Klein hasn’t answered anything

To the editor:

(re: “Jeff Klein says you don’t have to be in the GOP to love the IDC,” April 20)

We are following up on our April 6 letter regarding Sen. Jeffrey Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference, and our request to hold an open, well-publicized town hall for all concerned constituents.

The April 20 story in The Riverdale Press and his Point of View in the most recent issue (“The real facts about the IDC,” April 27) did not address our concerns. In fact, it belittled the callers and misstated the number of calls to his office, all of which he claimed to return.

We know this is not true, because some of our calls were not returned.

Sen. Klein has indeed brought home the bacon for his district, but at what cost to his and his party’s integrity in our community, and the state? Because the IDC refuses to caucus with the Democrats in the state senate, Republicans control all appointments and committee chairs, which can keep legislation from ever getting out of committee and to the floor of the senate for a vote.

This is true for the single-payer health care bill that passed the Assembly twice, but never came up in the senate, along with other important legislation.

The members of the IDC are personally benefitting from larger offices, special appointments, and extra money they receive for disbursement to their districts, all coming from the Republican senate leadership. Klein shoulders personal responsibility for bolstering Republicans in the time of Trump. His refusal to accept real Democratic leadership in order to lead a breakaway faction is opportunistic and reprehensible.

He can claim to support progressive legislation, like single-payer health care, but when it fails, he can shrug and pretend it’s not his fault.

Finally, Sen. Klein consistently refuses to meet with his constituents in an open, large-forum venue, advertised in advance in this paper and elsewhere, where anyone can attend. He only meets with private, invitation-only groups, examples of which are a meeting for the residents of The Whitehall, and one in a private home.

Come on, Sen. Klein, what are you afraid of?

ANNMARIE GOLDEN, CAROL RADEL, DALE WOLFF, ILLIAM CARRILLO, JANICE WEAVER, JACKEY GOLD, JUDITH MINKOFF-GREY, KATHRYN DONNELLY, LISA WESTERFIELD, RUTH MULLEN, SARAH HUGHES, STACY LIECHTI, SUE ELLEN DODELL