Constituents Prepare for Upcoming Tele-Town Hall with Rep. Suozzi

GLEN COVE, NY — Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY 3) is set to hold a district-wide tele-town hall on Thursday evening, providing an opportunity for residents to discuss his legislative priorities and address pressing community concerns. This event follows a recent in-person budget briefing held by Suozzi with Congresswoman Laura Gillen and experts.

Suozzi, who has conducted numerous in-person town halls since taking office in 2017, transitioned to telephone town halls during the COVID-19 pandemic. He received feedback from constituents who appreciated the accessibility of this format, which allows greater participation from home.

On Wednesday evening, residents in the 3rd Congressional District will receive an initial call inviting them to the tele-town hall. A second call will follow just before the event begins to provide direct access to the live meeting. Additionally, the town hall will be live-streamed on the Congressman’s Facebook page.

“During the pandemic, I had 20,000 participants in one phone town hall,” said Suozzi. “The phone format allows me to reach more people and gather more information about their concerns.”

The tele-town hall is one of several being organized this week by Long Island’s congressional delegation. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) will host his own town hall at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) has a virtual event scheduled for March 24.

Constituents are increasingly utilizing town halls as a platform to voice their anxiety over proposed budget cuts to essential services such as Medicaid and Social Security. Recently, Republican lawmakers across the country have faced backlash during public events, encountering constituents who are frustrated with the impact of proposed fiscal policies.

Shoshana Hershkowitz, founder of the activist group Suffolk Progressives, expressed concerns about the tele-town halls being “more scripted.” She believes that elected officials should also make time for in-person meetings. Hershkowitz remarked, “If you’re not willing to face the public, you shouldn’t be in public service.”

LaLota has been particularly scrutinized for his lack of in-person town halls and has committed to addressing constituents’ concerns about Social Security and Medicare during his upcoming event. “We want to ensure a real, productive dialogue,” he stated in an email to constituents.

As public engagement remains a critical focus for lawmakers, concerns arise regarding the potential repercussions of Medicaid and Social Security funding cuts, with many constituents fearing the ramifications of these financial changes.

“This is not a new issue,” political consultant Hank Sheinkopf noted. “Elected officials often find themselves avoiding heated interactions with constituents, especially in today’s climate.”

Despite the challenges, Suozzi and Gillen recently advocated for transparency during a budget briefing at Hofstra University, where concerns about the GOP House budget proposal were discussed. Audience members expressed their desire for more in-person interaction, which Suozzi acknowledged by announcing the upcoming tele-town hall.

“There’s a lot of fear out there about what these proposed cuts mean for families,” Gillen stated. “It’s essential that our constituents feel heard.”