Tag Archives: Congressional District 2

[Photo Composite Illustration] Massapequa, New York, USA. August 5, 2018. L-R, LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY, Democrat running for Congress for New York 2nd District, and Governor ANDREW CUOMO, at campaign event after Cuomo endorsed Grechen Shirley.

Gov. Cuomo Endorses Liuba Grechen Shirley for Congress

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
August 9, 2018

Massapequa, NY USA. August 5, 2018. L-R, Gov. Andrew Cuomo endorses candidates, as Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive; NY Sen. John Brooks; and Liuba Grechen Shirley, Congressional candidate for NY 2nd District; and supporters listen at joint campaign office opening. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Massapequa, NY USA. Aug. 5, 2018. L-R, Gov. Andrew Cuomo endorses Liuba Grechen Shirley for Congress, as Laura Curran, Nassau County Exec.; NY Sen. John Brooks; Grechen Shirley & supporters listen at campaign office opening. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Making a surprise appearance, Governor Cuomo endorsed Liuba Grechen Shirley, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 2nd District, during her Joint Campaign Office Opening with NY Senator John Brooks on Sunday, August 5th. 

Grechen Shirley, a community organizer and activist, business and non-profit leader, and mother of two toddlers, is the first female candidate to get FEC permission to use campaign funds for childcare.

Massapequa, NY, USA. August 5, 2018. L-R, Democrats Laura Gillen, Hempstead Town Supervisor; Liuba Grechen Shirley, Congressional candidate for NY 2nd District; and Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive, chat at campaign event. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Massapequa, NY, USA. August 5, 2018. L-R, Democrats Laura Gillen, Hempstead Town Supervisor; Liuba Grechen Shirley, Congressional candidate for NY 2nd District; and Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive, chat at campaign event. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Despite it being a muggy, 91°f summer day, more supporters attended the campaign event than could fit in the office during speeches by the governor, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Liuba Grechen Shirley, and Sen. Brooks.

Massapequa, NY, USA. August 5, 2018. Supporter writes in Volunteer Sign-In sheet, during joint campaign office opening for Liuba Grechen Shirley, Congressional candidate for NY 2nd District, and NY Sen. John Brooks. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Massapequa, NY, USA. Aug. 5, 2018. Supporter writes in Volunteer Sign-In sheet, during campaign office opening for Liuba Grechen Shirley, Congressional candidate for 2nd District; & NY Sen. John Brooks. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

SPEECHES

    • VIDEO: Speeches by Gov. Cuomo, Liuba Grechen Shirley, & Sen. John Brooks:


The series of four speeches started and ended with a joke about the sweltering weather.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran went to the podium in the packed office, and the crowd laughed when she smiled and said clothes wouldn’t be coming off despite the heat.

When the County Executive endorsed Liuba Grechen Shirley, the reasons Curran gave to vote for her, and other Democrats, included how Republicans are anti-New York State – by passing the tax reform provision removing state and local tax deductions – and are anti-gun control, pro NRA.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Curran introduced Governor Andrew Cuomo, an unannounced special guest.

The governor seconded the importance of getting reasonable gun controls, despite NRA’s influence.

Cuomo said how Republicans have a different fundamental view of America as a nation, including being anti-immigrant and abandoning Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. He added how New York sued the federal government for family separation.

“And Laura Curran’s point is very important. They [Republican Congress members] are anti New York State, what they did in their tax reform last year. They passed a provision that removed the deductibility of state & local taxes….

Why? Because they want to hurt New York. This federal provision raises property taxes by 30% like that, overnight. We have to get Washington to reverse it…. 

“I am tired of the Republican Congress people from New York saying — when I said, ‘Why would you pass a bill that hurts your own people?’ That’s what the SALT bill did. It hurt this state. It hurt their constituents ‘Why would you do it?’ — they say, ‘Well, we’re powerless. We’re powerless.’ 

You know what?  That’s baloney. They have been enablers for this president….

“And I’ll tell you how we stop Congress from doing bad acts to New York. We elect Democratic Congress people who will stand up and protect New York.

“We elect Liuba Grechen Shirley. We let Liuba tell them the truth, and stand up for women’s rights, and immigrant rights, and for gun safety, and for New Yorkers….

“We let Liuba stand up in Washington and explain how Progressive policies made this state the greatest state in the United States of America….

“We elect Liuba, and then we elect John Brooks, and Lou D’Amaro, and Monica Martinez, and Jim Gaughran, and we take over the State Senate.”

Massapequa, NY, USA. August 5, 2018. Liuba Grechen Shirley, Congressional candidate for NY 2nd District, gives speech at podium after Gov. Cuomo endorses her. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Liuba Grechen Shirley

Liuba Grechen Shirley, a first-time candidate, thanked Cuomo for endorsing her and for New York having the strongest Paid Family Leave policy in America, and said she was excited at the prospect of working with him, Lou D’Amaro, and Sen. John Brooks.

“…It’s critical we take back the [NY] Senate, and flip the House. What is so exciting about our campaign is that it’s completely grass roots, We out raised Peter King this quarter, and we did it without any corporate PAC money….” 

“This seat has been held for 25 years by a Republican, by Peter King, who refuses to even meet with his constituents. He actually told me that holding a Town Meeting would diminish democracy….

“He does not represent the values of our district, and we need a representative who will actually listen to everyone in this district. Who will fight in Washington to make sure that we actually have a government is taking care of working families in this district, not their corporate donors….

“We’ve got a lot of work to do. This is about values. Who is going to stand up for our values.”

Massapequa, NY, USA. Aug. 5, 2018. NY Senator JOHN BROOKS (D-Seaford) speaks during open joint campaign office for him and Liuba Grechen Shirley. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Massapequa, NY, USA. Aug. 5, 2018. NY Senator John Brooks (D-Seaford) gives speech at podium during open joint campaign office for him and Liuba Grechen Shirley. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Sen. John Brooks

Senator Brooks first thanked Governor Cuomo for the outstanding job he is doing in Albany.

“…Our governor was the one that  stood up first and recognized what the federal tax changes would do to New York State…. [SALT Bill]  an 18-billion-dollar tax increase for New Yorkers….

“We hear the president say he wants to make America great again… All we have to do is act like Americans…..

“Lou and I are going to go to the Senate to stand up for Long Island and deliver the products and services that we need in terms of good government….

“Thanks everybody for being here, and remember it’s supposed to snow later this afternoon.”

Loyal-Tees

Several Long Islanders well below voting age came with their parents, including three sisters and their brother wearing red, white and blue campaign shirts with “Joanne Curran Perrucci – for Court Judge / 4th District” on the front, and “Vote For My Mom!” on the back. 

Massapequa, NY, USA. August 5, 2018. L-R,  Joanne Curran Perrucci, candidate for Court Judge 4th District; and Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive; smile at Perrucci's four young children wearing campaign shirts, at opening of fellow Democrats' campaign office. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Massapequa, NY, USA. August 5, 2018. L-R,  Joanne Curran Perrucci, candidate for Court Judge 4th District; and Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive; smile at Perrucci’s  four children wearing campaign shirts, at fellow Democrats’ campaign event. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

At the end of the event, the four siblings helped send-off Governor Cuomo.


DISCLOSURE: Photography I’ve done for Grechen Shirley has appeared elsewhere, but nowhere on this blog.

Cuomo, Endorsements:  VIDEO  •  my PHOTO GALLERY 

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Levittown, New York, USA. June 4, 2018. Debate between Congressional District 2 Democratic primary candidates Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory and Liuba Grechen Shirley, held by Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall.

Grechen Shirley & Gregory Debate: Rivals of ‘The King’

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
June 6, 2018

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Debate between Congressional District 2 Democratic primary candidates Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory and Liuba Grechen Shirley, held by Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall.

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Debate between Congressional District 2 Democratic primary candidates Suffolk County Legislator DUWAYNE GREGORY and LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY, at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

On June 26th, Democratic Primary voters in NY Congressional District 2 will determine which candidate – LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY or Leg. DUWAYNE GREGORY – challenges the long-entrenched Republican incumbent in the midterm election.

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Candidate Liuba Grechen Shirley speaks during Congressional District 2 Democratic primary debate with Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory held by Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Candidate LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY speaks during NY Congressional District 2 Democratic primary debate with Suffolk County Legislator DUWAYNE GREGORY at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Community organizer, business and non-profit leader Liuba Grechen Shirley and Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory faced each other Monday, June 4, in a debate held by the Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall.

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Candidate Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory speaks during Congressional District 2 Democratic primary debate with Liuba Grechen Shirley held by Seaford Wantagh Democratic Club at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Levittown, NY, USA. June 4, 2018. Candidate Suffolk County Legislator DUWAYNE GREGORY speaks during NY Congressional District 2 Democratic primary debate with LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY at Levittown Hall. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

The two Democrats, not surprisingly, have much more in common than not, but there are differences and points they each stressed.

Gregory is the Majority Leader of the Suffolk County Legislature, where he’s been legislator for the 15th District since 2008, compared to Grechen Shirley who hasn’t held an elected office.

Grechen Shirley’s fundraising efforts have been more successful; plus, the mother of two toddlers recently gained national attention when she became the first female congressional candidate to get FEC approval to use campaign donations for childcare when she’s working on her campaign.

The following short videos – each about 5 minutes – are Gregory’s and  Grechen Shirley’s closing statements, and give insights about the candidates and the goals each would have if elected to congress:

  • VIDEO – DuWayne Gregory’s closing statement:

  • VIDEO – Liuba Grechen Shirley’s closing statement:

The candidates most forcefully voiced opposition for their Republican opponent running for his 14th term, Rep. Pete King, a politician they agreed neither reflects the values, nor serves the needs, of his constituents well.

When an audience member asked Gregory and Grechen Shirley what would happen if he or she didn’t win the June 26th primary – each promised to support the winner’s campaign to unseat King. 

[DISCLOSURE: Photography I’ve done for Grechen Shirley has appeared elsewhere, but nowhere on this blog.]

Gregory & Grechen Shirley Debate:   PHOTO GALLERY

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