Twitter user @jai_lies tweeted that health policy academics requested to meet with Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of Queens and the Bronx in Congress, to discuss healthcare but were told the Congresswoman is “not doing healthcare right now.”
As Ocasio-Cortez apologized for the interaction, tweeting back that it is “not representative of me nor my values,” but Ramos responded with criticism of her—revealing a rift among progressive lawmakers representing New York City.
Ramos has long been considered an ally of the Congresswoman. Like Ocasio-Cortez, Ramos successfully unseated a more moderate Democrat in 2018, and her Queens district contains parts of Ocasio-Cortez’s Congressional district.
“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?” Ramos tweeted.
She continued to criticize Ocasio-Cortez in a series of other tweets, where she said she has not spoken to her in months.
In one tweet, Ramos wrote that she reached out to Ocasio-Cortez after a mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters rioted at the United States Capitol building on January 6, 2021—but never heard back.
“I gave up texting her a while back, and as petitioning unfolded, I reached out through staff and requested a meeting. I have not spoken to my congressperson in months. Maybe more than a year? What else is it I’m supposed to do?” Ramos tweeted.
In other tweets, Ramos alluded to Ocasio-Cortez criticizing former Representative Joe Crowley—who she defeated in a 2018 primary challenge—for not spending enough time in the district.
“Respectfully, she ran on breathing our air. I do see the other neighboring congressional representatives quite often. I’ve met w Meng 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,” she tweeted.
In a statement to Newsweek, Lauren Hitt, an Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson, wrote that she last held an outreach event in Queens on July 6 and has held six town halls, in addition to other events, in 2022.
Ocasio-Cortez has also seen Ramos at a May Day rally and at a petitioning event, and her office offered Ramos a meeting during her April work period that did not work for Ramos, Hitt wrote.
Other New York elected officials came to Ocasio-Cortez’s defense.
“I gotta be fair here. Real talk this hasn’t been my experience at all. From being able to communicate & work with my Congressperson directly to our teams working closely on policy, organizing and a lot more, me and my neighbors have benefited a lot from the mutual collaboration,” tweeted New York City Councilor Tiffany Cabán.
Newsweek reached out to Representative Ocasio-Cortez and state Senator Ramos’ offices for comment.
