November 1st-Countdown to November 3rd, 2020 Elections

Maryann Maltese, Former Regional Communications Manager with the NYS Legislature (both Senate and Assembly), former candidate for the NYS Assembly 12th AD with 30 years of Communications and Legislative Know-how touches upon how vitally important it is to cast your Votes this Presidential Year and to fill out the U.S. Census reports before the deadline. Maryann is champion on Women's issues and was denied an Election Hearing by Suffolk County Supreme-provides an editorial to review and consider before November 3rd Election Night.

I reside in the 12th NYS Assembly District; and for close to 40 of the last 100 years; if not longer-this seat has been held by Men or a Candidate that has voted Against Choice and therefore-Against Equality of Earnings. Women’s rights have been on the back burner in NYS-many believe that our State is Liberal in our approach to women’s rights-that is an incorrect assumption. I like to say; one who assumes makes you an Ass-and I’m not speaking of the Democratic Symbolization of the Donkey.

For 40 years, Members of both the State Senate Districts 2nd and 5th; and State Assembly Districts 10 an 12 have voted against Women’s Rights consistently. As a force; Women in this area have been underrepresented allowing ourselves to accept non-passage of rules by Members/Legislators who have not taken our Pleas seriously. I find that disheartening as a Professional Woman of Process for 33 out of the 100 years-that Women have had the right to Vote. It was the 19th Amendment that lead the way for us to Vote and subsequently be the driving force within the Workforce-but NYS within its conservative ways in this geographic area has permitted Members of the NYS Legislature to Vote in opposition on the Women’s Agenda. In the 12th NYS Assembly District-the former Assembly Member (RAIA) voted against Women's Rights consistently-we can no longer allowed this to occur.

As a women of Process of the NYS Legislature; part of my legislative platform was and is to remind Male Legislators that Women still do not have a Process-a Way of Filing Claims when we are due retroactive earnings for work performances completed. In this day and age-the Women's movement has moved from the historical remembrance of implementing our Right to Vote-to Enacting Rule Based Procedures to receive Unpaid Earnings when Employment Contracts provided to Women are determined to have been less than what is Expected or Acknowledge wages for work performed. NYS took years to finally permit Women to end marriages without going through Emotional Trials of Procedure. NYS was the 48-50 States to finally enact-NO-Fault Divorces; this demonstrates just how conservative minded NYS is-outside of Major Metropolitan Cities within NYS.

This Election Season-I announced my candidacy for NYS 12th AD-I was denied access to the ballot by Suffolk County Board of Elections and subsequently by Suffolk Supreme Court-who would NOT HEAR MY Complaint filed-but took it upon themselves to dissect my Complaint unethically without opportunity of assigned Counsel or opportunity before the Bench. The Court House for the First time in New York State History-in Suffolk-denied a Professional Woman of Process access to the Court House-that ladies sent me the strongest message yet-on exactly where Women Stand in Suffolk County. I have worked on Election Campaigns for 33 years-and No Candidate for Office has Ever been denied entry level Hearing of an Election Law Matter. Covid 19 can not be the excuse because during Election Season-Election Law Matters are precedent and I filed everything on Time-so that is not the reason-what is the reason-is Unethical Denial of Process.

As a Former candidate as my name is not on this Years NYS Assembly Ballot and as an Inactive State Legislative Employee in Good Standing-meaning I can reenter public service life in any form-I have not retired and I have not accepted an Employment Package so my ability to re-enter or to have Legislative Measures introduced to correct Employment issues-is required. My campaign Platform was to introduce and enact Equality of Wages Rules so Women of NYS have a process finally with their former or present Employers-as NYS does not have a process. It's not the only Issue or suggestive piece of Legislation I promised to pursue (please read the Patch or friend me on Facebook) but Equality of Earnings procedures must be implemented and I'm one of the examples of a Female undermined by their Employer to accept unlivable wages for work performances outstanding. The way that is recognized in correcting-is Implementation of the Process for Women to File their Employment Claims.

As one of these Women who has an outstanding Employment Earnings Case-Plea with NYS for retroactive earnings I did not receive while in State Service; my years of employment 1994-2013-I have sent Memo's and correspondences to Legislators reminding them of the need to fulfill the promise of earnings I'm required. Sadly; the Member of the 12th Assembly District resigned in June of 2019-leaving the district unrepresented for 18 months. There is no Present Member of the Legislature here in the 12th AD for them to introduce the bill for me-so I have taken my pleas to you the readers and to the Executive of NYS-Governor Cuomo.

In 2014-Governor Cuomo promised and acknowledged that women would be vindicated finally for outstanding earnings filing; where warranted. The Women's Agenda Platforms of NYS; between Session Year Calendars of 2014-2017-enacted basic skeletal framework of the need to grab statistic on which women (private sector or public sector employment) and which industries are in violations-but Implementation for Women to actually receive their outstanding earnings has been non-existent-no recourse to file claims. I have since advocated around NYS-reminding the Governor and Members of the Legislature to pick up the reigns and finalize their Mission-their Promise to me and to others. It has fallen to deaf ears-now that the Presidential Election is scheduled on November 3, 2020-form letter acknowledgements are being sent to women-but no implementation plan of action to achieve it-is available.

I have provided the generic language for Legislators to follow and guidance to staff members to finalize the matter and get our Bill introduced. It's 2020-2014 Session is actually 7 years ago; as we're always passing State Budgets one year a head. Women; like me; who have an employment claim need the Members to introduce bill language with actuary findings provided-so that corrective bill language implements-enacts. I have asked the Legislature to also consider adding language to my bill (that I'm due) language creating a process so the generation of women behind me and a measure requiring that HRA departments within State Government and the Private Sectors where warranted receive Counseling they need if they have questions on their Employment Contracts. In NYS-Legislative Branches of Government-we are not Unionized Employees-we are At-Will Employees; and are the most vulnerable from an Employment prospective State Employees. If a Member-Legislator chooses to reduce ones salary-or new Employment Contract even if the Staff Member has Excelled-they can and presently-the Employee has not means review. These are the types of cases we want to prevent-because when an At-Will Employee of NYS Legislature signs new Employment Contracts; we are under the understanding by Legislators and or Centralized staff; that our Wages will be corrected in future means. My former wages owed to me by NYS has not been corrected-based on NYS's promise-which they are bonded by-I'm not permitted to file Lawsuit against NYS due to the classification of employment I and they agreed too; thus introduction of Bill Corrective Languages MUST be done by NYS-they do not have authority not too. However-NYS can let it linger-and why would anyone wait any longer-without advocating as I'm doing here legally every day for the Women of NYS to receive their due employment compensation?!

As I mentioned-I announced for Statewide Office without the Endorsement of Suffolk County Democratic Party-and I have not been silenced on my plight of Retroactive Bill Pay. Being Gaged-being Silenced; Being Lynched for advocation is wrong of Suffolk County Supreme Court not granting me a Hearing of Election Law.

Going forward-Ladies, consider who are your candidates in present day terms:

In State Senate Districts 2 and 5; Legislators have consistently voted against the Women’s Agenda-which means Voting Against Choice and the Right to Equality of Earnings. If women in the Employment arena taking on Employment Roles as Male Counterparts-then its common sense oriented employment practice- that these Women are entitled to Equal Pay for roles and job performances. However; in NYS-although the 19th Amendment provides “broad based civil rights”-legal or legislative aspects of Earning Claims (the Process to file) is not enacted yet again in NYS.

That is outrageous-Can we agree?!; especially the 100th Anniversary Year of Our Right to Vote.

More historical information to digest-I live in the 2nd Senate Seat district-presently held by James Gaughran who has announced he's in favor of Women's Rights. The Senate lines have previously bounced between the 5th and 2nd Senate District Seats for twenty years; as the lines for State Races can change every 10 years-every decade and can bounce again in 2022's election season. The reason-everyone should fill out their U.S. Census poll.

The 12th New York State Assembly District; has 7 Public School Districts within its lines; representing Townships of Huntington, North Babylon and West Islip. There are a few school buildings already vacated in West Islip-so the reality of School Boards shutting down their doors through-out the 12th AD is a real possibility. Commack School district for instance-consolidated their High School Buildings into One Building years back as well. Those who live on the Huntington Side of Commack School District reside within the 12th AD. NYS has oversight capability over Long Island School District Decisions and ultimately NYS Legislative Members can steer decisions and budgetary funding to school districts in need. It will be relevant going forward this Legislative Session 2021-to ensure that Members of the Legislature support Long Island School districts sense of sovereignty-but recognize that at any point NYS can and will step in taking over School Boards to ensure they meet Public Education Standards. (Hence, for example Roosevelt School District.)

State Senate District #5; the other half of the 12th Assembly District-John Flanghan resigned this year and since has accepted a Lobbyist position at Northwell. Legislators are required to wait 12 months before being permitted to work as Lobbyists-and I'm waiting for Corrective Employment Bill Pay for 7 years? Why again-another Woman has been Lynched for State Elective Races. Legislators even when out of service-are not permitted to evade the law. Senator Flanagan also resigned on Long Island's School Board Election Vote-does that sound like he was priorly concerned about students for the 38 years he represented those involved in the Education arena? I'm registered and certified as a Substitute teacher for Brentwood UFSD which pays $16.00 an hour-but the Senator is permitted to take a Lobbyist Position? Is there an inadequacy of Power distributed here? Do we see any problem with Women's promotional standards being reduced and asked to once again accept employment contracts that pay minimum wage rates?

Now; two non-incumbents have announced to run for State Senate office 5 to replace Flanagan, Mike Siderskis (Democrat) and Mario Mattera (Republican). Women need to be due diligent in casting their Vote for State Senate-as this seat as well was previously held by a Member that consistently voted agains Women's Right of Choice and Women's Right of Equality of Earnings. Now-we, women have a chance to ensure that the next State Senator represents Women's Agenda in Senate Seat # 5. This is vitally important as the Power of the State Senate waves and could fall back to State Republican Control who have systematically voted against Women's Agenda. It's like a roll call vote and they don't stop to think their Vote negates Women's right to Fairness and Equality of Earnings. I never tell a Member how to vote their conscious of Choice (can we agree on this?!). Oh but I do understand, first hand as Women in Suffolk County-where I and you Stand in our Fight for Equality of Earnings. Women are only Equal when we earn the mighty Dollar in it's entirety for every hour we sweat along Men-and we, as Women can not take that lightly any longer. Women are masters at scheduling- we are on top of our lives and our families lives- and Choice is personal-I agree, but it is wrapped around mine and your Right to Equality of Earnings as it is ONE Vote in NYS Legislature. For me; I'm Pro-Choice-there is no difference-but those Candidates here not supporting Women's Agenda will continue to plague women-and further reduce Women in every aspect of our lives-including if You need to go to Suffolk Supreme Court without Counsel-will you receive a Hearing on matters of importance to us when Legal representation is not mandated-or will the Court decide not too listen to your Complaint-like Mine recently-Maltese v. Cuomo and NYS Board of Elections-2020-01568.

I implore you to be diligent for yourself, for the generation of girls behind us-the daughters we have raised here in Suffolk, many School Districts noted as Blue Ribbon School Districts-showing them; they can be anything they want to be. Suffolk County is out of line on every single level this Election Season with the 12th AD Race-and it began with Richard Schaffer-Suffolk County Democratic Chairman of my party-who invited me to the Candidate Meeting =of February 15, 2020-as I presented my resume-but then along with their Candidate-Mike Marcantonio; decided Not to Introduce Me as a Professional at the Party's Nominating Meeting. Why? is what Voters should ask themselves. I was the only Female Candidate in the Room-30 years of Professional Experiences-a Political Party has never gotten away with that in 30 years of my time in the circuit-but it does demonstrate where Women stand in Suffolk County-it runs deep ladies. Prior to announcing myself-I thought these mentalities were arctic-I was wrong. How does a Former NYS AssemblyMember-Schaffer-now Babylon's Town Supervisor and a Private Practicing Attorney act clueless on Robert Rules of Procedure in introducing Candidates at Meetings or providing them 3-5 minutes of time at same Meeting. Additionally-School Board Vote was also extended in time by 2 Weeks outward for families to vote-but not the Election for NYS 12th AD-the only Case filed against March 7, 2020 EO 202.2; seeking the same right of extended time frames to petition-but time was reduced by 2 weeks instead. That alone is Discriminatory Action by NYS-and for Counsels to shut their eyes to it-Shame on You. As far as the nominating Meeting scheduled by Suffolk Democrats for the 12th AD on February 15, 2020- I was not late-but walked into the Meeting-where obviously it stated 30 minutes prior (I didn't receive a time change notice) and a roll call vote with outdated Members listed was underway and No Candidate introductions occurred at the Meeting-but instead I was addressed as being "Cute vs. a Candidate" amongst Real Estate Industry Professionals and Members of Suffolk County Democratic Party. I thought I was a Professional of Equal Caliber Means-My resume Speaks Volumes. I like many; donated my time to run for elective office, unsalaried-no one paid me to do it-no special interest money collected; but that is an article for another time. Many prior Female Candidates-after treatment like above-decide never to seek office again-stay tuned-I'm a different Breed. No pun intended to my last Name. I'm not the Silencing type-Changes in Political party positions are guaranteed to change in Suffolk-and as Babylon Township thinks about these Members upcoming election in 2021-ask yourselves if the Township Executive is performing his/her duties within the realm of the office.

Vote today through November 3rd-for who you; as a Woman will be the best attentive candidate for the Women's Movement-that's my answer.