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To the Editor:
State Senator Sue Serino recently publicized how she supports women by opposing a tax on an inexpensive women’s product. Not surprisingly, the article I saw had her picture posted with it.
Like most politicians, she likes to have her picture in the news as long as she perceives the coverage as positive.
So why did she object to being filmed at a public meeting with constituents in Pawling not long ago?
As an elected official, Sen. Serino should know that voters are entitled to see and hear what she has to say in public settings.
Instead, she directed a Putnam County sheriff’s deputy to order a person videoing a public meeting, in a public building, to stop filming under threat of arrest. The Putnam County sheriff acknowledged the next day that his deputy, though acting in good faith, overstepped.
The head of the New York State Committee on Open Government stated that it is the right of the public to film public meetings held in public places. Constituents have expressed their displeasure. So why hasn't Sen. Serino apologized?
As an elected official, she can’t have people escorted from a public meeting because she doesn’t want them recording it. She needs to explain why she used law enforcement to prevent someone from exercising their First Amendment rights.
She claims what she did was legal, but it certainly wasn't right.
John Tyliszczak
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