AOC 'Absent' From District Says Fellow N.Y. Progressive

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over the weekend came under fire by a fellow New York progressive legislator who accused her of being "absent" from her home district.

On Twitter last week, a user messaged Ocasio-Cortez claiming that her office canceled a meeting with "a couple of the most highly respected health policy academics," who were told by the congresswoman's staff that "'we're not doing healthcare right now.'"

In a response on Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez said, "I'm really sorry to hear that this happened. It's not representative of me nor my values. If you can connect with details I'd appreciate it. I'll follow so DMs will be open."

In reply to Ocasio-Cortez, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district includes parts of the congresswoman's, said that "Maybe if you spent more time in your office and with your team you'd know what goes on. Just saying it would be nice if you breathed our air. So, as an employer, what happens with the staffer who said this?"

She added, "Our district offices are on the same floor in the same building. She's barely ever present in the community. It's an indisputable fact."

Ramos later said that she reached out to check on Ocasio-Cortez following the Capitol riot, but did not receive any response.

"I gave up texting her a while back, and as petitioning unfolded, I reached out through staff and requested a meeting," Ramos said on Twitter. "I have not spoken to my congressperson in months. Maybe more than a year? What else is it I'm supposed to do?"

When a Twitter user accused Ramos of being jealous of Ocasio-Cortez she replied, "Nah. Just want my congressional representative to be around and do their job in the community."

She went on to say that Ocasio-Cortez "ran on breathing our air. I do see the other neighboring congressional representatives quite often. I've met [with Rep. Grace Meng, D-Queens] and others. Seems there's different standards for folks. We've been through some bad crises and never a phone call. I've tried many times."

• AOC, Congress Members Arrested at Supreme Court Protest
• AOC Denies She Faked Being Handcuffed During Her Arrest