Category: Uncategorized

25Mar

Chatzky’s Lascivious Posts

Dear Friends,

In the over two decades that I have been at the helm of WCLA –Choice Matters, I have never before witnessed any Democratic candidate for any office so shamelessly and publicly sexualize and degrade women – until now.

Last week, the New York Times printed a scandalous exposé about New York’s Congressional District 17 Democratic primary candidate Peter Chatzky and his fascination with sex and his objectification of women on his Facebook page. Now, as Chatzky plays the victim, issuing a pathetic apology, his friends and wife continue to dismiss his actions as boys-will-be-boys humor.

Peter Chatzky is another multi-millionaire who is self-funding his congressional campaign. He is the Briarcliff Manor Deputy Mayor – and he is also the man who has single-handedly put the #MeToo movement and the Epstein Files front and center in the race to flip CD 17.

Chatzky has been publishing lascivious posts on his Facebook account for over a decade according to The New York Times and the New York Post. (The New York Times, The Wealthy House Candidate With a History of Bawdy Facebook Posts, 3/19/2026; NY Post, Mike Lawler’s millionaire Dem rival Peter Chatzky jokes about teen sex in vulgar resurfaced posts, 3/23/2026.)

Both the NYT and NY Post reported an assortment of examples including “speculat[ing] about how much he would have to pay Melania Trump, the first lady, to have sex with him”, “whether he was too old to have an intimate relationship with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, then in their 20s”, how to “enhanc[e] breasts in photoshop”, and “jokes about sperm, masturbation and sexual arousal”. He even solicited responses from his Facebook friends.

This is chronic male misogyny – not simply bad judgment. This man is running for Congress claiming to be a “progressive”. How is dehumanizing and sexualizing women “progressive”? How is talking about big breasts and sex with teenage girls “progressive”? The radicalized Trump administration is ripping away women’s rights – from abortion, to contraception, to job equity, to voting rights. And Chatzky? He, too, is part of the culturally complicit patriarchy problem.

Remaining silent or justifying Chatzky’s behavior as “locker room talk” dismisses his accountability. Normalizing misogyny creates a breeding ground for anti-woman behavior. It validates male entitlement and excuses discriminatory and even criminal actions against girls and women.

We have all watched the Epstein Files slowly unfold with the drip, drip of information being released. The men implicated are of different political parties and nationalities. The only things these men have in common is their gender, wealth and color – and that the people in the know remained silent – from the customs agents, to housekeepers, to pilots, to friends, to spouses…

Peter Chatzky has degraded women by making them sexual objects and the butt of jokes. Deplorable behavior like his perpetuates an oppressive cultural attitude.

This past Monday we saw Bill Cosby found guilty, again – an American icon until he wasn’t. His friends remained silent for decades. The #MeToo movement was a revolutionary revolt against the expected code of silence and the gendered advice: “Don’t report it. It’s your word against his. Get over it and move on.” Earlier this year, in a campaign ad, Chatzky threw a puppet in the trash – a puppet that was clearly female – and a Democrat. When called out, his response and that of his friends and spouse were the same: “Get over it. It wasn’t a big deal.” WRONG. It’s a very big deal and we will not get over it!

It’s time for Peter Chatzky to drop out and move on.

Sincerely yours,

Catherine Lederer-Plaskett
President

10Feb

ALERT: MAGA Mike Lobs Lies at Democratic CD 17 Candidate

Looks like anti-choice extremist MAGA Mike Lawler (just like his mentor Trump) is once again playing 3-card Monte with the truth to distract from his own horrific record by spreading blatant lies about his opponents.

On Monday, a “Lawler-friendly” reporter smeared a Democratic Primary candidate. BUT Candidate Cait Conley fought back! (See below.)

Let’s all take a page out of Conley’s book and call out ALL of Lawler’s lies and deceitful actions AT EVERY TURN! Thanks, Cait Conley, for setting the record straight!

P.S. Before you buy into any BS, please do your homework.

Friends,

You may have recently seen articles published by The Intercept and Politico Pro that deliberately misrepresent my counterterrorism and national security work. Let me make one thing abundantly clear: the lies and attacks are starting because Mike Lawler is scared. He is spreading deceptive misinformation to stop the momentum we are building because he knows that if I am on the ticket in November, his political career will come to an end.

Unlike Mike Lawler and his MAGA GOP cronies, I am beholden to the truth.

Here is the truth:

I advise two start-up companies focused on national security to help keep American families and American critical infrastructure–like sports stadiums, hospitals, our water supply, and our energy grid–safe from terrorist attacks.

My work focuses on how to counter violent tactics used by terror groups and drug cartels. Period. There is zero connection with ICE and its domestic immigration enforcement.

The companies I consult for do not have any involvement with ICE and its domestic immigration enforcement.

And although Mike Lawler has tried to spin up this lie, I do not work with Palantir.

I spent 16 years putting my life on the line in the military to protect Americans, deploying six times overseas, including to combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, to hunt down terror groups. Since leaving the military, I have worked with a range of private and public sector entities, at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and as a consultant, to help keep American families and American critical infrastructure safe from terrorist attacks.

I have been and will continue to be an outspoken critic of this Administration’s weaponization of the executive branch. I am running to hold ICE accountable for breaking the law and violating the Constitution to protect the rights of Americans. Secretary Noem must step down or be impeached. Congress must pass legislation ensuring ICE operates lawfully like local law enforcement, including banning masks and requiring judicial warrants for arrest, and sending CBP back to the border where it belongs. The federal agents involved in the killing of Americans must be fully and independently investigated, and any leaders who oversaw or enabled these abuses of power should be placed on administrative leave until investigations are completed.

I will never back down from this fight.

The fact that Mike Lawler is so scared of the momentum our campaign is building that he stoops to lies and misinformation just reaffirms that what we are doing is working. The fact that he is trying this hard and this early shows you how scared he is to face me in November.

We will never bow down to his lies or intimidation.

This campaign will keep up the fight honorably and with dignity. I am proud to be in the arena with each and every one of you.

With gratitude and fire,

Cait Conley

08Jan

Chatzky’s Sexism Destroying NYS Democratic CD 17 Primary

________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release, 1/8/2026
Chatzky’s Sexism Destroying NYS Democratic CD 17 Primary
WCLA – Choice Matters
________________________________________________________________________
For a man who claims to be a progressive, Chatzky showed a different side of himself this week. Using some of the $5 million dollars that he gave to his campaign, Chatzky has portrayed a fellow Democratic Primary woman challenger as a “stereotypical female” unable to make her own decisions – just like many Republicans do when they say women can’t be trusted to make their own choices.

What do women have to do to be taken seriously? Let’s ask Democratic Primary Candidate Peter Chatzky who chose to introduce himself to the public with a sexist ad clearly mocking front runner Democratic Primary challenger Cait Conley – a woman who graduated from West Point in the top 2% of her class, earned master’s degrees from both MIT and Harvard, served 16 years as an active Army officer, deployed overseas six times, was awarded three bronze stars, and then was Director of Counterterrorism on the National Security Council.

A person’s sense of humor often reveals a lot about their intelligence, character, values, and emotional state. What does it reveal about Chatzky that he needs to turn a powerful articulate woman into a floppy straggly-haired marionette, a punching bag? That sounds a lot like Trump.

Chatzky offered no specific criticisms of Cait Conley who is a fourth-generation Hudson Valley native. One can only wonder if he finds going head-to-head with female opponents emasculating.

This Democratic Primary must focus on picking the candidate best able to defeat anti-choice extremist, MAGA Republican Lawler, and all contenders must stop attacking one another. Women across the United States need a pro-choice candidate who can win back CD 17.

05Oct

MONEY IN THE BANK! WHY local elections matter!!

Who you elect matters…in every election.
VOTE NOVEMBER 4, 2025!

ALERT: Locally, there are 17 anti-choice candidates in 13 contested races on the Westchester County 2025 ballot. Trump is again endorsing a uniquely unqualified, anti-reproductive rights extremist running for County Executive. If elected, she would strip away all of Westchester County’s reproductive healthcare protections including our Safe Clinic Access Law passed in 2022 following the violent clinic invasion in 2021, and services provided by Westchester Medical Center to high-risk patients and the incarcerated. A win here is a green light for anti-abortion zealots across the state.

YOUR PRO-CHOICE VOTE AT WORK!
>In 2021, you elected a Pro-Choice County Executive, a Pro-Choice County Clerk and a Pro-Choice majority on the County Board of Legislators.

>On November 27, 2021, Westchester suffered the worst clinic invasion in New York State history right here in White Plains.

>The Pro-Choice County Board took action IMMEDIATELY.Working together with Choice Matters, they passed the Health Care Facilities Act – a law designed specifically to protect Westchester –and the Pro-Choice County Executive signed it into law.

>Then this Pro-Choice County Board went a huge step further:
This Westchester County Board of Legislators, together with the Department of Public Safety, supported Choice Matters’ creation and implementation of a training program for law enforcement on clinic protection laws.

>This past Saturday, Westchester reaped the benefits! A large national anti-abortion activist group swarmed in front of the same clinic that was invaded in 2021 – and the White Plains Police, many of whom had attended the Choice Matters training, were ready.

They managed the extremists, respecting first amendment rights while protecting patients and staff. A tribute to the law, law enforcement and Choice Matters’ training program!

NONE of this would have been possible if you had not voted in a Pro-Choice Government!Violence against clinics is skyrocketing in states where abortion is still legal – but here in Westchester we have a law, a County government, law enforcement and Choice Matters working to keep providers, patients and escorts safe.

YOU play an active role in keeping Westchester safe….or not.

IT IS ALL UP TO YOU!

1. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4^TH.

Elect a Pro-Choice County Executive and County Board of Legislators; and

2. DONATE TO CHOICE MATTERS

Help us get the Bright Yellow ProChoice Voting Guide into the hands of 50,000+ pro-choice voters.

04Oct

3 Bills Must Become Law: Sign-on Letter

SIGN ON HERE

Choice Matters is asking individuals and organizations/institutions to sign on to the letter below imploring NYS Governor Hochul to sign into law the Hospital Transparency Act (S.3486/A.3862), Health Information Privacy Act (S.929/A.2141), and Shield Law 2.0 (S.4914-B/A.5480-C). These crucial bills are closely intertwined with critical protections for our residents, patients, friends, providers, and their staff.

Women’s health is being systematically obliterated by a reckless and lawless GOP, as they ramrod their right-wing MAGA agenda through. These bills seek to address just a few of the myriad of rights being ripped away from over 65 million women of childbearing age nationwide, not to mention Trump’s big ugly bill that will strip Medicaid from millions of others leaving them further exposed with no health insurance.

Trump and his extremist allies have made it clear: overturning Roe v. Wade was just the beginning. Their ultimate goal is to eliminate access to abortion and contraceptive care across the country. They have already misused federal law enforcement and surveillance technology against those who provide, seek, receive, and support abortion care and gender-affirming care. The passage of this legislation is clearly imperative, and we call on the Governor to take the necessary legislative steps to protect us.

Please join us.

11Jun

Thank you, Morgen Fleisig!

Morgen Fleisig is the kind of candidate Choice Matters wants to see run for elected office in communities throughout New York.

Morgen – who is running for Mayor of Hastings in the Democratic Primary on June 24th – gets it! He understands access to comprehensive reproductive health care including abortion is an issue that can face every community regardless of size, location or demographics.

Last year, Hastings was attacked for being “woke”. Next time it could be for its zoning code and its permit process for medical offices. Think it can’t happen here? It has. When our county clerk was Mayor of New Rochelle, he faced exactly that problem. He was pressured by anti-choice opponents to change the zoning code to stop Planned Parenthood from opening. He refused and, because he did, Westchester women had increased access to abortion care! That’s the courage and insight that go into being a leader.

Morgen knows that anti-choice extremism is real.

Important to note is that Morgen’s primary opponent is working hard to avoid the abortion access issue. Even as Morgen Fleisig has proudly publicized his 100% Choice Matters Pro-Choice rating, we have heard NOTHING from his opponent in the Democratic Primary. Not. A. Peep. It is our experience that candidates who avoid the issue of abortion rights do so because they are anti-choice. People who won’t take a stand will equivocate. When put to the test, they will trade away our right to control our own bodies.

REMEMBER: We must elect ONLY 100% Pro-Choice candidates to every office. OUR RIGHTS DEPEND ON IT!

Hastings deserves a pro-choice Leader!

Morgen searched out Choice Matters for its support even though Choice Matters and its two political action committees WCLA PAC (NYS) and ProChoice Voter (federal) generally only get involved in races for elected office on the County level and higher.

Morgen Fleisig is running for Mayor in the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson. To be the candidate for the Democratic Party in November, Morgen Fleisig must first win the primary on June 24^th. (Early Voting begins Saturday, June 14^th.)

VOTE PRO-CHOICE ON JUNE 24TH!

17Mar

Nita Lowey – a Titan

On Saturday, we lost Nita Lowey – a true titan. She was an abortion rights champion who led the way for decades. She has now passed the mantle to us. We cannot let her down.

Please grab a cup of coffee, sit back and watch Nita’s phenomenal reproductive rights congressional campaign that reverberated across take the nation. She’s still showing us the way.CLICK HERE TO PLAY THIS INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO!

06Nov

The Election In the Rear View Mirror

Yesterday’s election was one that has left many of us in a tailspin, grappling with the election of Donald Trump and the defeat of Kamala Harris – and for some, it is a painful time travel back to 2016 and the loss of Hillary Clinton.

Whereas we do not know exactly what a second Trump term will bring, we do know it won’t be good for the people and issues we care about. The loss of the US Senate compounds the challenges. The Republican-controlled Senate will most likely be nothing more than a rubber stamp for all of Trump’s appointments.

As of this morning, control of the House of Representatives has not been determined.

Looking a little bit more in depth:

Thanks to the many of you who responded to Choice Matters’ cry for help to pass NYS Prop 1 – the Equal Rights Amendment. Despite a very rocky start by allies, and millions of dollars spent by NYS Republican Committee on inflammatory dis-information, WE PREVAILED. You joined us at farmers markets, train stations, Early Voting sites, and Election Day polls, educating thousands of voters who had never heard of NYS Prop 1, AND WE WON. The NYS Constitution will now be amended to include abortion rights and the protected classes that are in the NYS Human Rights Law. This victory should not be taken lightly, especially given the national stage and the prospect of a vicious battle already being launched for the office of NYS Governor by newly re-elected anti-choice extremist Mike Lawler.

Around the country, there were significant victories and devasting losses. Seven states, including New York, voted to protect abortion, while Florida’s ballot measure failed – a loss strategically maneuvered by requiring that the measure pass by 60% rather than 50%+. South Dakota’s measure also failed. Nebraska passed an anti-abortion amendment.

New York State redeemed itself…kind of.

In 2022, New York lost 5 Democratically-held seats in Congress. This loss was the reason why Democrats lost control of the House.

Yesterday, Democrats appear to have won back 4 of those seats and picked up another.

Albany.

Whereas seats in both the Senate and Assembly were lost, Choice Matters’ pro-choice-rated WCLA PAC- endorsed candidates won election.

There is still a pro-choice majority in each House.

In Summary:

Over the coming days, we will all hear many expressions – including “it is always darkest before the dawn.” None of them will be helpful.

But know this: If you don’t get “back up again” they will definitely win.

When you are ready to take action, Choice Matters is here; and, with your energy and support, we are in the driver’s seat.

We will resist and persist. We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.

Remember:
“It’s not how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Rocky 2006

22Sep

Yes, there are pro-choice NY Republicans. Gina Arena is NOT one of them!

Catherine Lederer-Plaskett responds in The Journal News:

Gina Arena, who is running for the fourth time, is definitely NOT pro-choice. She has shared her staunch anti-choice views in her answers on the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion — Choice Matters questionnaire and in her follow-up interview in 2019. Choice Matters sends its questionnaire to each individual running for the Westchester County Legislature and for every higher office, every year. Arena has refused to participate in her three subsequent races and has been marked ANTI-CHOICE each time. She has also been endorsed by the anti-abortion anti-contraception group Westchester Putnam Right to Life PAC.

In her own handwriting, Arena has stated that abortion should be legal only in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the woman — and only in the first trimester. She opposes both Roe v. Wade and the New York State Reproductive Health Act that enshrined Roe in state law. She advocates for harsh regulations for both patients and healthcare providers, and opposes assistance to the incarcerated. She is against the FDA decision making emergency contraception available over-the-counter. And that’s just for starters.

From abortion to contraception to facility and provider access, Arena stands vehemently opposed to women’s comprehensive reproductive health care.

But now as she works to defeat Proposition No. 1, the NY Equal Rights Amendment, she is attempting to placate voters by whitewashing her real position in order to “rebrand” herself. Why? Because New York voters support abortion rights and comprehensive reproductive care by a huge margin. Contrary to her op-ed, Arena’s anti-abortion position does not make her pro-choice. Choice Matters will not allow Arena to redefine the term pro-choice to suit her campaign and suggest that the term “anti-choice” applies only to those who advocate for a total abortion ban.

New Yorkers should not be fooled by her deceitful use of alternate facts.

Arena belongs to a formidable opposition movement led by MAGA-style anti-choice extremists that is spreading disinformation with the goal of defeating Prop #1.

Prop #1 closes loopholes to make sure that no New Yorker can be discriminated against. In addition to protecting abortion rights in the state Constitution, it will elevate access to all reproductive health care including contraception and IVF, protect older New Yorkers, those with disabilities, and the LGBT community.

The truth is that Pro. No. 1 is totally consistent with the federal Title IX and NYS Human Rights Laws. States must comply with federal legislation. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972, Title IX “prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.” Women have benefited beyond anyone’s wildest dreams from Title IX, and will continue to!

On Nov. 5, New Yorkers have the opportunity to stand up against discrimination and for equality and abortion rights. We must seize the moment. Turn over the ballot and vote yes on Prop #1.

Catherine Lederer-Plaskett is president of WCLA – Choice Matters. WCLA – Choice Matters’ mission is to ensure that all women – regardless of age, race, class, immigration status, geography or ability to pay – have full, unimpeded access to reproductive health care. The oldest ongoing pro-choice advocacy organization in the nation, Choice Matters is and always has been non-partisan.

14Jun

92 Assembly District – Greenburgh, Mt Pleasant, Yonkers

NYS Assembly District 92
(Mount Pleasant, northern Yonkers, most of Greenburgh)

Two candidates – Tom Abinanti and MaryJane Shimsky – are running for election to the Assembly. Abinanti is seeking to reclaim his seat, lost to Shimsky two years ago.

Both candidates are rated 100% Pro-Choice by Choice Matters.

Tom Abinanti has played a unique role in our pro-choice history.

Abinanti served on the WCLA – Choice Matters Board and as our pro bono attorney for 12 years. He provided his time and legal counsel without hesitation. His counsel helped this organization become the powerhouse it is today.

Among his many pro-choice actions and votes, Abinanti was an original sponsor of Westchester’s Safe Clinic Access Bill while serving as County Legislator. Abinanti also co-sponsored and voted for the Reproductive Health Act and the NYS Equal Rights Amendment.

MaryJane Shimsky, while serving as County Legislator, co-sponsored the Westchester Reproductive Health Care Facilities Act, the only bill of its kind in the nation. County Executive Latimer signed it into law on June 27, 2022. Shimsky is a member of the NYS Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus.

Rape Is Rape Act
Both Abinanti and Shimsky are supporters of the legislation Rape Is Rape Act that became law.

As an ardent careful legislator, Abinanti worked to make necessary changes to the original versions of the bill. Governor Hochul required many of those changes to be incorporated before signing the bill. Shimsky voted for the bill in its final form.

The Focus of this 2024 Primary is NOT Abortion Rights
But it is just about as local as local gets.

This Primary revolves completely around legislation allowing Greenburgh’s wealthy enclave of Edgemont to incorporate (allowing portions of a town to become a village) at the expense of the rest of unincorporated Greenburgh. (Impact studies.)

The new law, sponsored by Shimsky, Assembly Bill A7761(2023), allows Edgemont to form its own village, which could result in skyrocketing property taxes and far fewer services for the rest of those in unincorporated Greenburgh. Abinanti is an outspoken opponent of this legislation.

The original incorporation legislation has its roots in Jim Crow.

Incorporation in NYS law was adopted to keep villages white, only allowing residents of the designated “village” area to vote. Still today, despite the impact on the rest of unincorporated Greenburgh residents, only Edgemont residents will be permitted to vote on incorporation.

Disclosure: Several members of the Choice Matters’ board, past and present, live in unincorporated Greenburgh.