Guess this self-proclaimed woman of the people thinks they are best served from afar.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s New York City district offices are still only open for in-person constituent services on Mondays and Wednesdays — even as municipal workers and school kids have been back at their desks full time for months.
The other three weekdays, AOC’s district office appointments are held virtually.
It’s a sharp contrast to the 14 New York congressional members out of 29 whose offices are open Monday through Friday — and comes after Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on her constituents.
“Her staff should be here more often, especially for people affected by Ida. There’s no excuse,” said retired school social worker Martha Grubman.
The storm flooded the basement of the 66-year-old retiree’s co-op and knocked out the elevators. Grubman, who’s disabled, was stuck in her home for days.
“I would like to see them here three days at least, to hear what her constituents want and need,” Grubman said of Ocasio-Cortez’s local staff.
“I don’t know what other commitments they have. Maybe they’re helping her get ready to run for Senate, helping her get on the covers of more magazines,” Grubman conjectured.
Another constituent, 51-year-old Abu Fazal, agreed.
“She needs to make more office time. Two days is not enough, especially because most people work and need more options.
“If she represents this district, she needs to have people here who represent her at all time. I understand her focus is more on Washington than it is in her district, and maybe that’s the problem,” Fazal told The Post.
Teresa Segura, an AOC supporter, also tsk-tsked the congresswoman for her lack of hands-on help.
“If her office was open more than two days, maybe more would happen here. Make it at least three of four days a week. Show us that your focus is on improving the schools, making things good for senior citizens. I voted for her, I want her office to be open,” the 71-year-old said.
Called for comment, a spokeswoman for AOC said the public servants were still observing a pandemic schedule and planned to ride it through the holiday season, at least.
“Prior to the pandemic, our office was in-office five days a week. Due to the pandemic, our staff is now in-office on Mondays and Wednesdays, but, assuming public health trends continue, we will be in-office Monday-Thursday starting Jan. 3,” she said.
“Our expectation is that we will get back to five days a week in-office.”
The self-described socialist has taken heat for not paying enough attention to her constituents as she burnishes her national reputation as a leftist darling. And she is not alone — at least five members are still entirely remote including leading Democrats like Rep. Jerry Nadler of Manhattan and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn and Queens.
But the other half of the the delegation — 14 members — are back to hosting constituents in their district offices five days a week. And all city employees have been back in their offices since Sept 13.
Five of the state’s eight Republicans have their local offices open full time while just nine of the 21 Democrats do.
“Nothing matters more to me than constituent services,” fellow Bronx Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres told The Post.
“When constituents approach me on the streets or elsewhere, I personally take their name and information and then see to it that my team immediately follows up,” said Torres, whose local office is also open some weekends to help connect Puerto Ricans living in the city to their vital documents stored back home.
Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks and Sam Raskin
