A planned town hall featuring Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Paul Tonko this weekend is being “strongly” opposed by the city of Plattsburgh Republican Committee.
The event is set to be held from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at The Strand, located at 23 Brinkerhoff, Plattsburgh.
The community meeting was announced Thursday. Later that afternoon, the Republican Committee released a statement denouncing Ocasio-Cortez’s visit. The U.S. representative for New York’s 14th congressional district, she is commonly referred to as AOC. Tonko is a U.S. representative for New York’s 20th congressional district, a position he has held since 2013.
“Extreme Far-left ideology, including promotion of open-border policies, and support for the Green New Deal, is drastically disconnected from the true needs of the City of Plattsburgh, and the North Country as a whole!” the announcement from Committee Chairperson David J Souliere IV stated. “AOC’s proposals threaten our local economy with even more unaffordable energy costs, higher taxes, unwarranted regulations, and misinformed ideals. … AOC’s platform ignores the priorities of our families, farmers, and veterans, who deserve policies that support job growth, infrastructure, and personal responsibility.”
Souliere also raised concerns about Ocasio-Cortez’s support for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as well as other “Radical socialists.”
“Luckily Plattsburgh residents will not be fooled!” the Committee chairperson continued in the statement. “We reject AOC’s divisive agenda, and call on residents to stand with us against this far-left ideology. The North Country will not be swayed by rhetoric that fails to address our real challenges. Making life affordable, and the American dream achievable to all North Country families.”