Upcoming events.
Save Wawayanda Public Information Meeting
If you love the Town of Wawayanda, and Orange County, reside here, grew up here, are raising your family here, or have friends or family here, please join our group and make your voices heard. Together we can protect our family, our homes and our investment for ourselves and for our children’s future and keep Wawayanda a place to be proud of.
We will be holding a public information meeting in preparation of the 9/10 Planning Board Meeting for the Amazon/Scannell Properties to build the THIRD LARGEST WAREHOUSE IN AMERICA.
Seat at the Table
We’re hosting another installment of A Seat at the Table - a weekly community gathering designed to amplify your voice and deepen our collective understanding of the issues that matter most to Orange County.
Each session will be hosted by Michael Sussman, civil rights attorney and community advocate. These are not political events or campaign rallies. They’re an open invitation to speak, listen, and grow together as neighbors.
Please RSVP by following this link: Sussman Seat at the Table
What do YOU think A Seat at the Table will be about?
What do you HOPE it will include?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s start the conversation now.
Every voice matters. Every chair counts. Make sure there’s a seat with your name on it.
Orange County Legislative Meeting
For too long, Orange County Republicans have scheduled legislative meetings during weekday afternoons — making it nearly impossible for working families to attend and be heard. Thanks to the hard work of Democratic legislators, this Thursday, September 4th, the Legislature will meet in the evening — and we need YOU there.
Where: Legislative Chambers, 255 Main St, Goshen, NY — 3rd Floor
When: Sign up to speak from 5:30 - 6:00 PM | Meeting begins at 6:00 PM
This is our chance to show that when government is accessible, the people show up.
Whether you want to speak out about affordable housing, transportation, transparency, or simply demand more accountability from our county government — your presence will make a difference.
Sign up today to join us! We’ll send you a guide on how to speak at the meeting and what topics matter most to Orange County families. Let’s fill the chambers and make our voices impossible to ignore.
Labor Day BBQ and Celebration
Please join us for our annual Labor Day Party. Bring a dish that is special to you and we hope you can join us!
And in addition to enjoying the music, if you are a musician, know that your welcome to join in or perform!
Preserve Monroe Campaign Kickoff
Come join me in supporting our local candidates for Preserve Monroe: Maureen Richardson, Beth Stephens, and Luis Rivera (with special guest: yours truly). Here is the link to RSVP and we hope to see you there!
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Our team — Maureen Richardson for Supervisor, Beth and Luis for Town Council — is running to protect what makes Monroe special: our history, our open spaces, and our community’s voice in its future.
We’re kicking off our campaign at the historic Rushmore Estate with a special guest: Michael Sussman, candidate for Orange County Executive — a lifelong advocate for justice, good government, and our community.
As your next Supervisor, Maureen will fight for transparent government, responsible growth, and policies that put residents before special interests, and Beth and Luis will be strong partners on the Town Board to make it happen.
But we can’t do it alone. Running a people-powered campaign means every dollar counts. Your contribution today will help us:
Reach voters across Monroe with our message
Stand up to deep-pocketed insiders
Keep our campaign 100% focused on you — the community
If you believe Monroe deserves honest leadership and a clear vision for the future, please chip in today.
Michael Cox For COunty Legislature Fundraiser
Please join us in supporting Michael Cox in his campaign for County Legislature, to represent Legislative District 13!
Port Jervis Canvassing with Michael Sussman
Come join the Port Jervis Democratic Committee and County Executive Candidate Michael Sussman as we hit the ground and meet with voters to speak about the issues affecting all in Orange County. We will meeting at the park (157 Pike Street, Port Jervis, NY). Hope to see you there!
Seat at the Table
Starting Thursday, August 21 at 6:00 PM, we’re hosting another installment of A Seat at the Table - a weekly community gathering designed to amplify your voice and deepen our collective understanding of the issues that matter most to Orange County.
Each session will be hosted by Michael Sussman, civil rights attorney and community advocate. These are not political events or campaign rallies. They’re an open invitation to speak, listen, and grow together as neighbors.
Please RSVP by following this link: Sussman Seat at the Table
What do YOU think A Seat at the Table will be about?
What do you HOPE it will include?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s start the conversation now.
Every voice matters. Every chair counts. Make sure there’s a seat with your name on it.
Young Dems Event
Come join County Executive Candidate Michael Sussman and the Young Dems of Orange County as we gather in person and enjoy some delicious food! RSVP using the link below:
Wawayanda Planning Board Meeting
Last week, Amazon petitioned the Town of Wawayanda Planning Board to overrule the Town's Zoning Board of Appeals and approve a major height variance for its massive proposed 3.2 million square foot warehouse.
Amazon claims that it qualifies for a special permit, effectively a waiver of the Town's height requirement because its project serves the community's needs and local fire officials attest that they could extinguish a fire at any new building.
However, the very factors which caused the ZBA to reject the project still apply: it is out of scale with the community; it will introduce significant congestion and markedly increase air pollution, and it will alter the nature of the community. Each of these factors weighs significantly against grant of the relief Amazon is now again requesting.
Moreover, under the Town's zoning law, the Planning Board is not authorized to review and reverse determinations which are within the jurisdiction of the ZBA, and grant of such a variance is squarely a ZBA decision which Amazon has failed to challenge in State Supreme Court, its actual recourse.
As the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for County Executive, I strongly oppose grant of the requested relief and any county IDA subsidy of a company with a terrible record of union busting, dangerous workplace conditions and disrespect for worker rights. I remain concerned that the pervasive use of robotics will accelerate workplace injuries for remaining workers as it increases unshared corporate profits. I join with many in the community who oppose this project and the conversion of the Town into a warehouse mecca.
Orange county - no kings day
Friends:
One theme most resonates with those vehemently opposed to our growing authoritarianism - we do not suffer kings lightly. No more kings. We believe in democratic institutions, checks and balances, shared power and detest the notion that one person can govern without restraint. Our courts are dealing with the Trump excesses daily but, as stakeholders, we have to do more, making our voices heard and not once...
June 14th is national "No Kings" Day and we must join our compatriots around this nation and stand up for our values and against the whims of one man.
As of today, I am unaware of any unified action planned for June 14 so Orange County Cares must step up and organize such an event. There are many venues which could work, but, in my view, the County Center, Goshen, is the most appropriate one. Our county government resides in Goshen and it is in the geographical center of our county. There is a very wonderful green space in the middle of the village for a huge rally.
So, I am inviting each of you to spread the word: NO KINGS IN ORANGE DAY - JUNE 14 BETWEEN 12-2 PM. I am asking all affiliated with Indivisible and Hands Off to Spread the Word.
Our themes are clear - we need to fight a king and:
Save our constitution, the First Amendment, academic freedom, checks and balances in government, free and fair elections, voting rights, a free press, agencies created by Congress to protect union right and workers' safety, the rights of the LGBTQ plus among us, consumer safety, the wholesomeness of our food supply, our environment, including initiatives intended to promote alternative energy development and production, the safety net including SNAP, WIC, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, veterans' benefits, the writ of habeas corpus, the right to asylum, public support for the arts, including PBS and NPR, women's right to be equally treated in every manner; our history from abridgment, our books from censorship, the rights accorded the disabled amongst us...and much more.
If you care, as you all of you do, please join me so we can speak as one and make our voices heard at noon on June 14, 2025 at the Goshen Village Square. Please spread the word and bring your family and friends. If you wish to speak, let me know and encourage others to do so.
Amazon/ocida public meeting
ORANGE COUNTY, NY – Michael Sussman, candidate for Orange County Executive, issued the following response to recent developments regarding the construction of a new Amazon warehouse in the Town of Wawayanda:
“Amazon has proposed building a 3.4 million square foot warehouse in the Town of Wawayanda. I strongly oppose the project for many reasons. The number of permanent jobs will be dwarfed by the number of robots in the new facility. Amazon has engaged in union-busting across the United States and has an abysmal worker safety record. The massive project will cause pollution and congestion the good people of Wawayanda do not deserve.
“Now, with its usual arrogance, one of the world’s richest and largest companies seeks subsidies from the Orange County Industrial Development Agency. I categorically reject any public funding for Amazon.
“The IDA originally scheduled a meeting to discuss the Amazon warehouse for a 5:00 pm meeting on June 4. I protested that starting time as it disenfranchised many, especially the working families of our County. In response to my advocacy, the IDA has now moved the meeting from the Town of Wawayanda Town Hall to a larger venue, the Minisink Valley Middle School (which is located at 2320 State Route 6, Slate Hill), and changed the date to June 10, 2025, and the start time to 6:30 pm.
“Several of our county’s construction unions favor the Amazon project – workers attended the Town of Wawayanda Planning Board meeting last week and expressed support for well-paying and local construction jobs. The irony is not lost on me that our unions strongly support a company with an abysmal union-busting record and a terrible worker safety record.
“Will Amazon’s presence really advance the cause of unions in our County? Workers should not be forced into a choice like this. Instead, our IDA should be supporting private-public partnerships to rebuild our cities, provide workforce housing and improve public safety. These opportunities do not exist today, but on January 1, 2026, when I take office as County Executive, I will initiate a massive housing program which provides comparable employment options.
“Please join me that evening, and let’s give the IDA a piece of our minds. We will fight against giveaways to wealthy corporations and the industrialization of our County. We defeated the last warehouse project we fought two months ago, and can defeat this if we work together and rally in support of each other. We need the kind of economic development which benefits our County comprehensively and over generations, instead of the kind that robs our communities of their character and chases short-term benefits for long-term sacrifices.”
Michael H. Sussman is the Democratic and Working Families Party Candidate for Orange County Executive.
Michael sussman volunteer meeting
For those who want to help in my county executive campaign, we are having our first meeting for volunteers on 6/5/25 at 7:15 pm at my law office, 1 Railroad Avenue, 3rd Floor, Goshen, NY. Please email contact@sussmanfororange.com with questions.
Robert Lewis memorial walk
Robert Lewis was a long-time resident of Port Jervis when, on June 2, 1892, he was brutally beaten and lynched by a racist mob. He is one of only two Black men lynched in New York State history whose identity is known. The other, Robert Mulliner, was lynched in Newburgh (also Orange County) in 1863.
This walk memorializes Robert Lewis. Walkers will meet at the intersection of Hammond Street and Sussex Street and walk approximately half a mile, following the route along which Mr. Lewis was dragged and beaten, concluding at the site where his life ended.
This event is hosted by Friends of Robert Lewis. NAACP members and supporters are invited guests. Please wear a dark blue shirt and arrive early.