In this crazy world we live in, it was refreshing to spend a few moments with my assemblywoman at a recycling event she was sponsoring at the Kingston Library’s temporary quarters in Uptown Kingston.

It was a beautiful final weekend of summer with temperatures in the mid-70s and a slight breeze.

I arrived to a large crowd with an old laptop I’d stashed in my garage for the last 10 years. Usually, I wait for the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency’s annual recycling event, but I always forget it.

I wasn’t there just to recycle something, of course, but to get a few words in with Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha about politics.

It wasn’t easy. By that, I mean the assemblywoman was up to her eyeballs with recyclables. There must have been 10 square feet three feet high of paper products, along with stacks of electronics. One guy was carrying in what looked like an 80-inch TV.

Shrestha was in charge of all this, between engaging with constituents/recyclers who wanted to talk to her about all manner of issues. I was impressed with how personable she was, patiently listening to all, while keeping a wary eye on the growing recyclable pile.

“I think the truck is full,” she told one woman, “but we’ll take your stuff. We’ll figure it out.”

I waited until it looked like she was free for a moment.

I got right to the point.

“Other than (Congressman) Pat Ryan, local Democratic leadership has been silent, as far as I know, on the candidacy of Zohran Mamdani,” I said. “Where do you stand?

Since Mamdani and Shrestha are both active members of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and colleagues in the Assembly, Shrestha being “silent” would be akin to our two New York senators withholding their support.

“Oh, no,” she replied, looking slightly surprised at the question, “I was one of the first to endorse Mamdani.”

“Did you know,” she added, “that Mamdani (then a freshman Democratic assemblyman from Queens) appeared at one of my rallies in Kingston when I first ran?” I did not.

“We Democratic Socialists stick together,” she said with a smile.

I had time for one more question, as others closed in.

“I did a column recently,” I said, “where I reported that you had raised over a million dollars during your term in office. I guess that makes you a million-dollar baby.”

She ignored the reference to the Clint Eastwood movie in the last sentence. “Yes, I read that and there were some accounting errors in it. (Did she raise $2 million? I thought). “But I chose not to respond. People might think I was too powerful.”

Nice sense of humor, my assemblywoman. That gibe was in response to radio mate Mario Catalano characterizing Shrestha, just approaching the end of her third year in office, as the most powerful Democrat in Ulster County.

I had other questions, but my time was up. Thankfully, the assemblywoman had provided a large tray of freshly baked Deising’s obscenely delicious cider donuts for visitors. I took just one (honest) and resisted making a break to my car with the whole tray.

Me and Mario on Friday

Giving listeners and viewers plenty of advance notice, our bi-weekly Me and Mario call-in show will air from 7 to 9 am. on Friday morning on WGHQ-920 AM.

In truth, we don’t get a lot of sleepyhead callers but we’re always topical and sometimes entertaining, or so they tell us “on the street.” Tune in. We’re all ears.

To stream the show live or listen to it later, click here: https://vimeo.com/user173056939