By Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com, news-photos-features.com
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came to Nassau County, Long Island, in support of Congressman Tom Suozzi’s reelection – the first of two rallies held on October 24, the first day of early voting – to energize those most responsible for getting out the vote in a district that spans three counties and is one of the most diverse in the country.
Jeffries, who is in line to become Speaker of the House should Democrats win the majority, said, Suozzi will “bring accountability in face of widespread corruption – not for partisan reasons but for patriotic reasons… We deserve a Congress that functions as separate, co-equal, check -and-balance of an out-of-control executive branch. Tom Suozzi believes in a Congress that is of, by, for and always fighting for the American people. He stands for exactly what Democrats have always worked for – working class, middle class, older folks, the party of FDR, JFK, Obama, a commonsense-gets-stuff-done Democrat.”
With a reputation as a “problem solver,” a “consensus builder,” and someone who works across the aisle, Suozzi, laid out why America has become so dangerously divided and government so dysfunctional, beginning with “Trump is a master pick pocket – the great distractor and divider” – who distracts with such outrages as tearing down the East Wing and prosecuting a three-time Olympian for the Reflecting Pool, to distract from Americans’ real problems over affordability, anger over unconstitutional mass deportations, an illegal and unending war.
Congress has been AWOL – paralyzed from taking any action – which Suozzi attributes largely to the fact that out of 435 seats in the House, 400 are “safe” – protected by gerrymandering and redistricting – so those members only have to worry about winning their primary and do not have to listen or be responsive to their constituents.
Suozzi, who represents New York’s Third Congressional District, is in one of the 35 seats that are not safe (the district elected George Santos and in 2024, went for Trump by 19,000 votes). “My seat is competitive. I have to work hard.” He needs to win the vast majority of Democrats, a majority of independents and some portion of Republicans. “So have to listen. It makes me a better representative.z’ As a result, he has earned a well-deserved reputation for being responsive to a constituency that is one o f the most diverse in the country.
Second is social media which rewards extremism. “Memes, attacks generate more views than small dollar donations, pitting us against each other.”
Third is 24/7 cable news which dominate: Fox (4.5 million viewers to most watched program) vs. CNN and MSNOW which get 2 million – getting a completely different view – a siloing of information and self-selected “facts” , “telling us why we stink.” in order to sell products like prescription drugs and My Pillow,
Fourth are the foreign adversaries – Russia, China, North Korea, Iran – who believe the way to defeat America is from within – “that our weakness is our diversity, our freedom, our democracy…There are more fake bots on twitter than real people – filling heads with messages to make us fight each other.”
“How will we find common ground to move forward and solve problems? Make Hakeem Jeffries our Speaker and elect to Congress those who believe in public service to serve, not being a lackey, those who want to rebuild the middle class. We have real problems – affordability, immigration, climate change, AI, whether we have munitions left in the stockpile. We need leaders who will work together.
“We always have had problems but there were always leaders who would emerge to solve problems. We have had concentrated wealth, and a guy from Oyster Bay broke up the trusts; in the Depression, we had FDR who created Social Security and the New Deal; when people couldn’t afford health insurance we had LBJ who created Medicare, Medicaid and Obama who created the Affordable Care Act. Because so many were left out, we had leaders –LBJ, Clinton and Obama – advocating for civil rights and fixing America’s original sin. Even Nixon – when rivers were on fire and smokestacks belching pollution, he created the EPA and signed the Clean Air and Water Acts. Let’s work together to solve problems – that’s what we have to get back to.”
Suozzi added, “Some are insulated but others are working hard but can’t make it – the minimum wage is still $7.25 in many places, but even at $10, that’s $20,000 a year, $20 is $40,000 a year. How can you buy a home, educate your children, buy health insurance or retire without being scared on that? No wonder we are pissed off. Let’s work together to solve problems.
“Now, with all the problems, everyone is just fighting, and the people are left out.
“How do we get people to work together to address climate change, immigration, AI, restore the American Dream for everyone, whether left and progressive or right and conservative, that if you work hard, play by the rules, you should be able to buy a house, raise a family, afford health insurance and retire without being scared. That’s what we’re fighting for.”
“I want to win to work on affordability, rebuild middle class, help immigrants, climate change, and determine if we have enough munitions, work together on AI, deal with tariffs, war, national debt ($40 trillion).”
[Trump added $2 trillion to the national debt in just the first year. Acr”oss both of his administrations, Trump is responsible for adding $11.6 trillion in national debt -amounting to 28% of the entire $40+ trillion national debt accumulated throughout U.S. history. But Republicans only seem to care about the national debt when Democrats are in the White House, in order to block spending on any programs to benefit families and workers and in this term, are rubberstamping Trump’s every whim.]
“I want to win to help address these problems and also for selfish reason- so I can tell Trump, Vance, Johnson to shove it….”
It was just the first of two rallies Suozzi held that day – the second at Gold Coast Studios, the same venue where JD Vance came ostensibly to deliver a speech about “affordability,” but instead spent 25 minutes bashing Suozzi as “the worst Congressman in the USA.”
That rally was distinguished by how so many of New York’s 3rd Congressional District’s diverse communities and groups were represented – labor, gun-safety activists, Indian Americans, Pakistani Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Italians, Irish, Jewish.
Linda Beigel Schulman, who lost her son, Scott, in the Parkville massacre, said Suozzi reached out immediately to ask what he could do to help, and has supported gun safety (“not gun control”) that could make a difference ever since. “I am assured you will reach across the aisle to make sure gun safety is a priority. Are we entitled to be safe, live without fear? Tom Suozzi will do that.”
Matthew Aracich, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties (Long Island Building Trades Council) said, “My first contact to go to is Suozzi. He’s there to help us – no hesitation – whether it’s labor, healthcare, vets. If you want someone who will act on your behalf, has bipartisan support, communicates with everyone, Tom is your man.”
MinSun Kim founder and president of the Long Island Conservatory, founder and president of the MOKAH, Museum of Korean American Heritage and former president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY) said, “He is one of few politicians can trust. He was the first politician to protect us from Asian hate crimes, and passed a resolution in Congress.”
Girish Patel, a prominent Indian-American community leader, declared, “Suozzi is the real deal. I’ve known him for 20 years. He works with all communities. He is the only leader who has always stood by our community.”
Mineola Mayor Paul Perola, noting that Nassau County has 64 villages, “As former mayor, Suozzi gets it – water, infrastructure, education, public safety. He is endorsed across political spectrum.” But Perola also pointed to his own experience as an immigrant. “Suozzi is the son of immigrants. He understands that the American Dream has to be held well and alive for everyone. Send someone who understands us back to Congress.“
Jon Kaiman, North Hempstead’s former supervisor and former Suozzi rival, who recently became Suozzi’s chief of staff, said “2 plus 2 plus 50 makes a million. You are here for all the people you represent – family, community, country. We show up here because we believe in something beyond ourself. To make world a better place, we need people who can persevere, stand up to powerful forces, be here because something deeper within them to move forwards. The country is falling apart, but we’re here because we have hope [ it can be put back on track].”
Suozzi has backed up his campaign rhetoric with actual plan. This is from his website:
Tom Suozzi’s Five-Point “American Affordability Plan”
Five practical ways to cut everyday costs, reduce waste, grow our economy, and help Americans keep more of what they earn.
- Cut Irresponsible Tariffs, Bring Jobs Home
Get rid of irresponsible tariffs that are driving up prices on groceries, cars, building materials, and everyday goods — while fighting for trade deals that bring manufacturing jobs back to America.
- Support the Stop Global Tariffs Act as a co-sponsor, which would roll back Trump’s tariff authority, refund businesses that paid them, and prevent them from coming back.
- As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, work to ensure that any renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement protects American interests while maintaining strong relationships with our allies.
- Phase out of the Iran War, Keep America Safe
- Stop pouring taxpayer money into a reckless war. Focus on smart diplomacy, modern defense spending that addresses today’s threats, and stronger alliances that share the cost of keeping us safe.
- Exercise congressional oversight and reinforce the Constitution’s limits on a president’s ability to use our military to enter into conflict without congressional authorization.
- Pay Down the Debt, Lower Your Interest Rates
Rein in federal spending so the government pays less in interest, reducing pressure on interest rates that affect mortgages, car loans, and credit card debt.
- Enact the Problem Solvers Caucus’ Fiscal Stability Framework:
- Fiscal Commission Act, which creates a bipartisan commission focused on reducing the debt.
- House Resolution, which would reduce the federal deficit to 3% from the current 6%, so we can fully fund safety-net programs while reducing wasteful spending.
- Sustainable Budget Act, which would establish a bipartisan process aimed at putting the federal budget on a sustainable long-term path.
- As a co-author, will fight to enact the bipartisan First-Time Homebuyers Affordability Act, which gives more first-time, low-income, and middle-income buyers access to low-interest mortgages.
- Unlock More Energy, Lower Your Bills
Cut red tape so we can build energy projects faster — clean energy, natural gas, nuclear, transmission, and storage — to produce more energy, lower costs, and build a cleaner future.
- Enact the Problem Solvers Caucus’ Permitting Framework to make it easier to build energy projects and boost production
- Cutting red tape for linear infrastructure projects
- Meeting growing energy demand across sectors
- Reforming outdated and duplicative NEPA requirements
- Establishing clear, enforceable permitting deadlines
- Strengthening domestic supply chains
- Co-sponsor the Energy Bills Relief Act, which restores clean energy tax credits, provides incentives for wind and solar, promotes efficiency, and cracks down on price gouging.
- Make Healthcare Affordable — and Humane
Protect and strengthen the tax credits that lower your health insurance premiums, invest in prevention and primary care, and pass the WISH Act to make long-term care more affordable so seniors can stay in their homes.
- Pass the Bipartisan HOPE Act, authored by Suozzi, which would extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits for two years while adding income limits and safeguards against fraud.
- Enact the bipartisan WISH Act, authored by Suozzi, which would help seniors afford the care they need as they age.
- Co-authored the bipartisan Supporting Newborn Parents Act, which would give new parents up to a $2,000 baby bonus.
“I will fight for you against the extremists. From groceries to gas to healthcare, everything is too expensive. We must end irresponsible tariffs and resist reckless wars that drive up costs, strengthen Medicare, and address rising utility bills. For me, it’s never been about party. It’s about working for Long Island and Queens to make life more affordable,” Congressman Tom Suozzi stated.
More at suozziforcongress.com
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