,

She Wrote the Book on Family Court: Maria Patrizio

,

Maria Patrizio for Family Court Judge

Maria Patrizio is the supervising attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County.

While her opponent asserts that she is the only candidate with experience on the bench, Maria has been practicing in family court for 20 years, and, during those years, has been able to see ALL the judges in that very important court. And Ms. Patrizio has literally written the book on family court practice! Successfully Navigating Family Court in New York provides compassionate guidance for getting through what is often a highly stressful and emotional ordeal.

Ms. Patrizio says, “Family court judges make life-altering decisions. They can reach into the most private sphere of your home and family life, so it is crucial to elect the person you trust the most to make these important decisions.”

And we believe that choice is clear.

Support Maria today.

,

Republican New Windsor Town Supervisor Endorses Sarita Bhandarkar for NY Assembly

,

“From day one, Sarita will have a strong voice in the legislature, and will ensure that New Windsor is heard.”

New Windsor is the home town of the 99th District’s incumbent Republican Assemblyman—the place where he got his start with a patronage job as a political appointee with a prior Town Board. The Town’s current Republican Town Supervisor, George Meyers, has endorsed Democrat Sarita Bhandarkar in the Assembly race.

119565248_171277507825599_3170334258537347847_o-2.jpg

Supervisor Meyers’ full statement:

"Today, I announce my endorsement of Sarita Bhandarkar for Assemblymember in the 99th District. As a Republican who works to represent all of my New Windsor constituents faithfully and equitably, I recognize the importance of assembling the best team, regardless of party label. Sarita is thoughtful, intelligent, and fair, and is passionate about improving the lives and livelihoods of everyone in our community. From day one, she will have a strong voice in the legislature, and will ensure that New Windsor is heard.

“For the past two years, our District and our Town have been ignored in the Assembly. Our current Assemblyman, Colin Schmitt, has not been the primary sponsor of any law that has benefited New Windsor. And unlike other productive Republicans in the Assembly, he has been simply unable to work with the majority to deliver for his constituents. This is not a surprise to New Windsor. Our Town’s prior administration invented an ineffective Chief of Staff position for Colin that cost our taxpayers $100,000 annually. Although my first act as Supervisor was to eliminate this role since it had no function, Colin had already used the title to position himself for future office. It’s time for all of us to stop funding his vanity and, instead, invest in representation who will work hard for us.

“I will be voting for Sarita Bhandarkar on November 3rd and encourage my community to do the same.”

Cornwall Supervisor Richard Randazzo Endorses Sarita Bhandarkar for NY Assembly

“Nobody is better suited than Sarita to have our back in the Assembly”

Sarita Randazzo endorsement.jpg

Cornwall, NY—September 29, 2020—Town of Cornwall Supervisor Richard Randazzo today issued the following statement endorsing Sarita Bhandarkar (D, WFP-Cornwall) in the race to represent the 99th District in the New York State Assembly: 

“I have been fortunate to know Sarita for several years through her leadership and civic engagement in our town. She is deeply dedicated to service and has committed her career to fighting for New Yorkers who need the most help. 

“The next year is going to be pivotal for our community and our region. While I am confident that the people of Cornwall will come together, persevere, and succeed, as we always have, we need effective representation in Albany to make sure that our voices are heard at the state level. Nobody is better suited than Sarita to have our back in the assembly. She knows the law, she holds our values and she never stops working for our community.

“Sarita has my full support in her campaign to be our next assembly member for the 99th district, and I endorse her wholeheartedly.”

Richard Randazzo has served as Cornwall Town Supervisor for 25 years and served as a village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Trustee.

Perfect Gifts for Your Democratic Loved Ones 🛍 ✌️

Perfect Gifts for Your Democratic Loved Ones 🛍 ✌️

We’ve teamed up with Newburgh luxury shop Oliver & Chatfield to offer some great merch for a great cause. Three exclusive, carefully-curated bundles of socially-conscious merchandise, and a portion of proceeds benefits the Cornwall Democratic Committee. Limited quantities—these WILL sell out. Act fast. 💨 (Note: On the $35 gift, the bag has CHOICES!)



What Will You Tell Your Grandchildren?

We’re at a pivotal moment, with two clear paths.

No matter your age today, there might come a time when a young person you care about asks where you were in 2020, and what you did to stop Donald Trump and his enablers. Stop them from taking away women’s right to bodily autonomy. Stop them from outlawing protest. Stop them from legalizing vigilantism. Stop them from denying people their right to vote. Stop them from requiring their religion in schools. Stop them from poisoning the air and heating the planet. Stop them from attacking journalists. Stop them from ending lawful oversight of the presidency. Stop them from allowing a pandemic to rage out of control. Stop them from breaking apart families and putting children in cages. Stop them from stealing power if voted out, as Trump pledged to do this week.

These aren’t exaggerations. Those are their policies, voiced by their leader and backed up by his partners in Washington and by Republican politicians across America. Trump, his administration, and his cheerleaders are already doing these things. If they are allowed to retain power, they will only get worse.

Reading this right now, with just 30 days until early voting begins, you might scoff at that dark outlook (I hope you’re right). Or you might have read a little history and seen the last four years, and you might see the threat.

You might also see the promise. You might see the opportunity that lies before America, led mostly by young people, to work for a better future. For a future where racist systems are reformed, where environmental justice is weighed as part of economic prosperity, where the world’s riches are not increasingly kept in the pockets of fewer and fewer men while others go hungry. A future where you can get an education and go to a doctor if you’re sick—without going into debt. A future where you can trust your President and trust that the government has your back. That future, and more, is sadly only possible today if we elect Democrats (at which point the work begins).

You might feel like there’s nothing you can do. But there is. For 40 days, America has the chance to vote.

If you’re reading this you’re probably already planning to cast your ballot. But not everyone is—not here in Cornwall, nor around the country. How can you help people make a plan to vote for Joe Biden, and for every other Democratic candidate on their ballot? It’s vitally important even in “safe,” “blue” New York.

Here are some ways: TAKE ACTION

None of us, alone, can change the outcome of a national election. But together we can. Choose something from the list linked above, and do it with a smile. Because there may come a day, when this grim period in America starts to fade into history, that a kid turns to you and says “where were you? What was it like? What did you do?”

I plan to answer “I did what I could.”

,

Democrats Shatter Donation Records to Protect Supreme Court

,

Bloomberg News: Democrats Raise $100 Million in Court Fight, Republicans Mum

ActBlue, the primary political donation platform for Democratic campaigns and causes nationwide, said that it shattered all hourly and daily records for contributions as news spread of the tragic loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The outpouring of support for Democratic candidates, especially in the Senate, is one measure of the heightened stakes of the election, but it remains unclear whether the court fight will also buoy flagging Republican morale as their unqualified, criminal leader remains bogged down in lackluster polling. Also unclear is whether the hypocrisy of Republican Senators will reduce enthusiasm for their reelection. New polls in the coming weeks—and the final poll on November 3—will tell.

Donate to Flip the Senate:

Donate to Protect Voting Rights:

R.I.P. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, March 15, 1933-September 18, 2020

Cornwall’s Democrats mourn with the rest of America’s principled people, and celebrate the life and legal legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And we could not more emphatically echo her parting statement, relayed through her granddaughter: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”

It is incumbent on us all to ensure that she is not. The stakes for our nation’s future—for women’s health, for freedom to obtain medical care, for a livable environment, for civil rights—have not been higher in more than a century.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies at 87: NPR

1*Os2v4mjgzdMUFnFcEFeaBg.jpeg
,

Congressional Democrats Introduce THRIVE Agenda

,

Linking up with the Green New Deal, amid catastrophic fires in the west and floods and a hurricane bearing down in the east, Congressional Democrats this week signed on to a values-based American recovery plan called the THRIVE Agenda.

”The THRIVE agenda takes a broader approach, incorporating those elements into a new platform of eight pillars aimed at empowering workers, communities of color, tribal nations, and people affected by economic upheavals caused by COVID-19 and other crises.”

Read all about it here.

oYN9-RbD.jpeg

Bad News Brescia

Bad News Brescia

In case you had any doubts, here’s an exhaustive exploration of some colorful facts about Steve Brescia, the notoriously belligerent county legislator and mayor of Montgomery running against Democratic State Senator James Skoufis.

This is not someone New Yorkers can afford to have in Albany. Click the image to get the facts, and let’s do everything we can to re-elect James Skoufis.


, ,

COVID Information Email from Governor Cuomo

, ,

COVID Information Email from Governor Cuomo

Governor Cuomo’s office sent the following email out today:

progress.png

Dear New Yorker,

The unofficial start of fall is here.

Yesterday, on Labor Day, we honored the dedicated men and women in New York and across our country who make up our workforce, and we had special reason to celebrate them this year. During New York's long and continuing fight against COVID, it was our workers, including the men and women of organized labor, who showed up every day and risked their lives to protect all of us.

As we enter a new, post-Labor Day phase of the pandemic that presents new challenges, I want to update you on a few important matters.

School Reopening

First is the issue of schools. I recognize that many parents and teachers are nervous, and they have good reason to be.

While we cannot eliminate the risks of COVID, we can arm parents and teachers with the facts. To that end, the State is requiring all school districts to report daily data on the COVID infection rate and new cases at every school. This information will be publicly available on a new online dashboard that will have constantly updated data for your school.

In addition, the State launched a SUNY COVID-19 Case Tracker that provides real-time, up-to-date data on COVID-19 testing and other vital information at each of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities.

With this transparently available data, parents and communities will be in a better position to make decisions and stay safe.

Voting

Second is the issue of voting. New York has taken a host of measures to make voting safer and easier during the pandemic.

For the first time in our state's history, all registered voters can request an absentee ballot (under the "temporary illness" excuse). If you choose to vote by absentee ballot, then there are several ways you can cast your completed, signed ballot.

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 3

2. Drop it off at an Early Voting poll site between October 24 and November 1

3. Drop it off at a poll site on November 3 by 9pm

4. Drop it off at your county Board of Elections Office starting September 8 through no later than November 3 by 9pm (see the list of county Boards of Elections Offices here)

In addition to absentee voting, New Yorkers can also take advantage of Early Voting. For nine days, from October 24 to November 1, registered voters can cast their vote in-person at an early polling site. Of course, New Yorkers can still vote in-person on Election Day, November 3, as well.

Whatever method you choose, make sure your voice is heard. Learn more about Early Voting and Absentee Voting.

vote_banner.png

I want to take a moment to thank you for your cooperation and responsibility over the past few months. Together we brought the infection rate down by taking simple, effective precautions like wearing a mask and getting tested.

This new phase we are entering will test our diligence. We must continue to be careful and smart. It's up to all of us to ensure our continued success in the weeks and months ahead.

Ever Upward,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo