CENTRAL NEW YORK

I had an opportunity to spend time with Congressman Brandon Williams and his team recently at both a fundraiser and a day at the State Fair. Brandon, who is an exceptionally hard-working Congressmember was joined by Staten Island/Brooklyn Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.

The event was a success, the State Fair was a success and Brandon who always impresses me, continues to show the resolve to bring home a win in one of our Nation’s most competitive districts. A special thank you to his wife Stephanie, who is one of the most gracious people I know.

On this trip, I had a chance to have a productive visit with Cayuga Chairman Dave Pappert, Onondaga Treasurer Matt Beadnell, and State Executive Committee Member Tom Dadey.

At the State Fair, I caught up with Orange County Chairwoman Grace White, who was spending several days at the Fair with her Grandchildren. Her Grandchildren are actually there competing in the Fair’s milk cattle showing, and various other animal presentations. They had already won many medals and were anticipating winning many more. The last showing is Saturday and we wish them the best of luck, and as always, it was great seeing Grace.

A big thank you to Congresswoman Malliotakis who took the time to travel from Staten Island to help Congressman Williams in a pivotal seat this election.

MTA ADMITS BUS FARE EVASION A GIGANTIC PROBLEM

The MTA has finally gone on the public record admitting that they lose a tremendous amount of revenue through bus fare evasion. It is the worst of any major city in the United States. Incredibly, it amounts to 48% of all bus riders failing to pay – that is over $300 million a year and increasing fast.  This excludes the $285 million a year lost on subway fare evasion. You see videos on social media daily, or you may even experience in person the number of people jumping the turnstiles or entering free through the back of the bus and making a joke out of fare evasion because they know there are no consequences.

The MTA has some novel plans to address subway fare evasion. They are novel and expensive, but at least there is a plan. It seems they have just about given up on the buses, effectively ignoring the growing problem. Commuters and taxpayers are being saddled because of irresponsible ridership.

The problem has grown from something rarely seen fifteen years ago, to an epidemic. This all comes at a time when the truth about Congestion Pricing has spilled into the public domain. It was always about a new form of revenue.  A large, new form of revenue that was no more than another tax on commuters. I can only imagine what tax they will come up with next.

As the Governor signals that she is likely to lift the suspension right after the Election, we are once again reminded that the MTA’s embarrassingly incompetent leadership, supported by equally ignorant Democratic political leaders, intends to let bus fare beating go unchecked.

We must permanently end any threat of Congestion Pricing and pay for the MTA rolling stock improvements that are capital in nature and bonded out by collecting from fare beaters. It is enough to underwrite billions of capital dollars and contribute to debt service.

 PROPOSITION ONE STATEMENT FROM ELISE STEFANIK

“Proposition 1 would give our hard earned NY taxpayer dollars to illegals, fund sex change operations for minors without parental consent, and force schools to allow men and boys in women and girls sports and bathrooms. Vote NO on the radical Far Left Proposition.”-Elise Stefanik

The Conservative Party has been and will continue to fight against the disastrous Proposition One that will be on the ballot this November.

Conservatives Officially Nominate Trump

Last weekend, at the Milleridge Inn in Nassau County, the Conservative Party officially nominated Donald Trump and J.D. Vance to be on Row C of the New York State Ballot for President and Vice President. Our line is expected to garner over 325,000 votes for President Trump. During the convention, multiple party members spoke on how President Trump and Senator Vance have made America better for our future and our children’s future. Our U.S. Senate candidate, Mike Sapraicone, also spoke about his plans for the Senate and how to bring conservative values back to New York. We also elected our joint state of Presidential Electors with the New York State Republican Party on Saturday, and when Trump wins New York this November, these 28 citizens will be members of the electoral college and place their vote on our behalf in Albany. 

Our National Affairs Reception followed the convention and included a multitude of speakers including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, and Congressmen ​​Anthony D’Esposito and Andrew Garbarino. At the reception, the Suffolk County PBA, representing 31 law enforcement organizations and over 9,000 people became the first law enforcement agency in New York to endorse President Trump. Congressman Jim Jordan was our guest of honor and was asked specifically by Trump to accept the nomination of our Party on his behalf. Jordan spoke at length about the good that President Trump had done for the Country during his first term. He recalled that one day when he walked into the chief of staff’s office, he saw a whiteboard that listed campaign promises. More than half of them were crossed out. President Trump is one of the few politicians who isn’t in it for the money or the fame, he is here to help Make America Great Again. Photos from the convention and reception can be found on our social media pages here:

DNC – A Masterclass in Hypocrisy

The Democratic National Convention met in Chicago this week to ceremonially nominate Harris and Walz to be their candidates for President and Vice President. While the RNC celebrated policies that work to make America better for all, the DNC’s main objective this week was to explain their way out of the hole they dug themselves into. Speaker after speaker blamed Trump for the problems that America faces today, and put forward prime-time fearmongering on what a second Trump term would mean for the Country. What the DNC does not tell you is that every problem that America faces today, the inflation, the border, the violence in our streets and so many more, have been caused by the Democrats themselves. We hear time and time again of our own children dying because of the violence and drugs coming over the border, and the border czar refuses to admit we have a problem. New Yorkers know better than most what the Biden-Harris border policies are doing to our County and once great State. Now, instead of protecting our citizens, Democrats want to dilute our vote with noncitizen and illegal voters to stay in power for longer. Democrats have controlled the White House for 12 of the last 16 years. What makes them think that if they couldn’t do it then, they can do it now?

Vote No on Prop One

One of November’s ballot initiatives in New York is the liberal, anti-parent, and discriminatory Proposition One. This proposition, which supporters call the Equal Rights Amendment, will add a plethora of seemingly anti-discriminatory laws to New York’s Constitution, but also legalize and mandate gender-affirming care for young children, men in women’s sports, and enforce reverse discrimination, meaning that Judges and law enforcement could actively discriminate based on race, sex, sexual orientation, or any other difference between you and I in order to avoid the discrimination they are trying to fight against. The language is so broad that it could be used as an argument to allow illegal immigrants the right to vote in our elections. It is fitting that this proposition has been dubbed “Anything Goes” because if passed the State Government could do anything they wanted in the name of fighting discrimination. The idea that fighting discrimination with more discrimination is one that boggles the mind and I urge all New Yorkers to vote against it this November. You can find more information here:

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. 

Tim Walz: The Left Runs Further Left 

On Tuesday, Kamala Harris announced her vice presidential nominee would be Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and again told the public what kind of far-left, radical ideology she will be ruling the nation with if they were to win in November. As a congressman, and when he was first elected governor in 2018, Walz seemed to be a moderate Democrat who could work with Republicans due to the fact that they controlled at least one part of the federal and state governments. However, when Democrats took control of all branches of the Minnesota State government, his true progressive side began to show. He has enshrined abortion up until the point of birth in the State Constitution, mandated DEI education policies for all students starting at the age of 5, and mandated that racial records be kept by the public school system on students who are being held in detention for misbehaving. In 2020, he sat by and watched Minneapolis burn as protesters, arsonists, and murderers were bailed out by Kamala Harris. Finally, Walz did what liberal do best: raised taxes on anything and everything. Gas, sales, payroll, car licenses, and online delivery taxes all went up to pay for Walz uncontrolled spending. The Harris/Walz ticket is a Godsend for liberals like AOC and Chuck Schumer, but if elected, marks the beginning of the end for the United States as we know it.  You can read our full press release here.

Conservative Party Convention/Reception Featuring Jim Jordan

On Saturday, August 17th the New York State Conservative Party will officially nominate Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance as our candidates to be the next President and Vice President of the United States. In years past our party has garnard over 300,000 votes for the Trump ticket, and this year we expect to give even more. The democratic ticket will usher in a new wave of liberalism in our country that will make radicals like AOC proud. The Trump-Vance ticket will bring more traditional values that Americans have been longing for since the election of Joe Biden.

The Convention will be held at The Cottage at The Milleridge Inn in Nassau County, located at 585 N Broadway, Jericho, NY 11753, and is free and open to the public. Registration starts at 1:15pm. Our candidate for U.S. Senate, Mike Sapraicone, will speak about his campaign and address the audience. Immediately following the convention, we will have our National Affairs Reception with a wonderful dinner and open bar. Our guest of honor, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) will be our speaker and officially accept the nomination of President Trump on his behalf. Members of Congress and local officials will be in attendance. While the convention is free, we encourage you to sign up or call our Brooklyn HQ for more information at 718-921-2158. Tickets for the reception are $500, and you can purchase a ticket using this link here. This will be a monumental occasion, with like minded conservative leaders, dignitaries, committee members, and many more. We hope you can join us in support of our next President! 

Patriots Podium featuring Rep. Lee Zeldin

This week, I had the honor of speaking with Former Congressman and Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin of Long Island on our new edition of Patriots Podium. Lee Zeldin has represented conservative values in the State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives for over 10 years. Lee is currently one of the nation’s leading conservative voices, and has been campaigning all over the Country with President Trump. Together we talked about Harris’ choice of VP, his prime time address at the RNC, J.D. Vance, Zeldin Cares, and even his plans for the 2026 elections. We want to thank Lee for everything he has done for the Conservative Party, our State, and the Nation as a whole. We know he will continue to do great work to spread our message, activate volunteers, and do everything in his power to get Donald Trump elected this November. You can watch episode #26 on any of the links below: 

YouTube        BuzzSprout        Spotify         Apple Music

9/11 Mastermind Strikes Plea Deal

The revelation that the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), along with two other terrorists held in Guantánamo Bay, will be spared the death penalty under a plea deal is a profound insult to the victims and heroes of that tragic day. For nearly 24 years, families of the victims have waited with heavy hearts for justice to be served, with many believing that death was the only fitting punishment for those responsible for such unspeakable acts of terror. This decision undermines the sacrifices made by countless individuals and sends a troubling message about our resolve to hold accountable those who perpetrate heinous crimes against our nation. The decision not only fails to deliver the justice long sought by the families but also diminishes the memory of the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost on that fateful day. September 11th families, and New Yorkers deserve justice, and the Biden administration is standing in the way. While not directly involved in the actual negotiation being conducted by his subordinates in the military, the Administration had made a strong point that the Guantanamo Bay detention facility needed to be closed by the end of Biden’s term. This deal is an integral part of the commitment made by Biden and has been referenced repeatedly in recent days as Americans try to make some sense out of what happened. Harris should have come out immediately against negotiating with terrorists. Of course, she will never distance herself from everyday liberal Biden who she is best described as being to the left of him. President Trump took about ten seconds to register his anger. He would never have negotiated and was working towards a resolution through a military authorized death penalty for terrorists when he left office. You can read the full article here. 

Olympics

The 2024 Olympic introduction, which drag queens shamelessly mocked Christianity and the Last Supper on the world stage, was a blatant display of disrespect towards a faith held dear by billions. Such disregard for religious sensibilities is deeply troubling and sets a concerning precedent. Here in the U.S. we see the left’s vitriol against Christians and Jews alike, and the New York State Conservative Party will not stand for it. You can read our full press release on the “Drag Queen Last Supper” here. Moreover, the decision to allow a male competitor, with significantly higher testosterone levels, to fight in a women’s boxing match led to a dangerous and unfair outcome. After just 46 seconds and a few hits to the face, Carini, an excellent boxer from Italy, was forced to forfeit the fight due to being overpowered. This situation is utterly unacceptable and highlights the serious risks posed to women in the name of inclusion. Prioritizing ideological agendas over safety and fairness undermines the integrity of women’s sports and endangers female athletes. I’ll be rooting for the U.S. Olympic Team with all my heart, but with the television off. Blatant sacrilege doesn’t deserve an audience.

2024 Conservative Party Convention

The New York State Conservative Party will be hosting are 2024 Presidential Nominating Convention on August 17th at 1 PM at The Cottage at the Milleridge Inn, 585 North Broadway, Jericho, NY 11753, in Nassau County. The purpose of the convention is to nominate President Donald J. Trump to be the Conservative Party candidate for President in New York State, where we expect him to garner over 320,000 votes this November. The convention is open to the general public, but only delegates are allowed to vote. Immediately after the convention, Congressman Jim Jordan will be accepting the nomination on behalf of President Trump and soon-to-be Vice President J.D. Vance at our “National Affairs Reception Fundraiser” which will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the same location. Other members of Congress and local officials will also be in attendance. While the convention is free, we encourage you to sign up or call our Brooklyn HQ for more information at 718-921-2158. Tickets for the reception are $500, and you can purchase a ticket using this link here. This will be a monumental occasion, with like minded conservative leaders, dignitaries, committee members, and many more. We hope you can join us in support of our next President!

This week, I had the honor of attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here is a recap of the week’s extraordinary events.

Day 1: We Have a Nominee

On Monday afternoon, Trump announced his Vice President, and news of his pick quickly filled the stadium where the voting was taking place. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio was chosen as the rightful pick, putting forward a new visionary for American politics. Americans need another Trump presidency to stem the tide of liberalism that the Biden Administration represents, and J.D. Vance is a person who will fight for working class Americans who have not had their voices heard for the last four years. You can read our full press release on soon-to-be Vice President Vance here:

The New York delegation, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, and Rep. Mike Lawler were also there to represent conservative politics. Rep. Stefanik had the honor of declaring all of New York’s 91 delegates had voted for President Trump. During the final speech of the evening, Senator Vance, Rep. Lawler and Rep. Malliotakis were hailed as heroes by Teamsters Union President, Sean O’Brien, saying that they are “elected officials who truly care about working people.”

Finally, at the end of the night, Donald Trump made his triumphant return after Saturday’s assassination attempt. With the crowds chanting his name and telling him to fight on, Trump seemed grateful, both for the love his supporters give him and his new lease on life.

Days 2 & 3: Make America Safe and Strong Again

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R/C-NY) took to the stage on day two to acknowledge that this is the most important election of our lifetime and “our constitution and the soul of our very nation are on the ballot.” Gov. Ron DeSantis, put forward the Trump agenda, calling for common sense changes to protect the border, the economy, and Americans as a whole. Nikki Haley called for unity, saying that she may not agree with everything Trump stands for or wants to do, but she agrees more often than she disagrees, and therefore, “for the sake of our nation, we have to go with Donald Trump.” You can view our full press release on night two here:

The NYS Conservative Party was thrilled that New York’s very own Lee Zeldin, had a prime-time speaking spot on night three of the convention. After almost unseating Governor Kathy Hochul in a deep blue state, Lee’s message echoed across the Country. He brought his enthusiasm to Milwaukee and knocked it out of the park. To be frank, I can’t think of another political leader with a brighter future than Lee. You can read our full press release on night three here.

Finally, at the end of night three, we heard from the next Vice President, J.D. Vance. First, Vance introduced himself to the country. Many people outside of Ohio had no idea who this freshman senator was; on Wednesday, that changed. Vance, whose life story truly symbolizes the American dream, is the perfect person to represent America. Strategically, Vance revealed what he brought to the campaign: the Midwest. Many times throughout his speech he mentioned Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These are must-win states for the Trump campaign, and with an Ohioan on the ticket, the campaign has an extra advantage on Biden.

Day 4: Make America Great Once Again

Today, President Trump took to the stage in his highly anticipated speech. His 92-minute speech set the record for the longest nomination speech, during which he portrayed confidence, strength, and hope for the future. The President started by recalling the tragic events that happened last weekend and brought out the uniform of Corey Comperatore, asking for a moment of silence for his memory. The President made a pledge to the nation. He will end inflation, bring down interest rates, and lower energy costs. He will never stop fighting for us, repeating that this movement is not about him, but about the American people. When Trump returns to the White House in January, America will come first once again.

The last four days have been an experience I will never forget, never before have Conservatives and Republicans ever been so united behind a presidential candidate. This November we make the choice between America First and America Last. Today we stand behind, and fully endorse the next President and Vice President of the United States of America: Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance. You can read our full press release on night four here.

Help Trump and the Conservative Party

As election day draws near, we see time and time again that liberal policies are failing, and New Yorkers are taking notice. We are working to raise money for our campaign operations; help the Conservative Party fund its candidates for President, Congress, State Legislature, and local offices by supporting our efforts. Early money in a campaign is the most important funding in a campaign cycle. By working together, we can create a solid campaign budget for November’s elections. Your support would be greatly appreciated. You can donate by following this link here. If you would like to support us by mail, please make checks out to NYS Conservative Party, 486 78^th St. Brooklyn, NY 11209.