Democrats are still “Lookin’ for LaLota” on the East End.
Coincident with Representative Nick LaLota’s visit to Montauk last week to announce the start of dredging of the Montauk Inlet, two sister protests were held demanding that the congressman host a town hall-style event open to the public during the congressional recess period, which ended Monday. According to the House calendar, roughly 20 percent of each month is out of session, allowing representatives to spend time in their districts.
Across from Mr. LaLota’s office in Hauppauge, five progressive groups, Long Island Network for Change, Suffolk Progressives, LI Activists, Long Island Progressive Coalition, and Progressive East End Reformers, or PEER, held one of the rallies, with at least 200 people attending.
The other was hosted by the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee at Inlet Seafood, which has views of the Lake Montauk Inlet, where those gathered would be visible to the congressman. “Rather than drive to Hauppauge when he wasn’t going to be there, this was us amplifying that message when he was present,” Anna Skrenta, the committee’s chairwoman, said. Approximately three dozen people showed up in Montauk to brave the weather.
“It would have been cool if he had come out and said hi to the people in the subzero temperatures,” she said, “but he didn’t.”
Unsurprisingly, in a press release put out by Mr. LaLota’s office, he decried the “hateful and inappropriate signs displayed during the Hauppauge demonstration, including reference to Nazis and explicit imagery.” A release put out by PEER South Fork described the same rally as “peaceful.”
“To pretend to move the conversation to signs is frankly infuriating and it’s a distraction,” Emily Kaufman, a steering committee member of Long Island Network for Change, said.
“I don’t think we should fall for that framing,” agreed Ms. Skrenta. “I think it’s a trick and a trap. We just saw Steve Bannon give the Nazi salute. We saw Elon Musk give the Nazi salute. Was some of the language inflammatory? Yes. But Trump has made a career out of being inflammatory.”
Indeed, on Instagram, the congressman posted images from the Hauppauge protest. Some signs used foul language. One showed a picture of Mr. LaLota in his Navy uniform and it said, “America fights Nazis. We don’t work with them!”
“Such divisive tactics do nothing to foster meaningful conversation,” Mr. LaLota said in his release. “I believe in addressing issues with respect and dignity, which is why I’m offering my 21st Town Hall on March 5th, where over 10,000 constituents can come together to have a real, productive dialogue.”
While Ms. Kaufman claims the congressman has yet to hold a public town hall, Mr. LaLota’s office disagreed, and provided a list of 20 events Mr. LaLota has taken part in since March 2023. The most recent entries were at the Long Island Farm Bureau on Oct. 16 in Calverton, and at the Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach on Sept. 8.
“None of the in-person events he references were open to the public,” Ms. Skrenta said, “nor were they hosted by him. Someplace is having an event, and he’s invited. It was never an open opportunity for his constituents to gather and be heard. Everything he does is highly controlled.”
“At this unprecedented moment, it is imperative that the congressman hear the voices of as wide an array of constituents as possible, not just those pre-selected for a private meeting or a carefully scripted virtual town hall,” a release put out by PEER South Fork said.
Mr. LaLota’s office said he invited the five protest leaders by email to a meeting in his office last Thursday, but they declined. “The invitation to the progressive groups provided 24 hours’ notice and offered to adjust the congressman’s schedule to accommodate a meeting if the invitees confirmed their availability.”
“The point is not to have a select group. The point is for him to come and talk to his constituents about the concerns that everyone is facing,” Ms. Kaufman said. “That meeting ask felt disingenuous on the heels of the disparaging social media posts.”
“We’re seeing Republican congressmen face angry constituents around the country. It’s not an easy thing to do but it is part of public service,” Ms. Skrenta said.
In an interview on CNN Tuesday, Mr. LaLota was asked why he was hesitant to hold an open town hall. “You should get better information,” he told Pamela Brown. “We’ve held 20 town halls” — 16 in person and four tele-town halls.
“I’m talking about this Congress,” Ms. Brown answered, “not last Congress,” she said, not addressing whether he had hosted those town halls.
He touted his tele-town hall coming up on Wednesday.
“Why not in person?” she pressed.
Mr. LaLota pivoted to a criticism of the protesters, saying they were paid and “not looking for solutions. These folks are just trying to stir the pot.”
