discussion with Congressmember Jerrold Nadler, center, on May 19.
We may impeach: Nadler to Dem clubs
BY TEQUILA MINSKY
On Sunday afternoon May 19, members of
Downtown Manhattan Democratic clubs
packed the auditorium at the LREI high
school on Charlton St. for a “state of the government”
public forum with Congressmember Jerry Nadler.
Nadler is particularly high-profi le these days as
head of the House Judiciary Committee.
Richard Corman and David Siffert, the respective
presidents of Downtown Independent Democrats and
Village Independent Democrats, moderated the afternoon.
“We’ve been wanting to have collaborative events
with the other local Democratic clubs,” Corman said.
Impeachment led the topics and during the Q&A,
the burning question was asked, “Isn’t following the
rule of law fi rst and foremost, and isn’t there a moral
imperative to impeach?”
“We may well impeach,” Nadler said. “We are holding
hearings and having inquiries,” he assured, hedging
that they just aren’t calling it impeachment, at this
time.
However, the veteran congressmember raised the
alarm of ultimate catastrophe if Trump is re-elected,
citing the almost-irreversible damage to the environment
and the impact on climate change that four more
years of his policies would mean. Nadler also voiced
great concern over nuclear proliferation and how canceling
treaties could lead to increased nuclear buildups.
The message, in short: Trump must be defeated!
Issues included vetting judges, the abortion bans,
and gerrymandering of districts, which the Republicans
have so strategically implemented.
On the local level, he mentioned how a two-way toll
D.I.D., left, and David Siffert, president of V.I.D., right, co-moderated a
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
In addition to possible impeachment proceedings
in the House against President Trump,
Nadler also spoke about the pending restoration
of the two-way toll on the Verrazzano
Bridge, among other issues.
would fi nally be restored on the Verrazzano Bridge,
stopping “toll avoidance” heavy truck traffi c in
Brooklyn. Nadler spoke of the need for a freight-only
train tunnel or bridge from New Jersey because New
York City’s truck traffi c — 93 percent of which comes
in over the George Washington Bridge — causes so
much hazardous pollution. He would also like to see
a major shipping-container port in Brooklyn, which
could also help reduce carbon emissions from trucks.
The representative also cited a list of accomplishments
— each drawing applause — including the 9/11
Health Care Bill, votes cast against the Iraq War and
Patriot Act, and the struggle for marriage equality.
State Senator Brad Hoylman was introduced
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
Richard Corman, president of
midway through the afternoon. Pointing to the jampacked
auditorium, he said, “Thanks to activists, the
state Senate is ‘true blue.’”
He added that, thanks to recently passed legislation
in the newly Democrat-controlled Legislature,
the state Department of Taxation would now be sharing
New York tax returns with the House Ways and
Means Committee. Hoylman and Democrats hope
that includes Trump’s tax returns, though it may face
a constitutional challenge.
Subsequently, on the morning of Fri., May 24, Nadler,
71, had a health scare while with Mayor Bill de
Blasio at a press conference on the Upper West Side
touting the city’s newly expanded school speed-cameras
program. Nadler basically fainted and bowed his
head while sitting on the dais. De Blasio encouraged
him to drink some Gatorade the mayor had in his water
bottle and said Nadler appeared dehydrated.
According to The New York Times, three doctors
attended to Nadler and he soon revived and was seen
eating an orange before he was taken by ambulance
to N.Y.U. Langone Hospital, where he was held overnight
for observation. The Times noted that Nadler
has no history of health problems. To deal with obesity,
he had stomach-reduction surgery 17 years ago.
This Tuesday, Daniel Schwartz, a Nadler spokesperson,
said the West Side congressmember is staying
in New York this week since Congress is in recess.
“It was very warm in the room and he felt a bit ill,”
he said. “It was just dehydration and, after receiving
fl uids, he felt much better.”
With reporting
by Lincoln Anderson
Schneps Media TVG May 30, 2019 11