Dear Editor,
BY: New Rochelle Democratic District Leader Manuel Cassanova
In a much-anticipated- and spirited televised debate for the NY- 16th Congressional seat between Mr. Bowman and Mr. Latimer, it became clear why Mr. Latimer is the right choice to represent us in Congress.
Throughout the debate, Mr. Latimer consistently showcased his long history of progressive results. We’ve always known Mr. Latimer to be a doer. He has brought tangible progress to people of all backgrounds in Westchester. Mr. Latimer has defended and protected women’s reproductive rights and tackled the cost of living by investing more than any other suburban county in affordable housing. On gun control, we heard him talk about how he banned gun shows in Westchester, and we know he voted to pass a state assault weapon ban.
On immigration, Mr. Latimer demonstrated not just his policy knowledge but also his empathy. He expertly managed the arrival of new immigrants to Westchester. At the debate, he repeated his focus to streamline the asylum process, and issue migrant work authorizations.
Finally, Mr. Latimer again displayed moral clarity and why he has been an essential voice against antisemitic, anti-Israel hate speech, as well as Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry. He expressed again his strong support for President Biden’s efforts to broker a pause in the fighting and bring the hostages home.
In Mr. Latimer, I see a beacon of hope for a new way to do politics in Washington because he knows how to do it and is passionate about it. His sincere commitment to making Congress work for all of us is evident and supported by his past actions. Mr. Latimer is determined to eliminate the divisive theatrics and unacceptable behavior plaguing today’s politics. His campaign motto, ‘Results, not Rhetoric,’ is a testament to his focus on collaboration and progress, giving us reason to hope for a brighter future.
Sadly, we cannot say the same for Mr. Bowman. Instead of expanding his influence in Congress, he achieved the opposite. At the debate, it became clear again that his ideological standings override his capacity to compromise and bring incremental changes that yield progress. It also gave us an intimate view of why he failed to build broad coalitions in Congress. The lamentable fact is that Mr. Bowman cannot listen to those who think differently, so he is not listened to by others either.
Finally, Mr. Bowman’s pulling the fire alarm, making the bogus one-billion-dollar claim, or accusing Mr. Latimer of being a Republican are just poor efforts to cover up his political shortcomings in Congress.
After watching this first debate, it is clear that George Latimer is the right person to represent us in Congress.
Manuel Cassanova is a New Rochelle Democratic District Leader.
