Congressman Tom Suozzi urges people to channel their ‘positive energy’

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U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat and Glen Cove native, listed five issues that he wanted to address at a town hall meeting at the Polish National Home on March 18. Most members of his audience, however, seemed to be focused on just two of those issues: improvement of the Affordable Care Act, and President Donald Trump’s alleged connections to Russia.

Suozzi began the meeting much like his event at the Jewish Community Center in Plainview on Feb. 23. John Lennon’s protest song “Power to the People” played as he shook hands in the crowd and posed for photos with people on his way to the lectern. Some attendees clapped along with the music.

Standing before a crowd of about 300 people, the junior congressman discussed the political divide in the United States. While he claimed that he wanted to neither defend nor attack the president, he said he remained committed to working to get both parties on the same page. “There are things that I really disagree with,” Suozzi said, “but I’m trying to find areas where we can all agree.”

He added that whether you are for or against Trump, something has to be done about his “unusual” relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I don’t know what the facts are,” he said. “I don’t think anyone knows what the facts are, but we have to have a bipartisan, independent investigation as to what’s actually going on.”

Some of those who had questions for Suozzi were filled with passion and emotion. Andrea Ornstein, of Glen Cove, broke down in tears when she asked him about the future of the Affordable Care Act. She said she was afraid that she might lose her affordable insurance coverage.

“I have heard a lot of stories of life-and-death issues related to the Affordable Care Act,” Suozzi said. “My whole campaign was geared on ‘mend it, don’t end it.’ We need to preserve its virtues, and we need to address these problems.”

Though most questioners were calm, others were not. Joel Herman, of Melville, began a heated exchange with Suozzi by saying that he had not voted with his fellow Democrats on recent legislation.

“People have voted in straight party lines all over the place,” Suozzi responded. “That’s the problem that exists with our country. People have got to put their country before their party.”

Mary Kiernan-Tighe, of Greenlawn, described the meeting as “very productive” despite some of the more aggressive exchanges. “People are expressing themselves, and I’m really happy to hear that,” she said.

Suozzi did not have time to address the other three issues on his agenda — Trump’s travel ban, immigration and the environment — but he said he was thrilled to see the number of people who care about the country.

“This was a fantastic turnout,” he said. “I’m very excited to get people involved and to put their energy in a positive direction.”

The second half of the evening focused on Action Together Long Island, an activist group that formed earlier this year. ATLI held a training session on how to write a letter to the editor and how to locate newspapers in your area.

“It’s tremendously exciting to be able to empower people to become more active in the process of their government,” said Julia Fenster, the group’s chief organizer.

ATLI intends to hold more training sessions and meetings, which will focus on a wide range of issues, from the environment to race relations to health care. “We look to provide the tool set and the foundation to make that easier and a more positive experience,” Fenster said.

Suozzi’s next town hall meeting is scheduled for next month in Queens. He urged people to keep the conversation going and to share their concerns with others. “I want people to talk,” he said. “I want them to talk to their neighbors, talk to their friends, and try to persuade people that we need to move our country in a positive direction.”