Letters

While there has been much noise about the respective residences of the candidates in the 1st Congressional District [“LaLota and Avlon Trade Barbs on Residency,” 27east.com, August 21], not enough attention is focused on the issues that will impact the district and make this a critical election.

Democrat John Avlon worked for Rudy Guiliani when he was mayor, and is a centrist. He supports protecting a women’s right to choose as a fundamental civil right, common sense reform to our immigration laws (without political grandstanding to avoid progress in an election or any other year), restoring the SALT deduction that the Republicans gutted, reducing the cost of living and expanding the child tax credit, investing in climate change initiatives, and improving transportation.

For John, public safety is another fundamental civil right, and he favors reasonable gun safety laws, support for law enforcement, as well as policies that recognize that without controlling crime, all other rights can be meaningless. Most importantly, Avlon understands the threat to our democracy presented by the former president.

Republican Nick LaLota, on the other hand, is focused on limiting ballots and ballot access and opposing gun control efforts (such as his proud opposition to the bump-stock rule that treated guns that worked like automatic weapons as automatic weapons). LaLota does not discuss the Affordable Care Act (which provides health care to millions of middle-class Americans), or his party’s past and current opposition to it. He opposes federal financial support for abortion (even where all other medical procedures are covered), and has not taken a position on Republican efforts to make oral contraception unavailable by attacking the approval of the drug.

These are real differences on issues affecting real people. They matter more than the noise.

Edward Kornreich

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