We just got off the phone a few minutes ago with James Allen, press secretary for Congressional candidate Reshma Saujani. He called to let us know about a series of town hall style “community conversations” Saujani will be holding in the next few weeks, leading up to Sept. 14th’s Democratic Primary. The first one is downtown Monday night, in the 14th Street Y Community Room.
Saujani is challenging Rep, Carolyn Maloney in the 14th Congressional District, which includes the East Side of Manhattan, as well as parts of Queens. As you probably know if you check out our morning news links, the two campaigns have been tussling all summer long about scheduling debates. This week, Maloney finally agreed to schedule a midday radio face-off (September 7th).
Allen argued it’s hardly an ideal situation for voters — the WWRL encounter with host Errol Louis will be in the middle of the day. He said it’s not at all clear whether even reporters would be allowed to attend in person, let alone interested voters. More from the Saujani campaign’s news release:
The “Community Conversations” will give voters an opportunity to hear Reshma’s plan for New York, ask questions, and discuss ideas to address the problems facing New York and our nation. “Voters want their representatives to come to their neighborhood and talk to them,” said Saujani. “Time and time again, voters tell me that their current representative, Carolyn Maloney, isn’t engaging them on the important issues, and they want leaders who will listen.” State Committee member Arthur Schwartz, former City Council candidate and Community Board 6 member Dodge Landesman, and star of HBO’s documentary “By The People,” Ronnie Cho will be co-hosting the August 23rd event at the 14th Street Y.
In a stement published by Our Town, Maloney campaign spokesman Alix Anfang responded: “Errol Louis is a highly respected and prominent journalist. There is no better venue to talk about the issues that Carolyn’s constituents care about.”
Monday’s Saujani forum will begin at 730pm. The 14th Street Y is located at 344 East 14th Street.
