Politics

‘Would Be Nice If You Breathed Our Air’: State Senator Accuses Ocasio-Cortez Of Being Absent In Her District

Labor Power Players: Jessica Ramos, NYS Senator and Chair of the Labor Committee

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Nicole Silverio Media Reporter
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Democratic New York state Sen. Jessica Ramos accused Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez late Sunday of consistently being absent in her district.

A medical student claimed July 21 that Ocasio-Cortez’s office refused to meet with notable health policy academics to discuss healthcare reform. The office allegedly replied “we’re not doing healthcare right now,” according to his tweet. Ocasio-Cortez replied to the accusation on Twitter, saying that the office’s response is not “representative” of her values. She also offered to communicate with the student about the incident.

Ramos replied to the thread three days later, accusing the congresswoman of being absent from her district office.

“Maybe if you spent more time in your office and with your team you’d know what goes on,” Ramos tweeted. “Just saying it would be nice if you breathed our air. So, as an employer, what happens with the staffer who said this?”

Several Twitter users criticized Ramos for her accusation, to which the state senator said she witnessed the absence of Ocasio-Cortez for herself.

“Our district officers are on the same floor in the same building,” she replied to one Twitter user. “She’s barely ever present in the community. It’s an indisputable fact…Not being present in your community and engaged with your colleagues is a terrible look.”

She further claimed that the New York representative does not meet with local elected officials and colleagues. She said she had not been able to get ahold of Ocasio-Cortez in several months to a year. (RELATED: Democrat Dov Hikind Says Ocasio-Cortez Is A ‘Danger’ For Downplaying Smash-And-Grab Robberies) 

“I gave up texting her a while back, and as petitioning unfolded, I reached out through staff and requested a meeting. I have not spoken to my congressperson in months. Maybe more than a year? What else is it I’m supposed to do?”

Some fellow elected officials in the district pushed back against these claims.

“I gotta be fair here. Real talk this hasn’t been my experience at all,” New York City council member Tiffany Caban said. “From being able to communicate & work with my Congressperson directly to our teams working closely on policy, organizing and a lot more, me and my neighbors have benefited a lot from the mutual collaboration.”

“I wish I could say the same, but I have receipts and my own experience. Both your experience and mine can be true,” Ramos replied.

New York state Assembly member Zohran Kwame Mamdani said he has communicated with Ocasio-Cortez on several occasions and has worked alongside elected officials in the district.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 07: U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a news conference at the East Front of the U.S. Capitol February 7, 2019 in Washington, DC. The freshmen congresswoman held a news conference to call on Congress "to cut funding for President Trump's deportation force." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 07: U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a news conference at the East Front of the U.S. Capitol February 7, 2019 in Washington, DC. The freshmen congresswoman held a news conference to call on Congress “to cut funding for President Trump’s deportation force.” (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“As a local elected official in @AOC’s district, this just isn’t true,” he said. “I have met with her multiple times, she was a critical part of our  @NYTWA victory, and she has been a partner at every level of politics. Astoria is all the better for having her represent us.”

Democratic New York state senator Jabari Brisport posted a photograph of Ramos beside Ocasio-Cortez supposedly from March 2022.

Footage showed Ramos and Ocasio-Cortez at a May Day rally posted on May 1, 2022.