We Hosted Our State Senators at Casaroma

Not every coffee shop hosts state senators. But we're not trying to be every coffee shop.

We are grateful to have the honor of welcoming two New York State Senators to Casaroma, Senator Shelley Mayer and Senator Nathalia Fernandez to chat with our community and have real conversations about the issues that matter most to them.

Why This Matters

Most people never get face time with the people who represent them in government. You see them in headlines. You might catch a town hall on the news. But how often do you actually get to sit across from your state senator and ask a question that's been on your mind?

That's the gap we wanted to close.

Senator Shelley Mayer represents the 37th District and chairs the Senate Education Committee. Senator Nathalia Fernandez represents the 34th District, covering parts of the Bronx and Westchester, and chairs the Senate Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders. Both have dedicated their careers to fighting for working families, expanding access to education, and addressing the real challenges facing our region.

What Happened

Our community showed up. People from all walks of life, small business owners, parents, students, retirees all came with questions about housing, education, local development, and the cost of living. The conversations were honest, sometimes heated, and always respectful.

That's what happens when you put people in the same room. Not behind screens. Not through press releases. Just people talking to each other like neighbors.

A Different Kind of Third Place

There's an old idea that coffee shops are "third places" somewhere between home and work where community happens naturally. We take that seriously. But we also think it can go further.

A coffee shop can be a place where you meet your elected officials. Where civic engagement isn't something that only happens at the ballot box. Where the distance between "regular people" and "decision makers" shrinks to the size of a table.

That's what we're building here.

More to Come

These events won't be the last. We're committed to creating more opportunities for our community to connect with the people who shape our local and state policies. Because democracy works better when it's personal. When it happens in your neighborhood. When it's over a cup of coffee.

If you missed these events, stay tuned. Follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to hear about the next one.

Casaroma Cafe: Culture. Community. Collaboration.