A Commitment to Women's Rights

The 19th District can’t afford a Congressperson who’s helping her party roll back long-held and hard-fought victories for women. Our community doesn’t support the Republican War on Women, and we deserve better than a loyal foot soldier for the Tea Party. 

Today I announced the host committee for a “Women for Becker” event to be held on March 4th during the first weekend of Women’s History Month. The event will take place from 1-4 pm at Kathleen’s Tea Room at 979 Main Street in downtown Peekskill.

The host committee includes Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster, Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi, Westchester County Legislator Catherine Borgia, Peekskill Councilwomen Drew Claxton and Kathleen Talbot, Croton-on-Hudson Trustee Ann Gallelli, and prominent area activists Nancy Shatzkin, Patty Peckham, and Catherine Gorycki.

I wanted to pass along a few quotes from members of the host committee:

"This is a pivotal election for women. We need a Representative who’ll stand up for all women in the Hudson Valley. Richard Becker is a committed advocate for the rights we take for granted but that are now at risk. He’s a leader with a clear record of accomplishment, and I’m proud to support him,” said Assemblywoman Sandy Galef (D - Ossining) of the 90th District.

“When Hurricane Irene struck, people throughout the 19th district needed help immediately. Rather than stand up for her constituents, the current Congresswoman fell in line behind Eric Cantor and stalled federal aid. As a local elected official, Richard Becker understands the need to put us first,” said Westchester County Legislator Catherine Borgia (D - Ossining).

“I’ve been a leader in the fight to protect our environment for over a decade. Nan Hayworth, though, hasn’t said a peep about the danger posed by Hydrofracking. Our Congressperson has to be there for us whenever the environment is under attack, not just show up when its convenient. Richard Becker’s taken tough stands for the environment, and he’ll keep doing so once he’s in Congress,” said Councilwoman Drew Claxton (D - Peekskill).

“Growing up in Peekskill, I’ve seen how the decline of manufacturing has hurt our community. Last year, Nan Hayworth had a chance to stand up to Chinese currency manipulation and give local manufacturers a chance. Instead, she caved in to the GOP leadership and helped to vote the measure down. Richard Becker will fight to make sure we have enough good paying jobs so that anyone can raise a family in the Hudson Valley,” said Councilwoman Kathleen Talbot (D - Peekskill).

“As a village Trustee, I’ve worked hard to keep taxes low and find creative ways to fund necessary programs. Nan Hayworth has blindly voted to cut programs that help women and families and voted to hike taxes on the struggling middle class. Richard Becker will protect important initiatives and won’t try to balance the budget on our backs,” said Trustee Ann Gallelli (D - Croton-on-Hudson)

“For years, I’ve been helping seniors stay in the community and live near their families. Nan Hayworth’s voted to make that harder. Ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them would devastate seniors and hurt their families. That’s not a pro-family or pro-woman agenda. Richard Becker will defend these cornerstones of the middle class,” said Croton Housing Network President Nancy Shatzkin.

“Dr. Richard Becker will be a strong force in Congress for a clean environment. A vote for Nan Hayworth is a vote for the radically anti-environment House Republican Majority. At every turn, they’ve tried to undermine key environmental safeguards and support big polluters and dirty energy. Richard Becker’s been fighting against these kinds of abuses during his entire career in public life,” said host committee member and area activist Patty Peckham.

As mentioned above, the “Women for Becker” event will be held on March 4th from 1-4 pm at Kathleen’s Tea Room at 979 Main Street in downtown Peekskill, and costs $75 to attend. If you would like to attend, please follow this link: http://bit.ly/women4becker.

I hope I'll see you there on March 4th.

-Richard