Author: Andrew Davis

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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Statement From NYS Conservative Party- 25th Amendment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
February 9, 2024

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S DIMINISHED MENTAL CAPACITY WARRANTS 25TH AMENDMENT REVIEW

Brooklyn-NY…”For some time it’s been obvious that President Joe Biden is suffering from increasingly diminished mental capacity, and the Democratic Party is doing the nation no favors by refuting what’s plain for the whole world to see. We respectfully believe the time has come for a 25th Amendment review of his competency to remain in office. We do not make this statement lightly. The stakes of a sitting president with clear markers of dementia are too great for the country to ignore.” — Gerard Kassar, Chairman, New York State Conservative Party

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Chairman Kassar’s Weekly Wrap-Up 1/26/24

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

Patriots Podium Episode #16 Featuring NYC Councilman Joe Borelli

On the sixteenth episode of Patriots Podium, New York State Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar speaks with @joeborelli6732, Minority Leader of the New York City Council who represents the 51st Council District, which encompasses Staten Island’s South Shore. On this episode, we dive into the hot topic of congestion pricing.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney to Address CPPAC attendees

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.

Chairman Kassar’s Weekly Wrap Up 12/1

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