Rep. Brandon Williams will host four town halls in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley from April 6 to 13. The town halls will take place in Oneida and Madison counties.

The dates and locations are: 

• Thursday, April 6 — 6:30 p.m., Bradley Elementary School, 33 Oxford Road, New Hartford; 
• Monday, April 10 — 6:30 p.m., Chittenango High School, 150 Genesee St.;  
• Tuesday, April 11 – 6:30 p.m., Lyndon Strough Middle School, 801 Laurel St., Rome; and  
• Thursday, April 13 — 6:30 p.m., Morrisville-Eaton Middle/High School, 5061 Fearon Road in Morrisville. 

“These public events will enable local constituents to engage with the Congressman, hear more about his policy platform and legislative accomplishments for NY-22, and learn how to receive vital assistance and support through his in-district offices,” a statement from Williams said.  

Williams will announce more town halls at a later date, the statement said. While the open houses are located in Oneida and Madison counties, NY-22 comprises Oneida, Onondaga, Madison counties and part of Oswego County. 

This announcement comes after more than 200 residents of NY-22 signed a letter calling for Williams to hold town hall meetings for him to listen to his constituents’ concerns. A spokesperson for Williams has said that the events had been planned before the letter’s delivery on Monday.

“We come from diverse backgrounds, geographies, ages, genders and perspectives on issues,” the letter said. “We see trains derailing, attacks on trans-children, our planet getting warmer, shortages of labor for local farms, and proposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and want to share our concerns, solutions, and ideas with you in a public town hall event.”  

The petition was organized by the Working Families Party, and the signed letter was delivered to Williams’ office in Syracuse on Monday, March 27. 

“We are formally requesting that you schedule a series of town halls this spring in each of the counties you represent: Oneida, Onondaga, Madison and Oswego,” the letter said. “Considering the timely matter of our concerns, we ask that at least one of these town halls occur during the upcoming district work period beginning March 31st.”  

These are the first town halls that Williams will be hosting since taking office in January. Williams did host public open houses at his district offices in Syracuse and Utica when they opened in January to meet and get to know some of his constituents. 

In comparison, NY-19 Rep. Marc Molinaro is hosting an 11-county town hall tour, one at each county in the district. During the district work period in February, Molinaro hosted four town halls in four of the counties he represents, and in March, there’s been one town hall so far.  

Former representatives of NY-22, Claudia Tenney and former John Katko held virtual town halls amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Rep. Anthony Brindisi, who served from 2018 to 2020, held in-person town halls to engage with constituents. 

“We believe everyone regardless of their zip code or party affiliation deserves to have the opportunity to speak to you about their concerns so you will vote in the people’s best interests,” the letter said.