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Letters to the Editor: Forum of D.C. reps in Brooklyn brings out blasts at Donovan

February 17, 2017 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Mallory McMahon, a member of the group Fight Back Bay Ridge, attended the Feb. 6 Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Forum where she and several others protested U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan’s stance on the recent order banning immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. Eagle photo by Paula Katinas
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Editor’s Note: The recent Brooklyn Newsmakers forum sponsored by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce brought together Brooklyn representatives in Washington, D.C. to share their perspectives on the new administration and on the 2017 Congressional session. Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan, who represents Bay Ridge and Staten Island, was targeted by protesters whose views were as overwhelmingly anti-Trump as the various letters on this page are. In a representative democracy, where bedfellows can help or hurt, Donovan takes the heat. In fairness to those who want to be heard and have written, we publish these letters and urge readers with insights and impulses on both sides to utilize our open, daily forum. 

To the Editor,

I am writing to express my frustration at the conflicting information coming out of the office of U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan, in particular the quote he gave to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in response to the protest at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Forum Monday, Feb. 6.

As a Bay Ridge constituent of Donovan, I have placed many calls to his offices over recent weeks expressing concerns about the Muslim ban (or in his chosen language, the “pause”) and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), among other topics. I have yet to receive a single return phone call.

I have additionally requested an in-person town hall so that he can dialogue in person with his constituency, but been informed by office staff that no such town hall will be forthcoming. Indeed, I was told that the only format to be offered will be monthly “tele town halls,” of which one has yet to be announced for February. A request for an in-person meeting when the congressman is in town during the week of the 20th has yet to receive a response.

These facts are in direct contradiction to his statement that he has “an open-door policy: I’ll meet with any constituent who wants to share his or her opinions and concerns. All they have to do is ask for a meeting.” I fear it is unlikely that I will have an opportunity to meet in person with my elected official if I can’t even get a return phone call from a staff member.


Courtney Scott
Bay Ridge

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To the Editor,

I was one of the protesters who confronted U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce event, along with members of my group, Fight Back Bay Ridge. We organized this action because we have tried multiple times to contact Donovan’s office to request a meeting, but none of us have heard back. Though Donovan claims to have an “open-door policy” and says “all [we] have to do is ask” for a meeting, his constituents have found this to be untrue. In addition to in-person meetings, we have requested a face-to-face town hall, as have progressives from Staten Island.

If Donovan will not meet us in the appropriate ways using the established channels — meetings, town halls and other events — his constituents will have no choice but to find him at outside events and shift the focus and tenor of those events to address our concerns.

Mallory McMahon

Bay Ridge

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To the Editor,

I am one of a growing number of Bay Ridge and Staten Island constituents who wish to meet with U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan. Despite his reaction to the concerned citizens who challenged him at the forum (sponsored by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Feb. 6) where he claims to have “an open-door policy” to meet and discuss issues with his constituents, we have found the opposite to be true. Whenever he is asked for a possible town hall meeting, he promises only a tele-town hall meeting. In this forum callers are censored or eliminated at the discretion of the moderators. This creates a one-sided discussion which is impersonal and unacceptable.

I am concerned about many of his positions including his support of Neil Gorsuch, the repeal of the ACA, funding for Planned Parenthood and others. I am especially concerned about his stance on the Muslim ban. Mr. Donovan was quoted as saying in the Staten Island Advance:

“We are and should continue to be a compassionate nation, but we must balance our compassion with security interests. The FBI director said to the Homeland Security Committee, on which I sit, that we cannot properly vet people from war-torn countries, and we know ISIS will use refugee flows to infiltrate the West.”

While I understand security concerns, this ban and its devastating repercussions for many Muslim-American families not only undermines the Constitution of the United States of America, it is devoid of compassion, punishes the innocent and it violates one of our basic American principles of welcoming people into this country who seek a better life.

Is Mr. Donavan aware that he represents a district that houses one of the largest Muslim populations in New York City?  Does he know any of these families personally and their struggles to make America their home?  I am eager to meet with Mr. Donovan as are a growing number of his constituents who wish to address the Muslim ban as well as our president’s actions to change everything America stands for to benefit his own interests.  We have to keep America safe but we have to mindful of forever losing our rights.

Gloria Mingione

Bay Ridge

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To the Editor,

I attended the Brooklyn Newsmakers event sponsored by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 6.  And while I did not participate in the disruption at the event, as a constituent of Dan Donovan I share the protesters’ frustration. 

Since the election, I have called Donovan’s office on multiple occasions to ask the congressman to vote against repeal of the ACA, and to speak out against the presidential administration’s unconscionable Muslim ban as well as his appointment of Steve Bannon to the position of White House chief strategist.  And I know many of my neighbors have done the same.  We remind the congressman that he represents more than 100,000 constituents whose health insurance is in peril if the ACA repeal goes through.  Moreover, he represents a neighborhood with one of the largest Muslim concentrations in the country.  Yet, Donovan repeatedly sides with the Republican party rather than representing or even hearing the voices of these constituents.  I find it especially infuriating to hear him on national and international news outlets such as the BBC arguing in favor of the ban as if his constituents have not been calling him to voice their opposition to it.

I was particularly dismayed to hear Donovan repeatedly say at the Brooklyn Newsmakers event that the audience didn’t need to agree with his position but should hear him out.  Again, at the very least his position should acknowledge the disagreement of many of his constituents who are feeling ignored by our own representative.

It is time for Congressman Donovan to listen to all of the voices of his constituents and not only those who support his positions. I hope that he will make good on his promise to keep an open door, hopefully one that leads into an actual town hall meeting where our concerns will be heard by the congressman in person.

 

Cindy R. Lobel

Bay Ridge

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To the Editor,

I also attended the Brooklyn Newsmakers Forum. Although I was not a part of the protest, I understand and share the frustration of the protesters. It is worth noting that when Mr. Donovan spoke about the travel ban, the room was mostly silent and respectful. After he spoke, I understand why some felt the need to express their disapproval, as there was no Q&A portion. If Mr. Donovan holds a town hall, I am sure we will be happy to listen respectfully, as long as we have an opportunity to voice our concerns as well. There will most likely be shouting and signs there and we would be foolish to think otherwise in this political climate. However, I can guarantee that many of us — even those of us who disagree with the congressman on many issues — will try to make sure that he is not shouted down and that it does not get out of hand. At a time when our country is more divided than ever, the only way we work through it is to sit down and talk to each other. I’m even willing to pay the toll if he wants to hold it in Staten Island.

 

Amir Shani

Bay Ridge

 

 

 


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