attorney, longtime small business owner and true friend of the Conservative Party.

Registration is open at CPNYS.org/CPPAC.

Is New York City Government Sustainable?

The short answer is no. Even when you take out of the equation the countless ethical and legal questions that have arisen concerning the Mayor and other top City Officials including Commissioners, Council Members, and other officeholders, you will come to the same conclusion.

New York City only thinks of increasing revenue and spending; which has become even more difficult due to the loss of many of its higher-income citizens, who are emigrating to other states. The city consistently raises property taxes, often income taxes, and any other forms of revenue, from parking meters to various fines and fees as the solution. This, of course, does not consider inflation on non-government services.

When you are spending literally billions of dollars on illegal migrants for everything from housing, food, education, health, and transportation, you have an unsustainable budget problem. Add onto these billions the additional strains on public safety, as well as the criminal justice system and everyone feels the pinch.

Now with gigantic protests relating to the Middle East happening several times a week in the city, Mayor Adams, as a cost saver, announces the cancellation of the next three NYPD Academy classes.  That amounts to canceling 1500 new police officers from taking their oaths at a time when the retirement numbers are hitting new highs. The NYPD, in the matter of three years between the retirements and cancellation of these classes, will have the smallest force in several decades. It is just crazy and will have a myriad of unintended consequences as we have seen already.

Other agencies that provide basic services will also see their budgets cut; while taxes and fees continue to go up to cover the billions being spent on the illegal migrants and inflationary cost increases.

The Mayor talks a good game of pushing back against new arrivals. He cries for as much money as he can get from the feds and state, even as they tell him substantial new funds are not coming. In turn, the illegal migrants keep on coming to NYC, while taxpayers foot the bill with no end in sight.

Visitors to New York City see the difference and they are quick to speak up about it. The city is less safe, dirtier, and less welcoming overall than it has been since the early 1970s. In addition, unlike the 70s when you could still find inexpensive places to eat, live, and make a life for yourself and your family, everything in New York City today is very expensive.

Once again, the New York City of 2023 is not sustainable.

Patriot’s Podium Episode #16 Featuring Shaun Marie Levine, and Assemblyman Matt Slater

I am pleased to announce a special double-feature episode of Patriots Podium. In this episode, we spend our time discussing our 2023 Legislative Ratings, the process behind it, and how they come to fruition. Who better to bring on than Shaun Marie Levine, former longtime Executive Director, and current Vice Chairwoman of our State Executive Committee. As many of you know, Shaun Marie has been an instrumental part of the Conservative Party for many years, and we are thankful for her expertise to this day. In addition to Shaun explaining the outcome of the ratings, we are pleased to be joined by Assemblyman Matt Slater, who represents parts of Westchester, and Putnam County. Assemblyman Slater is a former Yorktown Town Supervisor, former chief of staff in the Senate, active in the Navy Reserves, and had one of our higher Conservative ratings. Matt had introduced several conservative bills to the Assembly that should have passed. However, because of the overwhelming majority of Democrats in the legislature, his bills never saw the light of day. There are many instances such as this, where Republican/Conservative endorsed legislators bring forth great bills, but cannot be rated without a floor vote. You can watch on any of the links below:

    YouTube                 BuzzSprout              Apple Music                      Spotify

Thanksgiving

I wanted to take this time to wish you and your families a happy Thanksgiving. As we gather with family and friends next week on Thanksgiving Day, let us reflect on the principles that have shaped our great nation. 

From the pilgrims’ journey to the founding fathers’ vision, our history is a testament to the enduring values of freedom and liberty. Even in times of hardship, we express our deepest gratitude for the blessings of being Americans in a land where the pursuit of happiness is a sacred right. Our forefather’s sacrifices echo in the foundation of this great nation and state.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our members of the New York State Conservative Party. Your unwavering commitment to conservative principles strengthens the foundation of our democracy. Together we stand as guardians of limited government and common sense conservative values, just as our predecessors did. 

To our dedicated supporters, your tireless efforts have been instrumental in preserving the conservative vision that has defined our party. Your commitment fuels our mission to protect the constitutional liberties that make our nation exceptional. If it wasn’t for our members and supporters, the Democrat Party would have free reign to do whatever they please with no accountability. Surely it would not be the America we know today if that were the case. We are thankful for you each and every day.

As we come together to celebrate this day of gratitude, let us remember the enduring spirit of America and the responsibility we bear to uphold its legacy. With yet another successful election behind us, we rapidly approach a Presidential election year. It is our responsibility to continue the fight, but for now, enjoy this time to relax and cherish time with loved ones because that is what this Holiday is about. May this Thanksgiving be a time of reflection, unity, and appreciation for the blessings that unite us as one nation, under God.

I’ll leave you with this quote from President Reagan, “Although we are a pluralistic society, the giving of thanks can be a true bond of unity among our people. We can unite in gratitude for our individual freedoms and individual faiths. We can be united in gratitude for our nation’s peace and prosperity when so many in this world have neither.”

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jerry Kassar