What did Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney say about Biden's recovery program? Real Estate? Bipartisanship?
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the Cold Spring Democrat who represents New York's 18th Congressional District, joined members of the USA TODAY Network New York team for a live Editorial Spotlight conversation May 25. Maloney fielded questions on a number of topics important to his constituents  many of whom are our readers  from this writer, as well as from USA TODAY Network New York staff writers Saba Ali and Chris McKenna. Here are a sampling of some of Jones replies:  On President Biden's recovery program:  "It starts with the rescue plan, which is right now bringing $339 million into the Hudson Valley communities I represent. [There's] an additional $200 million for our schools. We're talking about 100,000 employees who've kept their jobs at 11,000 small businesses that have been kept afloat by the PPP program. The restaurant fund that opened just a few days ago will provide another $28 billion in additional support to our small businesses that are in the food industry who have been struggling. ... If you look at the $13 billion going to local airports, if you look at the $8 billion going to local mass transit like Metro-North and the MTA, this is historic, sweeping support for our communities. ... This is sweeping, historic and desperately needed assistance that is going to reboot our community and end the pandemic." On the Hudson Valley's real estate market and the impact on affordable housing  "The number one thing is to build more affordable housing. That's not a short-term solution, but it's the essential long-term one. ... At the end of the day, that economic growth which is driving up those costs is not a bad thing  it's a good thing. What's troubling is if people can't participate in that. And that's why you've seen me support assistance at the federal for programs that we know work in the space of affordable housing. ... [The] market is on fire and the pandemic has accelerated this, but, again, we want those jobs, we want that economic activity in our local communities  the visitors, the increased tourism. But we have to do it in a way that's sustainable and inclusive." On the Israel-Palestine conflict:  "I would caution against trying to juxtapose our support for the security of Israel with the other needs we have. ... We can certainly support our allies and our friends at the same time as we invest at home. ... I think we must do both. We are strong and steady supporter of the state of Israel. Good. Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East. It has the best human rights record, whatever its drawbacks are, compared to all of its neighbors. We must not confuse Hamas, which is a vicious terrorist organization, with the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, which are so important. ... Finding a partner with whom to build lasting peace and security is the key  and that is not easy. I think we can distinguish between supporting the honest and legitimate needs of the Palestinians and distinguishing that from the objectives of terrorists like Hamas. We can be critical of Bibi Netanyahu when we should be while never wavering in our support of Israel. That's the difficult work that's in front of us. ... Thank God we have a cease-fire in Gaza." On the Hudson Valley's energy supply:  "I think that there's a lot of folks locally who understand that, if you want to close Indian Point, as I do, and you're taking 200 megawatts off the grid, you do have to take seriously how to address those supply issues, keep peoples' energy costs low and keep our economy going. It's also tremendously important to our communities. ... As a supporter of a zero-emission economy by 2050, as someone who is a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, and if you can find another Democrat in a Trump district supporting the Green New Deal, let me know ... I think there's all kinds of legitimate debates and questions. ... We are absolutely going to continue to have some fossil fuel generation in the mix even as we have a serious strategy toward going to zero-emissions by 2050." At what price, getting the Washington Republicans to get in the game on real solutions and to stop focusing on all this crazy stuff they've been doing  whether it's Marjorie Taylor Greene ... whether it's spreading the big lie about the election  all this nonsense which is in the way of doing the work. Yeah. ... If the Republicans in Washington had their way, the $75 million going to the [Republican-controlled] Orange County government would not be there. They wanted to do zero. The $57 million going to the Republican county executive in Dutchess would not be there. It would be zero. So, no, I don't need bipartisanship if I'm delivering for my communities. But judge that bipartisanship where it matters: there is robust bipartisanship for the rescue plan here locally." Ed Forbes is senior director for news and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Atlantic Group. Email: eforbes@lohud.com.