No Kings in America & No Facts in Woodbury
All the information you need for the upcoming No Kings protest, and a final fact check on Protect Monroe-Woodbury's misleading claims about Woodbury Village Mayor Andrew Giacomazza
Howdy. Father’s Day is this weekend, as is the nationwide mass protest against the Trump Administration on Saturday, June 14th, known as No Kings.
You can find the No Kings event nearest to you using this handy map.
Here in Orange County, the first event will be held at 10 am over in Warwick, in Lewis Park, on Main Street. That event will wrap up by 11:30 am. Then in Goshen, Newburgh, and New Windsor from 12 pm to 2 pm. (For our friends in Rockland, there is an event in Nanuet at the same time, 12 pm to 2 pm at Route 59 and Middletown Road in Nanuet, NY, aka The Four Corners.)
The Goshen event will be held at the corner of Greenwich Ave and Church St (33 Park Place).
You don't have to attend the Goshen event. I encourage you to find the one nearest and most convenient. If that’s New Windsor, go to New Windsor. If that’s Newburgh, go to Newburgh. If that’s Nanuet, go to Nanuet. I wish there were a central location for Orange County, similar to Rockland County in Nanuet, but the fact that these events are happening at all is what matters most right now. The goal should be to build to a general strike, and that can only happen, first and foremost, by reminding all of our brothers and sisters of the power they possess.
After the Goshen/Newburgh/New Windsor/Nanuet events have concluded, there is another event happening in Middletown from 4pm to 6pm at 400 NY-211 (the old Boston Market building.)
For additional information, or to RSVP to the event you wish to attend, you can do so using the map. I encourage you to RSVP so that you can stay informed of upcoming protests. Personally, I don’t think we’re going to have a federal election in 2026. I hope I’m wrong. I very much think what’s happening in Los Angeles — as discussed on this week’s podcast — is a warmup exercise, not a one-off, of President Trump, Stephen Miller, and Russell Vought’s plans for authoritarian rule. If you think that sounds extreme, I’ll remind you that a sitting United States Senator, Alex Padilla, was roughed up and assaulted after he wanted to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Did you see the video?
This incident happened after ICE Barbie Noem said, “We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city."
Think about that for a second. That’s the Secretary of Homeland Security saying the Federal government is going to “liberate” the second-largest city in America from its democratically elected mayor and governor. (We’ll again remind you here that 1 in 8 Americans live in California, and California is also home to America’s largest economy. So California is the “Real” America. Not this bullshit, racist one that MAGA and other parties are constantly trying to sell you on.)
After Noem said that, her goons roughed up and assaulted a sitting United States Senator, whom I’ll remind you, in his capacity as Senator, has Constitutional oversight authority on the operations of the federal government. He can literally ask any question he wants — it’s his job — as it involves the actions of the government. And this is what happened.
So, no. I’m not joking when I say there may not be federal elections in 2026. And if they can rough up a senator, and arrest a Congresswoman, they can and will do it to you too.
You’re not safe. Not in your little red bubble of Orange County, New York. Not in America’s second-largest city.
If you’re a Republican, and you’re running for office right now? The smart thing would be to denounce this stuff as emphatically as you can.
If you’re a Democrat, and you’re running for office right now? The smart thing would be to do the opposite of what I’m about to share with you concerning State Senator James G. Skoufis. Whom, I want to remind our readers, showed up to the Warwick Hands Off Protest in May while simultaneously pushing a fascist, Pro-Trump Mask ban. So, don’t let that jackass show up to any of these events making you think he’s on your side. Because I’ll point out to you, my friends, that while Mr. Skoufis doesn’t want you to wear a mask and protect yourself from the surveillance state Peter Thiel’s Palantir is building, he has no problem with Trump’s SS (ICE agents) wearing masks to protect themselves.
Stay Safe At This Weekend’s Protests
The following is taken from the ACLU, whom we’ll point out, State Senator James G. Skoufis criticized for calling out his proposed fascist mask ban:
I’m attending a protest
Your rights
Your rights are strongest in what are known as “traditional public forums,” such as streets, sidewalks, and parks. You also likely have the right to speak out on other public property, like plazas in front of government buildings, as long as you are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes the property was designed for.
Private property owners can set rules for speech on their property. The government may not restrict your speech if it is taking place on your own property or with the consent of the property owner.
Counterprotesters also have free speech rights. Police must treat protesters and counterprotesters equally. Police are permitted to keep antagonistic groups separated but should allow them to be within sight and sound of one another.
When you are lawfully present in any public space, you have the right to photograph anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police. On private property, the owner may set rules related to photography or video.
You don’t need a permit to march in the streets or on sidewalks, as long as marchers don’t obstruct car or pedestrian traffic. If you don't have a permit, police officers can ask you to move to the side of a street or sidewalk to let others pass or for safety reasons.
What to do if you believe your rights have been violated
When you can, write down everything you remember, including the officers' badge and patrol car numbers and the agency they work for.
Get contact information for witnesses.
Take photographs of any injuries.
Once you have all of this information, you can file a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board.
What happens if the police issues an order to disperse the protest?
Shutting down a protest through a dispersal order must be law enforcement’s last resort. Police may not break up a gathering unless there is a clear and present danger of riot, disorder, interference with traffic, or other immediate threat to public safety.
If officers issue a dispersal order, they must provide a reasonable opportunity to comply, including sufficient time and a clear, unobstructed exit path.
Individuals must receive clear and detailed notice of a dispersal order, including how much time they have to disperse, the consequences of failing to disperse, and what clear exit route they can follow, before they may be arrested or charged with any crime.
Say No To Fascists, Say Yes To The Monroe Gazette
For less than what you spend on Netflix each month, The Monroe Gazette brings you the following for $10 a month:
-An ad-free podcast. (Come listen to the latest episode here.)
-Quality independent journalism that doesn’t allow State Senators to plant false news stories in them like this one.
-A Private, troll-free Facebook Group that’s only for paying subscribers.
-Full access to our archives (everything goes behind a paywall after 90 days.)
-And the ability to comment on posts like this one.
Come join the fun. We’re just getting started.
Before we go … We spent a lot of time this week on James G. Skoufis’s Protect Monroe-Woodbury.
As you’ll notice, we rotate towns. So one week we cover Monroe stuff. Another week we cover Woodbury stuff. I’m getting ready for the Monroe rotation next week.
But …
I didn’t want to move on from our Woodbury coverage without specifically fact-checking the claims they’ve listed on their website. (You’ll notice they’ve also updated their website each time we’ve debunked something. For example, they were previously trying to blame Woodbury Village Mayor Andrew Giacomazza for the Town of Woodbury’s 11% tax hike in 2025. That’s no longer on their website. You’re welcome.)
And speaking of that 11% tax hike. Never forget: Woodbury Town Supervisor Kathryn Luciani, in her first act as Town Supervisor, made herself the highest paid supervisor in the history of the Town, hired her son in a paid position, and then wanted to give herself another raise. All the while, she recently told Town employees they wouldn’t be getting a raise. Funny how that works …
So! Let’s do a quick rundown of the current claims made by Mr. Skoufis and former Door Dash Delivery Driver, William J. Alexander. And shout out to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander, because when James G. Skoufis spent $100,000 running to be chair of the Democratic National Committee, the Alexander’s used their home address for that campaign. That sure was nice of them.
The (Real) Facts About Andrew Giacomazza
Protect Monroe-Woodbury links to the now-debunked Mid-Hudson News story. We’ve already explained to you here how Mrs. Elise Cagan’s Ethics complaint wasn’t legit, and in the process of their reporting on the story, Mid-Hudson News may have libeled the Village of Woodbury and the Mayor. They can expect a legal letter on that front in the not-too-distant future. If Mr. Skoufis thinks he can plant false news stories and we won't find them, he’s mistaken.
Protect Monroe-Woodbury now links, without any context, to an article about Senior Housing being zoned into Woodbury, saying, “The Woodbury Village Board voted to amend the zoning map of the village.” But Woodbury residents know the facts: The Senior Housing zoning was done as the least objectionable option, out of concern that the developer may be using the property for high-density housing, and that the Village was going to keep an eye on the property. Just in case the developer did try to pull a fast one. Something that’s happened more than a few times in Woodbury. (Just ask real estate developers Mr. Wayne Corts and Bill Brodsky about pulling a fast one on Woodbury residents.) Also, does Mr. Skoufis hate senior citizens all of a sudden? I don’t think anyone, anywhere — including brain-dead zombie, Trustee James Freiband — objected to the need for more senior housing. But here is Mr. Skoufis, making it sound like providing housing to the elderly is somehow evil. Look again at what Protect Monroe-Woodbury said, “The Woodbury Village Board voted to amend the zoning map of the village.” Ok. And?
“Andrew Giacomazza quietly gave himself a 16% raise last year.” Nope. It wasn’t quiet. It was debated and discussed, and it came at minimal expense to Woodbury Village residents. In fact, come check out Woodbury Village Trustee Susan Ciriello’s epic fact check on Mr. Calore and Mr. Skoufis’s “HE GAVE HIMSELF A TINY RAISE” BS here. We’ll also, again, remind Woodbury residents that Town Supervisor Kathryn Luciani made herself the highest paid supervisor in the history of Woodbury, giving herself a full-time salary for a part-time position, and then trying to sneak through another raise for herself this year. Something Mr. Calore voted in favor of. But somehow, Protect Monroe-Woodbury’s got nothing to say about that one.
You’ll also see Protect Monroe-Woodbury say “Andrew Giacomazza raised the tax levy by 14.89% last year.” Apparently — and I get the little dick energy here of being jealous of having a brand new fire truck — Mr. Skoufis hates fire trucks and firefighters as much as he hates the elderly. Because the reason for the increase in the tax levy was EXPLICITLY to pay for the BRAND NEW FIRE TRUCK. You know, in the same year when Orange County experienced a massive, climate change fueled fire? I’ll also point out here that Mr. Skoufis used the fire as a photo-op with one of two un-elected Village Mayors in South Blooming Grove, Isaac Ekstein. Mr. Ekstein gave Mr. Skoufis $15,000, and ever since then, the State Senator has been real quiet about the EPA investigation into South Blooming Grove’s municipal water infrastructure (overseen by Ekstein), the repeated failure of the Village of South Blooming Grove to hold elections (overseen by Ekstein), and the FBI’s investigation into Mr. Ekstein for voter fraud in the 2021 South Blooming Grove election. But sure, that fucking fire truck Woodbury got is the real problem here …
Above: Isaac Ekstein, one of two un-elected co-mayors of South Blooming Grove, shaking hands at the staging area for the Jennings Creek Fire response with State Senator Skoufis. Mr. Ekstein previously donated $15,000 to the State Senator’s campaign. South Blooming Grove residents are unable to actually speak to the State Senator about the numerous problems in the village directly caused by Mr. Ekstein and his other co-mayor, Joel Stern. Instead, the State Senator copies and pastes a timeline showing his declining interest in their problems over the years.
Finally, and this one is just plain bigotry, Protect Monroe-Woodbury links to the 2023 Woodbury Election results with zero context or explanation. Why? Because if you understand what to look for, Mr. Skoufis and Mr. William J. Alexander want you to see that “The Jews” — the same ones Mr. Brandon Calore likes to spread anti-semitic conspiracies about — are controlling Mayor Andrew Giacomazza. That’s why there’s just a link with no context. He can’t say it, because then Mr. Skoufis would have to explain the Yiddish language ads he took out saying he promotes a Yeshivas freedom to instruct children how they want, instead of following the new educational equivalency requirements passed by New York State. So instead, he wants you to look at these results and go, “Those JEWS support the Mayor!” Isn’t that nice?
So, to summarize Mr. Skoufis and Mr. Alexander’s smear campaign in Woodbury — all being done on behalf of this racist doofus:
-Jews are bad.
-Fire trucks are bad.
-Old people are bad.
Skoufis is good.
Got all that?
Because that’s what is on Protect Monroe-Woodbury’s website right now: Jews are bad. They voted for the Mayor. Old people are bad. The village voted to allow for more senior housing. Fire trucks are bad, your taxes went up slightly this year to pay for the new fire truck Woodbury got two years ahead of schedule. And, like I just said, 2024 saw a MASSIVE FIRE not too far from Woodbury. So, is the Senator and his Door Dash Delivery driver trying to tell us we don't need new fire trucks? Because the DEC, NOAA, and other organizations said climate-change-fueled fires in our area are only going to increase, not decrease.
Next time, we’re going to turn our attention to Mr. Skoufis’s other target, “Mad” Maureen Richardson. That’ll be another post. This one got too long. But if you like stories wherein a State Senator cheats on his wife with his chief of staff, and then proceeds to also sexually harass a woman for two years — only to use her voicemails asking her to stop in order to smear her — you’re going to love that story.
See you on Monday. Stay safe at the protest. And if you see Skoufis at any of these things, tell him what we told him, “Get fucked, Nazi.”