A Call to Action: Start Locally at Your Own Town Hall

The latest in Wendy's "A Call to Action" series....time to find your own Town Hall

I am certain you have been reading and watching as Republican members of Congress across the country are being loudly challenged at town halls to explain GOP positions to their angry constituents.  This is how the Tea Party caught fire in 2009 and 2010 and the same thing is now happening, with the shoe on the other foot.

We can all act locally, and it need not be confined to members of Congress.

Westchester (New York) County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, is holding a town hall at White Plains City Hall from 7 to 8 PM on Monday, February 27.  If you live in Westchester, please consider attending.  If you don't live in Westchester, check out what's going on in your own county.'

This November, Astorino will be seeking his third term as County Executive.  But his aspirations go well beyond county lines -- he opposed Andrew Cuomo in the 2014 gubernatorial race (losing by 54%/40%).  This is a career worth nipping in the bud.

I am not going to pretend to be an expert on Astorino's positions, but I do know that it's high time I fully educate myself and I urge you to do the same.  Here's some of what I already know.  Astorino's record on two issues that are important to me -- reproductive rights and gun control -- disqualify him in my mind.  Astorino is a strident foe of Planned Parenthood, cutting county funding for sex education.  He is opposed to the SAFE Act Gun Control Measure and last month, vetoed legislation that would have banned gun shows on county owned property (and a gun show went forward at the County Center in White Plains on January 22 and 23 of this year).  

In addition, Astorino is opposed to closing Indian Point and he opposed raising the NYS minimum wage to $15/hour. Other issues at stake are the privatization of Westchester County Airport and of course, immigration and affordable housing. 

Our elected officials at every level need to hear from us.  Please listen and then, if you're not happy with what you hear, speak out, often and firmly.  Find out where they are holding their own town halls and go and hold them accountable.