HAMDEN - Passions ran high at a Hamden Inn event Sunday, April 27, hosted by Congressman Josh Riley, New York’s 19th district representative, as attendees demanded a more open discussion style so all in attendance could hear responses to questions that may have quelled their fears. What started as a casual event with Riley speaking one-on-one to people quickly became a town-hall style event.
Approximately 30 people attended the event with questions for the congressional representative who took office in January, after unseating incumbent Marc Molinaro. While Riley spoke with attendee Aaron Gell, who questioned Riley’s recent voting record and seemingly centrist, calculated approach, several other attendees encouraged Riley to open the discussion to all.
“Don’t politicians usually hold town halls?” An attendee asked. “We don’t want individual - we would really like it if we could hear,” another attendee said.
Riley said he preferred to hold personal, one-on-one conversations so he could truly listen to residents concerns, but attendees demanded a more open approach.
Riley agreed, but told attendees, “I will do this on one condition; everybody in this room has respect for each other. People don’t interrupt each other, one person asks a question and we have a conversation. The second this breaks down and becomes one of these food fights you see on TV every day, I’m gonna go back to doing this the way I think is most productive.”
Riley explained the best part of his job is being able to sit down with those he represents and connect with them one-on-one, where people feel more comfortable to share their struggles and concerns, such as having to cut back on groceries to afford new school clothes for their child.
“But since we’re going to do it this way, let me just very briefly give you an update on some of the work that I’ve been working on over the last 100 days,” Riley said. People of the United States are facing unprecedented times, Riley said, and the threats being faced demand urgency and a strategic approach. “So I have to pick my battles, and the way I pick my battles is by listening to people across the district.”
While many attendees were Democrats, Riley recognized many of those who voted for him also voted for President Donald Trump, like the farmer from Lisle who Riley recently spoke with. “He voted for the president three times, voted against me twice, and just had his contract with the federal government canceled - ripping the rug out from under his family and his community.”
Riley said he began his political career to help people like the farmer from Lisle, “to make a difference in the lives of people who have been screwed over by our politics for a long time.” To that extent, Riley highlighted several bills he has introduced, including the Lowering Egg Prices Act, the Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness bill, a bill to hire people in trades, and a bill to reduce utility bills by $400 per year.
Riley is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture’s Forestry and Horticulture, and Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry subcommittees, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s energy subcommittee.
“And the question I get from people, and I know you’re thinking it right now, is, ‘Josh, what the hell? Our democracy is in peril. We have a president who is disappearing people off the streets, and you’re focused on egg prices and utility bills,’” Riley said. “The reason our democracy is in the place it’s in is because it hasn’t worked.”
Wages have stagnated and the cost of goods have skyrocketed, Riley said, exacerbating the income inequality in the United States which Riley said is worse than it has ever been.
“Is it any wonder that a whole bunch of folks across upstate New York and across this country lost faith in a system that is great for politicians, and great for special interests, but screws over everybody else?” Riley said. “You do not have a strong democracy if you don’t have a strong middle class, and the middle class in this country has gotten crushed for 40 years. So you’re [expletive] right I’m focused on egg prices, and utility prices, and social security, and no tax on union dues, and no tax on social security.”
“We can’t keep doing the same [expletive] we’ve been doing for decades that has gotten us to this place,” Riley said.
Riley’s passionate speech seemingly tempered many of those in attendance, but did not address all concerns. One attendee highlighted Riley’s first two votes: to defund the International Criminal Court and in support of the Laken Riley Act.
The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (immigrants under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting, according to Congress’ website. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.
“I know it’s not a direct result of the Laken Riley Act that people are being disappeared to El Salvador now, however, I’m very familiar with the details of that law and the atrocities and abuses that come out of it,” the attendee said, asking Riley to explain his vote. “We’re talking about the destruction of rule of law and civil rights in our society. And they can come for any one of us, and they will.”
While Riley believes the Laken bill was brought to the floor specifically to create a divide, he said he vetted the bill’s language to address concerns over constitutional and due process issues.
“I was satisfied that the language in the bills was triggered only upon a finding of probable cause, and that is resulted in onus and an opportunity to be heard,” Riley explained.
Riley’s wife is the daughter of immigrants from India and Ecuador who came to the United States lawfully, he said, and President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship would strip his wife’s citizenship, he said.
“I appreciate the importance of this issue,” Riley said.
He is working on a bill to move the U.S. Marshals Service out of the Department of Justice — where it currently reports to the president — and place it under the authority of the Article III courts, restoring its ability to independently enforce court orders and hold individuals in contempt for noncompliance. Riley believes the entire immigration system is broken and needs bipartisan, comprehensive reform.
“I think most people across this district in particular, and probably across the country, believe that if you’re here unlawfully and you’re committing crimes and causing harm, you lose your right to be here. But if you’re here and you’re working your ass off, you’re following the rules, you’re paying your taxes, you’re contributing to our society, then you should have the same opportunity to get the American dream that so many folks before us had.”
Riley said he is working on a bill to update the immigration system and introduce a visa for farm workers.
During his first 60 days in office, Riley said his office received approximately 70,000 calls, all demonstrating that most people are scared, angry, and frustrated with the Democratic Party specifically.
“I hear you, I get it, and I’m scared and I’m angry and I’m frustrated too,” Riley said.
Riley encouraged phone calls to continue, and for people to continue telling him their personal stories so he is able to fight for what residents in his district want.
Delaware County Democratic Committee Chairperson Kathleen Hayek applauded Riley’s efforts at connecting with his constituents.
“Representative Riley told us that he wanted to use his in-district time to reach out on a personal basis to the hard working people who have been left out of consideration by our federal government for decades. He wants to meet people where they are and begin to right the wrongs that have brought about such an enormous distrust of our federal government leadership that we are witnessing today,” she said. “It’s a huge effort that I soundly applaud. And I suggest we follow his example by standing up for our friends and neighbors in need, of any party or circumstances, by sharing their stories with all our elected leaders of all levels of government and demanding action on their behalf.”
