State Board of Regents Decision: Indefinite Delay

A few days ago, the Conservative Party released a state-wide press release calling on Governor Hochul to inform the public on a vote by the unelected Board of Regents that would be another detrimental blow to women’s sports. Simply put, the Conservative Party, and a majority of New Yorkers, want the State Board of Regents to leave girls’ sports alone. You can read our full press release here.

Thankfully, due to immense public scrutiny, the proposal to change high school sports participation rules, which would end girls only sports, has been delayed indefinitely, with the issue recanted from next week’s agenda. The vote, which was postponed after it became a hot button political issue shortly before Election Day, would have permanently allowed boys to play on girl’s high school sports teams across the Empire State if there is no corresponding boys team in that sport — volleyball and field hockey teams are common examples. The radical policy enactment would have ended girls’ sports as we know it. As we feared, the passing of Prop-One has opened the door to more radical gender policies. However, our Conservative and Republican delegation remain committed to halt these insane policies in their tracks, but we must keep the public pressure. 

As we have seen with congestion pricing, the Governor cannot be trusted. This administration will say whatever they can to buy themselves a few months of positive press, and then with a smile, will stab voters in the back. As sad as it is to say, this “indefinite delay” could very well be another Hochul/Democratic Legislative gimmick, and we must remain diligent. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect girls, as this issue is not going away. 

CPPAC SAVE THE DATE

It is that time of the year already! With the election over, we are already preparing for our heavily anticipated Conservative Party Political Action Conference (CPPAC) that we hold every February in Albany at the Hilton Hotel. This year, our two-day conference will be held Sunday, February 2nd and Monday, February 3rd 2025.  This year’s conference will preview how the Trump Administration and Republican Majorities in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives will impact the Empire State.

Using the momentum from Trump’s historic victory, we are expecting to have lots of great speakers, legislators, political activists, and committee members in attendance. We will be announcing our speakers in the coming weeks leading up to the event. Sunday’s festivities will begin at approximately 12:00 pm, ending with our evening reception dinner at 6:00 pm. You are also more than welcome to join our after-hour events at the conclusion of the dinner with fellow conservatives. Last year we had a great time at the cigar bar down the road with shuttle transportation.

Monday will begin with a breakfast buffet around 7:30 am, starting our program at 9:00 am with several great speakers/topics leading up to our luncheon at 12:30 pm. Shortly after, our Executive Committee will converse, giving people some time to enjoy themselves around Albany until our Legislative Reception and award ceremony at 6:00 pm. This is going to be a notable event; more details and tickets will be available for purchase soon. 

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Registrants are responsible for making hotel reservations. Please call the Hilton at 1-866-691-1183. The Conservative Party has secured a special block room rate of $159.00, if booked by Thursday, January 2, 2025. When calling the Hilton, please provide the Conservative Party’s “3CPPAC” registration code. Alternatively, attendees can register online for their hotel here:

State Legislative Update

As noted, the Conservative Party will once again be holding a Rookie Reception for new members that carry the Conservative Party line at CPPAC. This includes two current members who earned the Conservative Party line for their successful re-elections.

State Senate: 

Steve Chan- 17th Senatorial District encompassing Kings County.

Rob Rolison- 39th Senatorial District encompassing Dutchess and Orange Counties.

State Assembly:

Daniel Norber- 16th Assembly District encompassing Nassau County.

Kalman Yeger- 41st Assembly District encompassing Kings County.

Jaime Williams- 59th Assembly District encompassing Kings County.

Andrea Bailey- 133rd Assembly District encompassing Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, Steuben, and Monroe Counties.

Patrick Chludzinski- 143rd Assembly District encompassing Erie County.

Paul Bologna- 144th Assembly District encompassing Erie and Niagara Counties.

Joseph Sempolinski- 148th Assembly District encompassing Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Steuben Counties.

Andrew Molitor- 150th Assembly District encompassing Chautauqua, and Erie Counties.

WE ARE MOVING

State Headquarters could be a bit more difficult to reach over the next week as we move into our new office space within the same community in Brooklyn.  Next week we will provide all the pertinent information, but know that the professional space is larger and well appointed.

We have been at our current location since April of 1989.  Needless to say, in all those years, despite several clean outs, we have accumulated an enormous number of items that are best discarded – a project that has been going on since election day. Our official lease date is Sunday, December 15th.  The office phone number will remain the same. We were thankful to be here over 40 years, but we are glad to be moving onto bigger and better things. We hope you will come by and check it out in the near future. 

If you are having trouble reaching State Headquarters over the next week, simply call me on my cell 917- 834-6118. You can also call our Director of Operations, Andrew Davis, at 845-522-1915.

Happy Thanksgiving

On behalf of the New York State Conservative Party and our members, we wish you a joyous and blessed Thanksgiving. As we gather and prepare the turkey for this holiday, we are reminded of President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation, in which he called upon “the American people to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” His words invoked both gratitude for our blessings and a deep spiritual acknowledgment of God’s presence, calling all Americans to unite in thanks.

Some seventy years later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a proclamation establishing the last Thursday in November as our official Thanksgiving Day. This act, while securing a national holiday, also echoed the sentiment that Lincoln first expressed. A day to reflect on our nation’s blessings, regardless of hardship, and to offer thanks. It is a time for us to extend our hands and hearts to those in need. It is a time for warmth and reflection, as we are always striving to do better. 

As the Conservative Party of New York, we have much to be grateful for this year. We stand firm in our commitment to protecting the values that have made America great—faith, family, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. We continue to fight for the principles that have sustained this nation for over two centuries. This year, we are grateful for all our members and supporters. Without you, we would not have an incoming Conservative President and countless down ballot candidates across New York. In addition to earning a  Republican led House, and  Republican majority in the United States Senate. We are immensely proud and thankful to receive over 313,000 votes on our line this year. Again, this could not be done without your steadfast support, and we cannot thank you enough for your efforts. 

This Thanksgiving, let us all take a moment to express gratitude not only for the freedoms we enjoy, but also for the strength we draw from our shared values. Let us remain mindful of the blessings that come with living in a nation where liberty and opportunity is not just a slogan, but a reality. May this spirit of thankfulness extend to our families, our communities, and our nation as a whole. 

God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America.

STEFANIK AND ZELDIN JOINING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CABINET

New Yorkers should be immensely proud that President Trump has selected Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, and former Congressman Lee Zeldin to serve in his Presidential Cabinet. There isn’t anyone more deserving to serve our Country than New York’s best and brightest. 

We are sad to see Elise vacate her Congressional seat, but we know she will have New York, and our Country, at the top of her mind as she navigates her duties as Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is currently a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Her fight against antisemitism was applauded across both sides of the aisle during the Harvard President House investigation that turned national news. You can read our full press release on Elise here: 

Lee Zeldin has been traveling the Country with President Trump, helping our congressional/down ballot candidates across New York, helped fight against Prop 1, and turned the tide in New York two years ago when he ran for Governor. Ever since then, Lee has been a major resource and idol for conservative activists around the Country. The EPA has vastly overreached under the Biden Administration, reestablishing a regulatory environment that has suppressed billions of dollars of economic growth. Lee Zeldin is the perfect candidate to undo Bidens policy mess and unleash American energy at home. With Lee’s help, America will be energy independent once again. You can read our full press release on Lee here:

Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin have longtime and close relationships with the Conservative Party.  They will both make excellent members of the President’s cabinet representing the interests of the United States, the President, and our conservative philosophy at the United Nations and the EPA.

The President and his transition team are on track to round out our new government quickly, with many fine appointments.  Our nation needs to overcome the many setbacks we experienced during the Biden/Harris years. With control of the Senate and House, the President should have a memorable first one hundred days that will make our Party proud.

To that point we are now at 311,000 votes statewide and growing. However, now is not the time to let up the gas. The Conservative Party will continue to register new voters, spread Trump’s message, and drain the swamp one day at a time! 

NO TO CONGESTION PRICING

Governor Hochul’s scheme to quickly revive congestion pricing is no more than a cynical attempt to get ahead of President Trump’s firm objection to the program before he takes office. She has made clear that she intentionally set the new pricing at $9 to outmaneuver a federal requirement that a new environmental impact study be conducted.  Biden waived a full study, and of course, Trump will not.

Congestion pricing is immensely unpopular. With good reason, being that it is no more than a tax on hard working New Yorkers already overtaxed and over regulated.  

The radical MTA leadership is constantly looking for a cash cow unwilling to deal with systematic problems including hundreds of millions in fare beating, as well as a bloated payroll containing thousands of ultra-high paid bureaucrats, often doing duplicative jobs.

Congressional opposition led by Republicans Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and Mike Lawler, is bi-partisan, with several high-profile Democrats joining with the GOP.  Remember, almost 70% of New Yorkers disapprove of congestion pricing.

Hochul may get away with turning on the collection devices. If so, I would not be surprised if the Trump Administration, bolstered by solid Congressional support, turns them off upon being sworn into office.

Hochul, often described as one of the worst Governors in modern history, is certainly one of the most unpopular.

FEMA IGNORES TRUMP SUPPORTERS

I never thought I would read such a headline, but it turns out there’s a lot more rot in government than we are aware. There is one thing people can’t control, natural disasters, such as tornados, hurricanes, floods, etc. The way you vote, your ethnicity, race, financial situation, should not matter. Our politicians, and government employees are expected to put their partisanship aside and rise up to the challenge at hand for their fellow citizens. Especially in life-or-death situations. In this case, FEMA completely failed in their mission and ignored homes in Florida with Trump signs/banners. Imagine your home has been completely destroyed, and you are waiting for FEMA or any government assistance, but because of your political beliefs, you can be ignored even in the most dire of situations. 

The FEMA supervisor was fired for her actions but claims this was essentially common practice and she was just following orders. According to Fox News, “The Daily Wire first reported that government employees told the outlet at least 20 homes with Trump signs or flags were bypassed from the end of October into November due to “best practices” guidance from Washington. The houses were skipped over by the workers, who wrote messages such as “Trump sign no entry per leadership” in a government system, per the outlet.” In other words, the politics of the homeowners caused the FEMA employees to feel unsafe.

This story obviously brings immense disgust to the Conservative Party and our members, but we were glad to see Governor Ron DeSantis order a full investigation into this madness. After a thorough investigation is done in Florida, it would not surprise me if an investigation continued under the Trump administration. We know the swamp isn’t going to be easy to drain, but we have all the right tools in place to do so in the next 4 years.

Honoring Our Veterans

As we move through another historic week and wrap up the Presidential cycle, it is essential that we pause and reflect on the sacrifices that have been made by our brave men and women in uniform—those who have served, and continue to serve, in defense of our cherished freedoms. This weekend, as we prepare for Veterans Day, let us take a moment to honor the fallen and the living, the heroes who have answered the call to protect the United States of America.

From the beaches of Normandy to the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, American soldiers have faced unimaginable challenges. They have fought on distant shores, in jungles, deserts, and frozen tundras, always with one goal in mind: to preserve and defend the values that make America great. Their sacrifices have come at great cost. Many have given their lives. Many have returned with wounds that will last a lifetime. 

These men and women did not fight for glory or personal gain. They fought for something greater than themselves. It is through their service that we enjoy the liberty and opportunity that so many take for granted. In the midst of the most trying conflicts, they have stood strong, representing the best of our country. And even in times of peace, they are prepared and training to defend us at all costs. 

Our veterans have sacrificed family time, health, and sometimes even their own futures, to ensure that we live in peace. They have served as our first line of defense, protecting the ideals of freedom not just for Americans, but for people around the globe. 

As we honor our veterans, we must also remember that the freedoms we enjoy did not come without cost. The foundation of our nation was laid by those who were willing to give everything for liberty, and it is up to us to uphold that legacy. The blood, sweat, and tears of those who came before us are a debt we can never fully repay, but one we must strive to honor every day with patriotism. 

To close, I leave you with a reflection from General Douglas MacArthur, a man who understood the weight of duty and sacrifice more than most. His words remind us that the essence of our nation is rooted in the courage and honor of those who serve: 

“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
— General Douglas MacArthur

May God bless our veterans, their families, and this great nation.