Skip to main content

LaLota Addresses Casework

Thu, 01/12/2023 - 11:06
Nicholas LaLota

Freshly minted Representative Nicholas LaLota says the Republican Party’s dramatic and dayslong effort to elect a speaker of the House last week didn’t have much of an impact on his ability to hit the ground running as the new representative for New York’s First Congressional District.

News reports that emerged from the epic struggle for votes that ultimately landed California Representative Kevin McCarthy in the speaker’s chair had suggested that a key area of congressional work — casework undertaken on behalf of constituents — may have been put on hold as House Republicans struggled to rein in some 20 far-right members who opposed Mr. McCarthy’s ascension.

Mr. LaLota, who voted for Mr. McCarthy on each of the votes before he was at last given the gavel late Friday night, said in a statement to The Star that, contrary to those reports, “We haven’t encountered any casework roadblocks in these first few days.” He added that “while we are somewhat limited in the resources available to us in terms of computer and email access, our casework team is answering the phones and eager to advocate for our constituents to bring matters to a successful resolution.”

Congressional caseworkers deal with all sorts of hurdles constituents face in their dealings with federal agencies — from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. An incoming member such as Mr. LaLota would have already been handed off any casework initiated but not completed by his predecessor, Lee Zeldin. The deadline for such a handover was Dec. 23.

Speaking ahead of the House vote Friday night, Mr. LaLota said he was “optimistic that these federal agencies will work with us to resolve constituent issues despite delays in the House.”

Villages

‘Country’ Lawyer, Author, Painter, Man of the World

The pace at which Lenny Ackerman moves belies his 86 years. The prominent East End attorney writes a weekly column for The Mountain Messenger, has taken up painting, and has just published his fourth book.

Jul 31, 2025

Item of the Week: The A.O. Jones Hardware Store

This photograph from the C. Frank Dayton Photo Collection at the East Hampton Library shows the A.O. Jones Hardware Store at 51 Newtown Lane. Owned by Asa O. Jones (1857-1953), it later became East End Hardware and today is A.L.C., a clothing store.

Jul 31, 2025

Amagansett Summer Party for Joan Tulp

The Amagansett Village Improvement Society will tip its collective hat to Joan Tulp on Saturday. “I don’t think I’ve met anyone more committed to their hometown than Joan,” said Victor Gelb, who serves as co-president of the group with her.

Jul 31, 2025

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.