Protesters decry lack of access to Faso office
A group that holds weekly demonstrations says its ability to bring issues to the congressman is being hampered.
KINGSTON, N.Y. » The group Indivisible Ulster says a newly instituted protocol at U.S. Rep. John Faso’s Kingston office not only restricts the group’s ability to bring issues to the congressman, but also denies average citizens access to their elected representative.
The congressman’s staff says the new procedures were put in place to reduce the disruption to other tenants in the every Friday when the half-dozen or so people make their way through the office building to file their comments.
At noon on Fridays for the past six months, area residents have protested outside the building at 721 Broadway in Midtown Kingston that houses Faso’s district office, then headed into building to fill out comment sheets at his office.
But in recent weeks, access by the group to the freshman congressman’s office has been restricted, and now protesters say there aren’t even allowed into the building, which is known as the Seven21 Media Center and has numerous other tenants.
Kathy Adin, a member of Indivisible Ulster, said in a recent letter to the editor that the restrictions began July 21, when members of the group were directed to a first-floor conference room to fill out the comment sheets they intended to file with Faso’s office. Two weeks later, she said, they were told they would no longer be permitted in the building and instead would be required to leave their comments at a window at the entrance of the building. Adin said the group was told access was being denied due to “threats of violence” against Faso, R-Kinderhook.
“As constituents,” she said, “we should have access to our congressman’s office, not just for our respectful, peaceful group, but to bring to his attention our points of view.”
Adin said “access for all constituents to voice either support or concerns is essential in a democracy where are representatives are elected and supported by taxpayers.”
Faso’s press secretary, John Lange, said the new protocols were put in place at the recommendation of the building’s owner following complaints about the foot traffic caused by protesters.
“We have had a tremendous number of complaints from tenants and the landlord, and the window idea was the landlord’s solution,” Lange wrote in an email.
He declined to comment about threats the congressman was said to have received.
“Threats are not to be discussed publicly,” Lange said.
Ryan McAllister, Faso’s district director, called the window “a reasonable approach which takes into consideration constituents bringing casework issues to our office as well as other tenants in the building.”
Lange and McAllister noted that the window is only being used on Fridays, during the time of the weekly protest, and that at other times, constituents can go directly to the congressman’s office. They said constituents seeking assistance on specific issues from the congressman can always freely access his office.