You Have An Undesirable Working At Your Bank.....

[Laxman]

what are you going to do about it? A fund raising letter to a local bank board member here in NJ was used to put pressure on a member of 11th for Change, a local activist group organizing to hold Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen accountable and to support a challenge to him in the next election. The letter was used to threaten one of the groups members through her employer, Lakeland Bank. A hand written note that stated "one of the ring leaders works at your bank" was included at the bottom of the letter from the congressman himself. The employee was called on the carpet for her involvement. Eventually she resigned after her position at the bank became....uncomfortable.

Frelinghuysen Targets Activist in Letter to Her Employer

The most powerful congressman in New Jersey, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, wrote a fundraising letter in March to the board member of a local bank, warning him that a member of an activist group opposing the Republican worked at his bank.

The employee was questioned and criticized for her involvement in NJ 11th for Change, a group that formed after the election of Donald Trump and has been pressuring Frelinghuysen to meet with constituents in his district and oppose the Trump agenda.

“Needless to say, that did cause some issues at work that were difficult to overcome,” said Saily Avelenda of West Caldwell, New Jersey, who was a senior vice president and assistant general counsel at the bank before she resigned. She says the pressure she received for her political involvement was one of several reasons she decided to leave.

The form letter, on campaign stationery, asks Frelinghuysen’s supporters to donate two years ahead of his next election because he is under attack. “But let’s be clear that there are organized forces — both national and local — who are already hard at work to put a stop to an agenda of limited government, economic growth, stronger national security,” the letter says.

Above the word local, there’s a hand-written asterix in the same blue ink as Frelinghuysen’s signature. At the bottom of the letter, scrawled with a pen, is the corresponding footnote: “P.S. One of the ringleaders works in your bank!”

Attached to the letter was a news article that quoted Avelenda. She says her boss presented her with both the letter and the news article. She was not fired, but she says she had a lot of explaining to do.

Nah, there's nothing wrong with this. Just a friendly "heads up" to the bank. This ought to work out very nicely for the congressman.


read the rest and listen to the story here: http://www.wnyc.org/story/frelinghuysen-targets-activsts-letter-boss/

[Hortensis]

1. At least the bank declined to fire her, but Frelinghuysen

may have hurt her standing anyway. Here's a Democrat who just announced her plan to unseat him.

Montclair resident Mikie Sherrill has announced her bid to win the 11th Congressional District for the Democrats. In this traditionally strong GOP district, Sherrill seeks to unseat longtime Republican Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.

A former federal prosecutor, Sherrill is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former helicopter pilot who's married to a fellow naval veteran.

Even with the buzz of her announcement, Sherrill maintains her parental involvements. She's the mother of four kids, coaches a girls lacrosse team and manages a boys soccer team.

Thanks, Laxman. Good to hear what's happening around the country. And good luck to Ms. Sherrill. This particular abuse of power is likely to be approved by most conservative voters, but he'll have other problems with them and it may well mobilize others.

[Laxman]

3. She Won't Be The Only Challenger.....

there is at least one more candidate who has already filed and I would be shocked if a certain current elected official doesn't decide to run as well. As qualified a candidate as Ms. Sherrill is, she doesn't live in the district. That may be an issue. Regardless, I think Rodney is going down.

[Hortensis]

6. Yes, I noticed that little handicap. I hope you're right.

Not to be negative way too soon but, of course, in a heavily red district electing a Democrat will probably be a long shot. I would also be really hoping a genuinely principled and genuinely moderate conservative who could win would run.

Voting Republican can be a good Democratic and democratic move in some situations. We have to reestablish the critically necessary balance of power among factions so that we have to work together again to find common solutions. And for that we need to rebuild a strong center that can hold against the kind of extremism that's taken over the GOP.

My husband and I keep looking for viable conservatives to support in our ultraconservative Georgia district, but the right material just hasn't presented. Most are extremist as hell and, like their electorate, are far too lacking in self and political awareness to realize it.

[NJCher]

9. heavily red district?

Where are you getting that? They gerrymandered this district to include the two most blue towns in NJ.

Montclair and West Orange are famous for the progressive organizations that have come from them. Million Mom March--Montclair. Just about any Dem candidate who is anybody gets an office in W. Orange.

So no, I don't agree with your assessment. My source? Living here.


Cher

[Hortensis]

13. No assessment, just accepting something I read

without checking further. Lovely if it means we have a real shot there, though.

[Laxman]

19. I Concur With Cher....

not only does his district include two towns that can turn out huge democratic numbers in a general election, but the republican portion of his district is made up many moderate communities populated by very socially tolerant voters who are registered as republicans because that is the only way to participate in local elections in Morris County. Rodney used to be a republican in the Tom Kean (sr.) Millicent Fenwick vein....the kind of republicans were a little stodgy but that you could live with and were generally good people. They, for the most part, don't exist anymore. Rodney got pulled hard to the right by the primary process and by the entrenched party leadership and he's going down because of it.

[Fla Dem]

22. My republican rep doesn't live in my district.

He did until gerrymandering by Gov Skullator Rick Scott to give Republicans favorable districts. So my rep Ron DeSantis bought a house in the new district, but still lives in the house outside the district.

[Demsrule86]

4. she was told to resign or be fired...I am certain...abutt

But two can play at that game...I warned those shouting hateful things at my gay daughter at a deplorable protest on her college campus...I came with a camera at the next unity meeting, and asked them how their bosses would feel to see them with such hateful signs. I offered post it all over the internet...a fair number of people walked off...after I called the school to inform them some of these folks who shouted hateful things at my kids and others were packing, suddenly they were persona non grata.

[mountain grammy]

10. The best solution? VOTE!!!!!!

Chilling story.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

2. A brief and innocuous note?

Whatever the bank decides to do is none of my business. I just thought you should know. No pressure.

[CousinIT]

5. A good law to get passed nationally if Dems ever get a footing in DC again:

Any employer in the US MAY NOT fire or harass any employee for their political involvement so long as said involvement is not done on company time, during working hours or using any company resources. Employers may not even DISCUSS the matter with employees without cause (ie: if they're doing it during working hours or using company resources).

Such harassment or termination - if found to be caused (either covertly or overtly) by an employee's political involvement will result in a minimum 2.5 million dollar fine against the employer and any and all negative publicity which may follow due to the situation. Court records in such cases will not be sealed or kept from public scrutiny as public backlash will become part of the punishment of the employer in question for violating the civil rights of its employees.

[frankieallen]

12. you realize this would then apply to members of far right wing groups intent on killing dems?

[CousinIT]

16. Killing someone is a whole other crime altogether.

In that case I'd expect other laws would apply.

But yes, I see your point.

[Mariana]

26. Other laws would indeed apply.

Conspiracy to commit murder is not political activity, it is a crime. If an employer (or anyone else) has knowledge that someone is conspiring to commit murder, they should be calling the police.

[CousinIT]

29. 100% agree there! n/t

[TheBlackAdder]

7. She would have to resign. In order to get the word out, the firm's name and board were mentioned.

.


Most firms have HR policies that allow a person to engage in outside activities as long as it doesn't cast the firm in a bad light. This is why many people try to bring up the name of someone's firm, when attacking them--in the hopes of getting them fired.


I had this happen to me, where teabaggers tried to get me fired by bringing my company's name into a political engagement my daughter spurred. Since she was a minor, they targeted me and my company. Luckily, my firm saw through this charade and ignored the multiple teabagger attempts to smear my kid and damage my career. Since I was not the one purposely bringing their name into the media, they ignored this attempt. I just had to contact both the Compliance and Communications departments to advise them of what was happening, so they could prepare for it, and not get blindsided.


However, the breaking of this news story seems to have been brought about by Ms. Avelenda. In order to publicize Rep. Frelinghuysen (R-Scumbag), she would most probably jeopardize her job anyway, since the firms name and the mention of their executive board is now part of the public record.

.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Kicking

Peter Jacob (ran in 7th last year - running again) posted this on his Facebook page.

Anyone reading this - I "get" Ossoff is running and folks want to talk 2020 but . . .

Please help us bring these assholes to heel this year in NJ.

Gubernatorial, Assembly, Senate, - everything is on deck.

This is the year for us to unGerrymander this fucker in 2021. He's a fucker.Evil. Vile. Putin Trump Lover.

[NJCher]

11. oh, and just so everyone is aware

It's Rodney P. Frelinghuysen. What does the "P" stand for?

Proctor.

As in Proctor and Gamble.

And the "Frelinghuysen"? Wellllll, there's a big long avenue in Newark called Frelinghuysen. Oh and arboretum somewhere around here, too, I think.

All that wealth. All that privilege. And this is how he operates in a position of power.


Cher

[Laxman]

17. And A Whole Town....

Freylinghuysen Township in Warren County. In his congressional office he has a flag from his great great great great (i think that's enough greats) grandfather who fought in the revolution and helped draft the constitution. Not just Proctor & Gamble, he also had the Ballentine Brewery in his family. It's high time for him to leave office. He does not represent his district's ethics any longer. (at one time he was pro-choice, pro-environment until his desire to keep his leadership positions got the best of him).

[NJCher]

35. I didn't know about the Ballantine

and the Warren County town.

It's worse than I thought!


Cher

[PatrickforO]

14. Last time I read the Bill of Rights, I was free to

engage in our republic as a responsible citizen when not at work.

[Marcuse]

15. Good thing she wasn't a teller.

[RedSpartan]

18. Things that make you go hmmm...

Welcome to Trump's America. Where politicians personally attack constituents and threaten their livelihood if they exercise their Constitutional rights of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly.

Actually, that sounds a lot like Putin's Russia. What an amazing coincidence.

https://www.facebook.com/thisamericancarnage/posts/667382950115473

[Laxman]

20. And Just So You Can See The Actual Letter.....

[dawg]

21. She needs to sue the hell out of that bank.

Employers need to know there is a price to pay for political intimidation of their employees.

[dumbcat]

23. Message deleted by DU the Administrators

[dawg]

25. Hostile working environment.

Harassment.

I don't know how good of a case she would have statutorily (I'm not a lawyer), but someone should definitely look into it.

[NJCher]

27. the story at this link

has some comments on the possibilities of legal remediation.

http://www.wnyc.org/story/frelinghuysen-targets-activsts-letter-boss

If there is any cause, I will join in the uproar for RPF to resign.


Cher

[dalton99a]

24. Kick.

[demmiblue]

28. .

[Laxman]

32. Things Are Changing In This District.....

Rodney vs. the Ficus tree and other things....he is definitely not the "moderate" he once was or portrayed himself to be...

Frelinghuysen, once challenged by a ficus tree, could face real opposition in 2018

Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen has never had a hard time getting re-elected.

The 22-year incumbent represents a district so safe that Michael Moore in 2000 tried to run a ficus tree against him to highlight the lack of competition. And although the tree never got on the ticket, it got more media attention than any of Frelinghuysen’s other challengers.

But Frelinghuysen’s streak of effortless elections may come to an end in 2018, just as he’s at the height of his power as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Anti-Trump activists have incessantly called on Frelinghuysen to hold a town hall somewhere in North Jersey’s 11th District, which includes all or parts of Morris, Essex Passaic and Sussex counties. He’s refused, so they’ve protested at his office asking "Where's Rodney?" and held mock town halls. The recently-started Facebook group “NJ 11th for Change,” through which protests against Frelinghuysen are publicized, has more than 7,000 members.

And now, NJ 11th for Change has a super PAC, founded last month by Google executive Jonathan Bellack and local bank executive Saily Avelenda. Organizers claim it raised $10,000 in its first day and another $10,000 in its first week simply through seeking contributions on Facebook.

“We’re not your traditional super PAC,” said Debra Caplan, who serves on the super PAC’s board and on the steering committee of the larger NJ 11th for Change organization. “We’re a citizens super PAC. We’re a group of ordinary people who decided to start a super PAC because we want to be able to create material and distribute information about what’s happening in the congressional district and things that are coming down the line.

A Republican from a political dynasty that dates back to the nation’s founding, Frelinghuysen, a Procter & Gamble heir, was for two decades a perfect fit for his heavily Republican, well-heeled district. He also earned a reputation as a moderate.

“We are here to show people in our district who have voted for him in the past what he’s really about these days, what his actual voting record is," Avelenda said. “Part of what we’re trying to do is to show that that label, 'moderate,' doesn’t apply anymore."

Read the rest here: http://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2017/03/frelinghuysen-once-challenged-by-a-ficus-tree-could-face-real-opposition-in-2018-110199

[TeamPooka]

33. Lakeland Bank should be investigated for Russian money laundering.

Just because they all should.

[Laxman]

34. The Star Ledger Slams Rodney....

Protest Frelinghuysen, compromise your job

So here's the latest abomination from the laboratories of democracy: If you act against the interests of a U.S. Congressman, he can find out where you work and pressure your employer to confront you - until it becomes so intolerable that you quit your job.

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) should take a bow. There are more perfidious vultures in Congress, but he has broken new ground for the New Jersey delegation by destroying the livelihood of a private citizen who had the audacity to exercise her First Amendment rights.

He did this by instructing his campaign to research the occupation of a West Caldwell woman named Saily Avelenda, who was quoted in a story that identifies her as a member of the formidable NJ 11th for Change opposition group.....

...Avelenda is a first-generation American, which gives her the perspective that Frelinghuysen clearly lacks: Her parents were Cuban exiles. They "escaped from a culture that puts political opposition in jail - or executes them," Avelenda said. "My mother is livid over this: My parents came here because they thought they would be free to exercise their political beliefs."

Now it's a place to crush dissent, and New Jersey's 11th District is the new paradigm. If you're still wondering why Frelinghuysen hasn't had a town hall in four years, you can assume he is oblivious to the Avelenda family concept of democracy.

read the rest here: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/05/frelinghuysens_democracy_squeeze_the_employers_of.html#incart_river_index

[NJCher]

36. Bravo, Star Ledger!

Cher

[NJCher]

37. Rodney gets negative comments at his Facebook page

I heard almost a 1000:

https://www.facebook.com/rfrelinghuysen/

Also, Lakeland Bank got an earful, too. I haven't visited theirs yet, but intend to.

BTW, I knew that school looked familiar. I teach next door to it on Wed. nights.

Link to story about FB posts:

http://www.wnyc.org/story/new-jerseyan-targeted-rep-frelinghuysen-just-wants-constituents-know-what-he-did


Cher