Why was this protest held in front of D’Esposito’s office?

Over 50 Long Islander community members representing various organizations, community groups, union members and supporters staged a symbolic circus display outside Representative Anthony D’Esposito’s office on Aug. 10.

Their goal was to voice concerns over his vote to alter government assistance programs and raise the federal debt ceiling.

Groups participating included Make the Road Action, New York Communities for Change, Long Island Progressive Coalition, NY Working Families Party, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Communications Workers of America - District 1, Turn Nassau Blue, Empire State Voices, and Bend the Arc Jewish Action – Long Island.

At a press conference held in front of a mobile billboard, participants dressed as clowns and fortune tellers to represent what they deem a “political circus.” Community members and advocates called out D’Esposito for “betraying their trust.”

“By voting for all these proposals he has gone against his campaign promise to never support cuts to Medicaid,” Angel Reyes, the Long Island Organizing Coordinator with Make the Road to Action, said. “D’Esposito has been continuously voting against the interest of his constituency and Long Islanders.”

The legislation under fire is bill H.R.2811 or the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023. It aims to increase the federal debt limit and decrease spending. 

It repeals several energy tax credits, modifies the permitting process and other requirements for energy projects, expands work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other programs, and nullifies regulations for the cancellation of federal student loan debt, according to the U.S. Congress website. 

His “YEA” vote is shown on the House of Representatives Clerk website under roll call 199. 

Participants shared their worries through speeches, songs, and chants. Some delved deeper, explaining the personal impact of the bill on their lives.

“I’ve lived in Nassau County since the early ’90s. For the past 15 years I’ve worked at a golf course doing maintenance although recently, I’ve taken on a second job as an Uber driver to make ends meet. While I love Long Island, it has become nearly unlivable with costs for rent and food rising exponentially,” Yehovani Villalobos, Long Island resident and member of Make the Road New York, explained, “While I make ends meet right now, it is frightening to think that in the case of an emergency, I might not have access to services like Medicaid or nutrition programs despite working so hard for decades. It truly bothers me that our elected officials seem to only think about billionaire donors, and not about our communities.”

Despite the opposition, D’Esposito said he supports the right to peacefully protest and encourages those who disagree to further learn his position on the issues they are concerned about. 

“I have and will continue to fight to protect seniors’ benefits,” he said. “But, at the end of the day, clowns will be clowns, so what can you expect.” 

Bill H.R.2811 was passed by the House on April 26 of this year, but the Senate has not yet passed it, and it has not been signed into law.