Subir wrote a great diary 5/15 about the NJ Town Hall where Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen (R) sent a campaign funding letter to Joseph O’Dowd, Board Member, Lakeland Bank with a handwritten note to O’Dowd at the bottom. This note informed Mr. O’Dowd that Sally Avelenda, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Lakeland Bank was one of the ringleaders in the Progressive group that addressed him at the Town Hall . Subir’s original story appears here and is worth reading:
www.dailykos.com/…
I’ve done a little more dirt digging because I still can’t believe this woman had to quit her job from the pressure and harassment she experienced at work for daring to take part in a publicly sanctioned Town Hall where opposing voices are SUPPOSED to be heard by the Representative. I’m only posting a comment I made with some erroneous information I’m going to clean up following the body of my comment.
I find the bank that made Sally Avelenda feel so insecure about her job security that she had to quit to be blame-worthy as well. They should be held culpable and I hope she sues the hell out of them for creating such a hostile workplace. What are Town Halls held for if not to voice concerns and opposing positions? People who take part in Town Halls are exercizing their right to free speech in the political venue organized to hear them in the first place.
Here is the correct contact information:
For Rodney Frelinghuysen:
WASHINGTON, D.C.
2306 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3011
(202) 225-5034
NEW JERSEY
30 Schuyler Place, Second Floor
Morristown, NJ 07960
(973) 984-0711
For Lakeland Bank Corporate Offices:
Lakeland Bank
250 Oak Ridge Road
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 (973) 697-2000
Thomas J. Shara
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER / LAKELAND BANCORP, INC. AND LAKELAND BANK
Ronald E. Schwarz
SR. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT / CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Joseph P. O'Dowd DIRECTOR SINCE 1998
PRESIDENT, O'DOWD ADVERTISING
48 Route 46 West
Pine Brook, NJ 07058
973-227-3224
(This is the Board Member of Lakeland Bank to whom the fundraising letter from Frelinghuysen was sent who then called the executives at the Corporate Offices to whine about Sally Alevenda. He’s on my hit list for tomorrow.)
So this is my update for anyone who would like to have their voices heard about Sally Avelenda’s treatment by both Congressman Frelinghuysen and the officers at her place of employment. If you haven’t read Subir’s Diary, here is that link again:
www.dailykos.com/…
I spoke to the receptionist at the Corporate Hdqtrs. today myself and they are ‘taking telephone numbers for someone to get back to us’. Sure they are. I asked her if she’s been taking tons of calls today and she said “Oh yeah” so at least I know people are ramping up the pressure. Citizens should not be bullied by their own representatives resulting in damages from her losing her job and if we make enough stink about this, the word will get around Congress that there is an active campaign to take him to the mat for his behavior and to think twice before ratting out high ranking employees resulting in her losing her job.
Please share on FB too!
Thanks,
Itzie