Klein protesters are indeed local

To the editor:

(re: “Keep up good work, Sen. Klein,” June 1)

We are writing in response to Al D’Angelo’s letter where he claims that protests to Sen. Jeffrey Klein and his continued IDC coalition with the Republicans in the New York state senate are coming from “a handful of far-left wing liberals from as far away as Albany.”

Actually, no, Mr. D’Angelo. This is not so.

While we have not been to these specific demonstrations, we do know that many local Bronx groups also have been protesting Sen. Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference. We know this because we ourselves belong to one or more of these groups. 

We have attended demonstrations, the minimal town halls that Klein has held, written letters to the editor of this paper, and called and emailed Sen. Klein’s office.

In addition to us, there has also been ample criticism of the IDC from this newspaper and others. 

Even Brooklyn state Sen. Simca Felder implies, although he has not said outright, that though he has caucused with the Republicans since his election more than four years ago, he might also return to the fold now that Democrats technically hold the majority.

No one is questioning Sen. Klein’s many accomplishments for this district. We do question and object to his allegiance to the Republican party in New York, where he and his fellow IDC members were elected as Democrats. We are tired of hearing about the progressive bills that have passed. 

These are Democratic causes and could very well have passed anyway.

There is no law that says that Democrats — as Democrats — can’t reach across the aisle.

By accusing outsiders as the many body of protest, a claim Klein himself has made to people we know, he is playing the victim. He is no victim, but rather the cause of these protests. He and his IDC cohort were voted in as Democrats, and need to act accordingly.

DALE WOLFF, JACQUELINE GOLD, JUDITH MINKOFF-GREY, ANNEMARIE GOLDEN, LISA WESTERFIELD