Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand Brings Congress to Our Corner
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| Kirsten Gillibrand speaking to a crowd with Tom Hynes |
“I’m here to listen and learn from you. The best way for me to represent you is to hear about what is important to you and to come where it’s convenient for you to talk to me,” Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said more than once on Saturday, as the newly elected Congresswoman came to Delhi for a “Congress at Your Corner” meeting with constituents. She got down with the grassroots in the produce section at Domion’s Great American grocery store, then met informally with Delaware County supervisors and headed up to SUNY-Delhi in the afternoon, where she held a forum on flood mitigation and water management issues and asked how she can help with federal funding and agencies.
Roxbury Supervisor Tom Hynes was on hand to give the Congresswoman a binder chockablock with the story of Roxbury, some Roxbury Nine base ball caps for her, husband Jonathan and their 3-year-old son, Theo — and a special invitation for the Congresswoman to join us for one of several "Railride into Yesteryear" heritage tourism Saturdays this summer. (Rumor has it Congresswoman Gillibrand has a decent arm for a ceremonial vintage base ball pitch).
Lots of area folks from Roxbury, Margaretville, Andes, Delhi and other local villages came out to hear from, and speak to, their new Congressional representative. Some of the issues discussed were the Iraq War, turbines in the Catskills, health care and prescription drugs, and the City's acquisition of land and disappearing farmland (Congresswoman Gillibrand noted that she'd like to see lands designated "Forever Ag" in addition to "forever wild.") At the forum on flood issues that afternoon, Carolyn Konheim of Margaretville bemoaned the dearth of funds available for consultants to help villages create long-term comprehensive energy and development planning. “We just don’t have equal resources here to stand up to the DEP,” said Konheim.
“Yes,” said Gillibrand, “but you do have a new congressperson.”
When she took the oath of office on January 4, Gillibrand promised to visit
each of her district’s 10 counties on a regular basis. (“Regular” is
putting it mildly. Gillibrand has already traveled from the Super Stop & Shop
in Hyde Park to Book Store Plus in Lake Placid and three other counties in
between in six short weeks.)
Whatever the issue, Gillibrand said she is willing to set up meetings with activists or concerned constitutents in her Hudson office (a meeting with peace activists is already in the works.) If you'd like to contact the Congresswoman, her regional representative -- Phil Giltner -- is your friendly, accessible go-to guy (He's the tall dark fellow in the nice suit and tie). You can reach him at Phil.Giltner@mail.house.gov or at Gillibrand's district office in Hudson (518-828-3109). “Wherever I am, day or night,” Rep. Gillibrand said, “He'll know where to find me.” Or visit Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand's Congressional Website directly at http://gillibrand.house.gov.
