Summer Lee has yet to respond to Federation’s interview request
The House representative has, so far, ignored invitations to appear at Coffee and Conversations town hall
Despite invitations from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council, Rep. Summer Lee has not agreed to appear at a Coffee and Conversations town hall-style event. Her opponent, Bhavini Patel, spoke with Laura Cherner at a Coffee and Conversations event on April 8, fielding questions from the CRC director and those posed by the audience.
Lee last appeared at a CRC Coffee and Conversations event during her previous primary run in April 2022. Since then, the District 12 House representative has not made herself available to take questions at any Jewish communal event.
Lee also has ignored more than a dozen interview requests from the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle and has been absent from various Jewish community events attended by other local politicians, including the Oct. 8 vigil following Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel.
Cherner said that Lee’s office confirmed receipt of the invitation to a Coffee and Conversations event — which the organization has sent twice — but has not responded. The CRC, Cherner said, would be willing to schedule a community discussion with Lee up to April 23, the day of Pennsylvania’s primary election.
“The Federation is the central convener of the Jewish community, comprised of over 50,000 Jews,” Cherner said. “These forums are a critical way for Jewish voters to be able to understand the policy positions of elected officials and a way for the community to have direct access to our representatives. So, participating in them is an important way for elected officials to connect with the Jewish community.”
Lee did not respond to the Chronicle’s request for a comment before press time. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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