“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it”-Ronald Reagan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
May 30, 2024
Supreme Court Unanimously Rules for NRA — and Against New York — Statement from New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
“When the U.S. Supreme Court votes unanimously, it’s clear that an egregious Constitutional violation has taken place. In this case, New York State was caught violating the rights of the National Rifle Association (NRA) by coercing private businesses to halt commercial dealings with the NRA for political reasons.
“Today’s decision is a victory for the Constitution and for economic freedom in New York. It will allow the NRA to continue pursuing litigation against New York, a state that has utterly forgotten the principles upon which this nation was founded.”
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Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
May 24, 2024
Statement on Governor Hochul’s ‘Clowns’ Insult by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
“Governor Kathy Hochul has now joined Hillary Clinton and Andrew Cuomo in broadly disparaging millions of New Yorkers simply because of what they believe. Mrs. Clinton called conservatives ‘deplorables’, Mr. Cuomo said conservatives were unwelcome in New York State, and, now, Mrs. Hochul is calling us ‘clowns.’ These insults say far more about today’s political left than they do about conservatives.
“President Trump, who will joust sharply with political opponents over issues, won’t disparage entire groups of people for their belief structures. But to today’s progressive Democrats, who claim to be liberal minded, anyone who disagrees with them is unworthy of respect, or even politeness. Conservatives are met solely with scorn and derision, even on a personal level.
“The Conservative Party vehemently disagrees with the woke policies Governor Hochul has enacted in New York. We believe they have made the state less safe, less affordable, and less competitive. But we would never call the governor a ‘clown’ for her principles or beliefs. That would be beneath us, just as her comments yesterday were beneath the dignity of her office. We encourage her better angels to do the talking next time. What she said yesterday is unacceptable.”
As we come together to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend, the New York State Conservative Party extends warm wishes to all our fellow New Yorkers and members. This weekend is a cherished time for family gatherings, barbecues, and enjoying the beautiful spring weather, but it is also a solemn occasion to honor and remember the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
Our nation’s liberty and prosperity have been safeguarded by countless heroes who have shown extraordinary courage and dedication. Their sacrifices have shaped the course of our history and ensured that the principles of democracy and freedom continue to thrive like nowhere else in the world.
Let us take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day and express our deepest gratitude to those who have served and their families. Their legacy is a powerful reminder of the values we hold dear and the spirit of the American people.
We encourage everyone to participate in local events and ceremonies, visit memorials, and teach younger generations about the significance of this day. Together, we can honor our fallen heroes and ensure their memories live on.
“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, Also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”- Abraham Lincoln
Wishing you a safe, joyous, and reflective Memorial Day weekend. God bless you all, and God bless our Veterans!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
May 23, 2024
President Trump Visits the Bronx; Statement by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
“President Trump’s rally in the South Bronx tonight will show the real state of the presidential race in New York. Mr. Trump’s popularity in Black, Latino, and Asian communities, among others, is growing exponentially, and for the first time since Ronald Reagan in 1984, this state will be fully in play in November.
“For generations, these communities have largely relied on the Democratic Party, which has failed them miserably. President Trump offers straight talk rather than empty paternalism, and voters are responding in droves. They’ll do the same in November in every corner of New York.”
I had the opportunity to spend all day Monday with former President Trump, meeting him early at his residence in Trump Tower, traveling in his motorcade to the State Supreme Court building in lower Manhattan and then attending the trial.
My takeaway, Michael Cohen, already a total fraud, liar and convicted felon, went a step further in admitting under oath that he had stolen $30,000 from the Trump Organization while under retainer to do legal work.
How a trial can be conducted with Cohen as the key witness is a mystery to me, and I suspect most of America.
Having seen it in person, it is quite evident that the judge is doing what he can to assist the prosecution. At the beginning of the day, he stopped the defense from calling an expert on federal election law (a former FEC Commissioner) as a witness so the jury could better understand some of the points that had previously been made. Additionally, the judge who has no experience in federal election law, indicated that he would cover this area when he charged the jury.
Later in the day, the judge constantly sustained objections of Alvin Bragg’s legal team against the testimony of Attorney Robert Costello, a former federal prosecutor and a partner in Davidoff Hutcher & Citron. Costello was called by the defense to dispute many of the claims made by Cohen. From my layman’s perspective, the questions seemed reasonable and the judge’s actions prejudicial.
I was with a group of about a dozen individuals that included several members of Congress, the South Carolina Attorney General, Attorney Alan Dershowitz and Bernie Kerik.
Some of us attempted to conduct a press conference outside the court house only to have protestors do their best to shout us down. For what it’s worth, I had no intention of being silenced.
I did have an opportunity to speak several times with the President, who despite the pressures of the trial, was very focused on being elected President. He wished for me to express his gratitude for all the Conservative Party has done for him. He also strongly believes New York is in play and intends to work hard to win our state.
Best regards,
Jerry Kassar – Chairman
New York State Conservative Party
JAMES APPEALS COURT REJECTION OF PARENTS REPLACEMENT ACT
The big news this week in New York State was the win in the State Supreme Court in Livingston County halting Hochul and the Progressive Democrats’ attempt to change the State Constitution. If successfully appealed, it would negatively impact parents rights and a variety of longtime protected areas, such as gender identity requiring biological men and women entry into cross gender competition. The Conservative Party has been immensely vocal in our opposition to the amendment.
Ironically, the decision was based on the failure of the Democrats to follow the State Constitution’s stipulation that the legislature could not act on any constitutional amendment until they had a written opinion from the State Attorney General.
The Democratically controlled Senate and Assembly, totally focused on legal abortion being pushed back to the States, threw the law to the wind looking to codify abortion in the State Constitution using the opportunity to add countless unrelated categories into the change.
The Judge, clearly wanting to issue a belts and suspenders decision, wrote a 32-page document which in any fair judicial system should be the end of it. In fact, the initial response from the Legislature and AG was this is the way we always did it. You do not need to be a legal scholar to know ignorance of the law is never a good reason to violate the law.
In short, the Governor and her left-wing cronies simply got caught.
Early this week the Attorney General appealed to the 4th Department in Rochester. The case will be heard shortly. All the reasoning and arguments are on our side. Yet in New York State, in which the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals voted to give Elephants human rights, nothing is safe or sacred.
Assemblywoman Marjorie Bynes brought the action and the case was argued for our side by noted attorneys Bobbie Anne Cox and Chris Browne.
I joined tens of thousands of President Trump supporters on a beach in Wildwoods, NJ last Saturday to rally for his re-election to the Presidency. Organized by local GOP Congressman Jeff Van Drew, it was said to be the largest political rally in New Jersey history. I can believe it, considering it was literally a sea of people.
I had been an invited guest, seated up front with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Congress Members Chris Smith, Nicole Malliotakis and Jeff Van Drew nearby. I had made the two-and-a-half-hour drive to the event with Congresswoman Malliotakis, who accompanied the President to court this past Monday.
President Trump arrived late, threw away his notes, and then spoke for an hour and a half. He was funny, articulate, but most all, for those who listened closely, quite substantive.
That is what I found most interesting; mingled in the jokes and political commentary was international affairs, the economy, illegal immigration, energy policy, public safety, the environment and so on. The media’s focus is always on everything other than what he hopes to accomplish as President.
I suppose that has been the way it has been since the beginning for Donald Trump. Many of us look at his four years as a great success from the perspective of accomplishments. Others want to focus on his tweets and style.
Soon all Americans will need to choose. Although, I consider it an easy choice.
PATRIOT’S PODIUM PODCAST FEATURING TONY CASALE
Patriots Podium episode #24 featuring Anthony Casale, the A Republican Commissioner of the NYS Board of Elections is available now! Tony has been a long-time friend and has an extensive background in government and public affairs having served as a Republican/Conservative member of the State Assembly, Chairman of the NYS Liquor Authority, and Vice President of Government Relations at Lynn University. This is a very informative podcast covering an array of material such as even-year election law, early voting, mail-in voting, the need for ID to vote, and the ins and outs of what goes on at the Board of Elections. I encourage you to give it a listen, as this information will be helpful on the campaign trails for November!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
May 14, 2024
Statement by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar on Parent Replacement Act
“The New York State Conservative Party strongly urges the New York State Appellate Division, 4th Department, to reject Attorney General Letitia James’s appeal of a recent State Supreme Court decision that invalidated a ballot provision colloquially known as ‘The Parent Replacement Act.’
“The lower court correctly ruled that Proposition One was pushed forward by Governor Kathy Hochul and her ‘progressive’ colleagues in an unconstitutional manner. That decision should stand.
“The Parent Replacement Act would be a nightmare for New York parents and for female athletes. It would grant biological males the constitutional right to compete in womens and girls sports in the state, and it would ban parents from knowing if a child is undergoing gender transition procedures at school. Reckless language in the amendment would bizarrely grant constitutional protections to discrimination itself — if that discrimination is conducted in the name of anti-discrimination. Try to make sense of that!
“Albany’s social engineers are moving ahead at full steam, despite the clear will of New Yorkers, 66% of whom want girls and womens sports protected. New York voters must remember that on November 5th.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
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May 10, 2024
Statement on Unified Candidacy of Mike Sapraicone by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
“The New York State Conservative Party is thrilled to report that nationally-recognized security expert and former NYPD Detective Mike Sapraicone will be the sole nominee of the Republican and Conservative Parties in the November election, thus guaranteeing a unified ticket.
“Mr Sapraicone can beat incumbent Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who effectively vanished from the public eye after getting trounced in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. Ms. Gillibrand has fallen into virtual irrelevance both in Washington and New York, and the time to replace her is now.
“The Conservative Party urges its friends and members around the state to rally behind Mr. Sapraicone’s candidacy urgently. After former Congressman Lee Zeldin’s powerful run for Governor in 2022, and with President Donald Trump at the top of the ballot this year, Mike Sapraicone can win this race. It’s time that New York had a conservative representative in the Senate again.”
ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP REFUSES TO MOVE ANNUAL LOYALTY DAY RESOLUTION
Since 1921, in response to the communist celebration of May Day on May 1st the federal government has recognized May 1st in the United States as Loyalty Day. Every year each individual state does their own resolution memorializing Loyalty Day in their state. This had been the standard in New York until now.
When Conservative/Republican Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo of Staten Island attempted to move the resolution which he authored a few weeks back, he was informed that the Democratically controlled Assembly would not put the resolution up for a vote because it made some of the Majority uncomfortable. I guess I am not surprised, but very disappointed that we got to this point. This resolution is just what Albany and New Yorkers need in the current climate; a day dedicated to our country, its roots, and the heroes protecting us. This should not be a partisan resolution, but Democrats don’t want to vote for something they don’t believe in, nor do they want to rile up their anti-American base before November.
This reminds me of a battle twenty years ago in Albany to cause the Assembly to say the Pledge of Allegiance before every session day. The Democratic leadership opposed such an action on similar grounds. Eventually under enormous public pressure the Assembly Democratic Leadership allowed each session to begin with the Pledge.
Sam’s resolution can be found here. Take a read and see if you come to the same conclusion I did, that there is absolutely no good reason for stopping its passage.
THE GOOD GUYS WIN ONE
A team with the help of the GOP, Conservative Party, and many others who played an active role won a big one in the State Supreme Court when Proposition One, the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment” to the NYS Constitution, was removed from the ballot.
The Legislature simply ignored the constitutional requirements necessary for passing it onto the ballot. Ironic or arrogant, you decide, but the bottom line is that the amendment, which was mostly about gender identity and abolishing many parental rights over minors, will not be on the November ballot. Of course, the supporters are appealing with the Court of Appeals becoming a wild card in proceedings due to the antics of the Chief Judge. The law however is clear – it was not followed. It will be interesting to see if Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, who dissented in a decision that an Elephant named Happy was not a “person,” can come up with a novel argument to get around the law.
You can read our full press release on the ERA here:
NYS Federation of Republican Women
This past weekend, and into Monday night, the New York State Federation of Republican Women held their 105th Annual Gala and Conference in the heart of Albany. I just wanted to take the time to acknowledge, and thank Trish Turner, President of NYSFRW, for putting on an amazing event. With over 300 people in attendance, it was a resounding success. I was also glad to see many members of the Conservative Party show their support. Dutchess County Chairman Don Minichino, Livingston County Chairman Jason McGuire, Wayne County Chairman Mike Garlock, and our Director of Operations Andrew Davis were all in attendance. I had the pleasure of being one of the speakers, along with many other notable speakers and political activists. The keynote speaker, Riley Gaines, delivered a profoundly impactful speech on her experience and her mission to defend women’s rights in sports. I thought I knew a lot about her story from the news, but I was blown away with how much I learned in just a short period of time. She discussed her story competing against Lia Thomas (Aka Will Thomas), her teammates’ uncomfortable experience in the locker room with a man, Title IX, the Equal Rights Amendment, and much more. She truly was a phenomenal speaker, and we look forward to welcoming her back to New York soon!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
Bill@NovemberTeam.com
May 7, 2024
HOCHUL’S CONTROVERSIAL PROP ONE THROWN OFF BALLOT
“Governor Kathy Hochul and her woke colleagues in Albany tried to pull the wool over the eyes of New York voters, and were thankfully slapped down this morning by the New York State Supreme Court. Mrs. Hochul’s Proposition One would have stripped parents of the right to know that a child is undergoing gender transition procedures in school, and it would have given biological males a Constitutional right to compete in girls and womens sports in the state.
“This outrageous and unconstitutional attempt to socially engineer New York, under the false guise of ‘equal rights’, will be a permanent dark mark on Mrs. Hochul’s tenure as governor. Parents won’t soon forget what the Governor and Democratic legislature tried to do here.
“The Conservative Party salutes Republican-Conservative Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes and others for bringing the successful litigation in this case, and offers its special thanks to Christian Browne and Bobbie Anne Cox for their brilliant stewardship in court. New York parents can sleep a bit more peacefully tonight, thanks to their efforts.”
New York State and New York City are taking no more militancy under the guise of legitimate protest from groups that are tied to radical organizations. The pro-Palestinian campus takeovers at Columbia, NYU and City College received a quick and decisive intervention from the NYPD.
All too many of the violent protests are populated by individuals who, when questioned, show that they have no idea of what or why they have invaded campus space. Antisemitism might not be every protestor’s intent, but it certainly is the result of causing Jewish students, or those who support them, to feel unsafe and even unaccepted at their school.
The removal of the American flag with the Palestinian flag being raised before the NYPD removed it and once again raising the American flag was symbolic to our nation that these protests are as much anti-American as they are antisemitic.
I applaud the NYPD and issued a statement that summarizes the Party’s view. You can view the press release here.
THE FIGHT CONTINUES
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, together with Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, have introduced legislation that would prevent the congestion pricing plan from being implemented by prohibiting crucial federal money from being used to fund the start-up in June. Congressman Mike Lawler has also signed onto the legislation which is supported by all of the ten Conservative Party endorsed members of Congress.
Congestion pricing is slated by the MTA to go into effect in late June. It is immensely unpopular with the average New Yorker and will certainly have a negative impact on the Manhattan economy, in addition to it being effectively another tax on the driving public. The arguments against congestion pricing go well beyond the obvious and include increased pollution and traffic in the boroughs, and decreased quality of life in lower-income areas, especially in the Bronx and North Shore of Staten Island.
The MTA’s record on mostly everything it comes into contact with is disappointing to say the least. They are constantly looking for revenue, yet allow hundreds of million in fares to be evaded each year. The MTA leadership holds hearings in which they ignore public comment in order to effectuate a foregone conclusion. Throwing more money into the MTA will not fix the overall problem, and taxing people out of the City does not seem to be working.
In addition to the Malliotakis legislation, the Nassau County Town of Hempstead has just filed a lawsuit which joins other legal actions including Staten Island elected officials, several labor organizations, and Borough President Fossella.
A sure fire way to stop congestion pricing, even if it has gone into effect, is to elect Donald Trump President this November. Trump, always a New Yorker regardless of how badly the State and City treat him, has been clear in his opposition. As President I am confident that he will unravel this ill-conceived effort through his power over the purse strings and control of oversight agencies that have failed to fully review the environment impact under instructions from the Biden Administration.
PATRIOT’S PODIUM WITH GREG GARVEY
Patriots Podium episode #23 featuring Greg Garvey, the Executive Director of The Coalition to Protect Kids NY is available now! Recently, we have been sending out a lot of information regarding the ill-conceived and so-called “Equal Rights Amendment” that will appear on the ballot this November. The misguided amendment is really about giving minors, as young as the age of eleven, the ability to decide their gender identity and even the possibility of medically transitioning without their parents consent or knowledge. Parents know what is best for their kids, not the government. Although the name sounds appealing, the Conservative Party is a NO vote on this amendment. This is yet another resource for you to learn, and spread information about this amendment that may not be known to all voters. I encourage you to give it a listen to fully understand the scope of the issue. You can learn more about the coalition and how you can help on their website here. Watch the full show on any of the links below!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
bill@novemberteam.com
May 1, 2024
Statement on NYPD Campus Recoveries by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
Brooklyn-NY…“Last night’s actions by the New York City Police Department, at the request of college presidents, was a welcome and professional demonstration of order in the face of anarchy. Students and outside agitators have no right to seize and occupy campus grounds, and their removal was way past due. Those who led the illegalities should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The universities should also expel lawbreakers.
“NYPD officers raised the American flag over City College last night, where it had been ripped down by demonstrators and replaced with a Palestinian flag. The scene recalled iconic imagery in American history, and millions of New Yorkers cheered Old Glory’s return. But this photo never should have had to be taken. This wasn’t Iwo Jima, nor was it 9/11, it was a group of renegade students and professional agitators seizing public property. They must now pay the consequences. Prosecutors must do their jobs.”
