'Where's George,' Campaign Asks, As Rep. Santos Lacks Regional Office

DOUGLASTON, NY — Long Island congressman George Santos has yet to share a way for constituents in the 3rd Congressional District to get in touch with him for help in Washington on his congressional website, and a new social media campaign called "Where's George" will call attention to his accessibility to his constituents, organizers said.

On his U.S. House website, Santos lists his regional office as the same one former Rep. Tom Suozzi used in Douglaston, but there is no phone number listed. Visitors to the Northern Blvd. office didn't see any activity or staff after Santos was sworn in on Jan. 7 until late Friday afternoon, when multiple outlets reported staffers opened the office.

A staffer for Santos told News 12 the office's opening was delayed due to a water leak.

Other freshman representatives from Long Island listed district office phone numbers the week of the House speaker vote.

The "Where's George" campaign will ask residents in Queens and Nassau County to post photos of Santos when they see the embattled 34-year-old Representative in the district, and add the hashtag #WheresGeorge.

"He continues to hide from his constituents and refuses to open a district office," said Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan, one of the campaign's organizers, on Friday morning.

A bipartisan group called Concerned Citizens of NY-03 also appeared in front of the Douglaston office to call for Santos to step down so the district can have a special election.

At the rally, Aidan Davis of Plainview said, "Santos has been derelict in his duty to the citizens of 03." Being unable to contact Santos for constituent services, he said, "shows we aren't being represented."

Rep. Matt Gaetz interviewed Santos this week. Santos told him, "We're fielding calls in the office already," and added that he's helping constituents with "passport issues."

"People are asking for as simple as White House tour tickets," he told Gaetz. Santos said his staff was also "figuring out a way" to address rising car thefts in Nassau County.

Gaetz: What's your reaction to calls for your resignation?@Santos4Congress: I've lived an honest life. I came here to serve the 142,000 people who elected me and I'm going to do just that. pic.twitter.com/fjkYmQxBfe
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 12, 2023

The 34-year-old Republican has come under fire for campaigning with a largely-falsified biography and resume. He also faces several criminal investigations in New York and in Brazil. Nassau County Republicans called for him to resign immediately Wednesday.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said he will direct residents to South Nassau Rep. Anthony D'Esposito's office for constituent issues.

Santos said in his interview with Gaetz that Blakeman's plan is "absurd and illegal."

A poll this week from Public Policy Polling showed that 60 percent of respondents polled in the 3rd District think Santos should resign, including 34 percent who voted for him.

A spokesperson for Suozzi told Patch that their regional offices — Suozzi maintained a main office in a central location in his district in addition to the Douglaston office — were crucial for helping residents with issues like veteran benefits, social security, IRS and immigration issues.

"We literally received calls and drop-ins from constituents every day. Some cases are emergencies that needed to be dealt with in a day or two," the spokesperson said.

Former Long Island Republican congressman Peter King told Fox 5 News last week that not having staff ready to go when a representative takes office is unusual.

"Any other member of Congress when you're first elected, you have your staff in your office on the day Congress opens," he said.

Patch's calls to Santos' Washington, D.C. office number went to voicemail Friday, as they have since Santos arrived in Washington, D.C. in early January. Emails to Santos and his attorney, Joseph Murray, were not answered.

"If Mr. Santos won't come to the voters, the voters will come to Mr. Santos," Lafazan said.