New York, NY, December 30, 2009
Our colleague Michael Goodwin gets right to the point with his take on why New Yorkers should not keep the annointed Kirsten Gillibrand in the Senate.
His article in today's NY Post is so good we have reprinted it below.
Gilly's good for nothing, so let's just get rid of her
Michael Goodwin
Not to sound like Henry II railing against Thomas Becket, but will nobody rid New York of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand? Hardly a day goes by without her proving she is in over her head.
Yet Gillibrand, who was appointed by Gov. Paterson, doesn't have a significant primary or general-election opponent next year. The prospect that she could get six more years without a fight is like a death sentence for the state.
Consider her dopey defense of the health-care overhaul she supported. Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg have told her and Sen. Chuck Schumer it will cost New Yorkers billions and force the closing of hundreds of clinics, but Gillibrand sloughs the facts off by saying it's not so bad.
How would she know? In an interview last April, I caught the former-centrist-turned-liberal rubber stamp making false claims on numerous subjects. She's just not that into facts.
For example, to justify switching sides on a gun-control bill after Paterson plucked her from the House and made her senator, Gillibrand said there were "literally 1 million gun deaths" from 2000 to 2002.
Actually, there were about 87,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To defend her sudden softening stance on illegal immigration, she told a fanciful story where "police officers, you know, in very combat-boots style, knocked down doors, pointed weapons at mothers, 5-year-old children standing there in the doorway, pulling the dad out, never to be heard of or seen again."
When I objected that the claims seemed wildly exaggerated, she said, without an ounce of shame, "I'm just repeating the story that was told to me."
So it is with the health overhaul. She bought the slippery line it was painless "reform."
But by adding more than a million people to the Medicaid rolls, the bill will force local tax hikes on every New Yorker because the city and state share in the added costs.
And higher Medicare taxes and excise taxes on some health plans the bill includes will siphon more New York money to Washington.
That Gillibrand is so dense and disregards his concerns gives Paterson reason to urge her to step aside. He sent her to Washington to represent middle-class New Yorkers, not to parrot the national Democratic Party's high-tax, liberal agenda.
No Dessert After All - Lunch Pow-Wow Cancelled!
New York, NY, December 28, 2009
A reliable source has told the Borrero Report that it was Brooklyn pol Carl Kruger who canceled the bread breaking session. "It was Kruger trying to be collegial. It was never intended to be public." Collegial? Strange word when used with the "Four Amigos!"
In the meantime, "open meeting" Diaz is not answering his mobile. Hmmm, must be prayer time.
“Turbulent, Tumultuous and Triumphant” Senator Espada’s Description of 2009
Says he has worked hard to “mainstream”
New York, NY, December 28, 2009
By Gerson Borrero
Taking stock of the year that is about to end, Pedro Espada, Jr., the man who at the height of the senate chaos in Albany described himself as having “balls of steel,” said that 2009 has been for him, “turbulent, tumultuous and triumphant.”
Chastised by many as one of the leaders of the chaos that dominated this year’s NYS Senate, Espada, Jr. told The Borrero Report, in a recent conversation, that: “Mud slinging was one thing while it had to be done; it was not just theater or buffoonery.”
The always polemic Senator said, “I’ve worked hard to mainstream myself” and he has heard the voices of New Yorkers who have expressed their desire to rid themselves of the lot of state office holders, “the signals are not good for incumbents,” admitted Espada .
Espada, Jr., has invited his other three "Amigos," (Senators Carl Kruger, Hiram Monserrate and Ruben Diaz) for a holiday luncheon (1:30 PM) at the Nautilus Diner in Mamaroneck, NY, where the Senator owns a home. The home – Pedro has insisted for years - is not his primary residence.
The political menu for this afternoon will include the legislative priorities of each of the Four Amigos.
Senator Espada’s legislative interest includes a farm workers rights piece that he says will be presented, “in early January.” As Chair of the Housing Committee the Senator says, "I will have a bill and it will come out.”
And what will certainly capture Diaz’ interest, is this statement by his Amigo, “I will tackle anew this whole Armory thing. It’s in my District and I have business acumen.”
Let’s see how the sometimes wild man of the cloth, and constant enemy of a same gender marriage law, reacts to this. Diaz’ son and Bronx Borough President, “Rubencito,” has received both accolades and vilification for his star role in the defeat of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s and the Related Companies plan to develop the Kingsbridge Armory. Daddy Diaz would not want Pedro to steal his son’s platform.
Will they sit together long enough to order “café con leche” and dessert?
Thompson Said To Be “Not Ruling Out Anything”
Will Make Decision by Year End on a Senate, Comptroller, or another Mayoral Run In 2013
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, December 16, 2009
According to one source, the soon-to-be unemployed NYC Comptroller, William C. Thompson, Jr., has been pondering over the idea of running for the US Senate to unseat novice Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. His interest in the position has been peaked since the release of the results of a recent Quinnipiac University poll, where he leads Gillibrand 41-28 percent among Democrats.
“Right now, he is not ruling out anything,” a well informed insider told the Borrero Report. “He is looking at everything”, the source said.
When pressed to define “everything,” the source enumerated a primary challenge to Gillibrand for the Democratic nomination at the top of the list. The second would be running for State Comptroller against Thomas P. DiNapoli, and the third would be to give the NYC mayoralty another try in 2013.
If Thompson decides to challenge Gillibrand he would need about $3 million dollars to be taken seriously as a contender. Thompson would also have to be ready to take on the powerful Senator Charles E. Schumer, who has bullied all candidates out of even the thought of a challenge to the obedient junior senator that flies closely under his wings.
The calls for Thompson not to challenge Gillibrand that would, for certain, come from the White House on behalf of President Obama, would be powerful. The President seems to have been convinced by Senator Schumer that the seat could be lost to a Republican. Just reported this morning by Elizabeth Benjamin of the Daily News is a guarantee by Suffolk County Legislator, Jon Cooper that he would not challenge Gillibrand.
“He will decide by the end of the year,” the source said. Mr. Thompson’s decision has some supporters on a holding pattern.
Among them are one of his closest confidants and Campaign Manager of his failed mayoral bid, Eduardo Castell, who has returned to his duties as Executive Deputy Comptroller. Castell would only tell the Borrero Report that, “I am waiting for Bill to make a decision on his options.”
Beyond 15 Minutes of Fame
New York, NY, December 14, 2009
How About Some Immigration "Peace," Now!
New York, NY, December 13, 2009
Daily News columnist Albor Ruiz has an interesting immigration angle on what many have opined was/is an undeserved and premature Nobel Peace Prize for President Barack Hussein Obama. Take a read (here).
Harold Ickes, Part of Team Paterson
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, December 10, 2009
There’s at least one heavyweight Democrat operative who is not running away from Governor David A. Paterson’s basement poll numbers. Harold M. Ickes is formally lending his expertise to the incumbent governor's effort at getting elected in 2010.
Ickes, who has more than four decades of experience in the rough and tumble politics of New York and Washington, and has worked for Bill Clinton and David N. Dinkins, among other well known Democrats, is a respected and tried strategist. Ickes was present at last Sunday’s meeting with Team Paterson at the Harlem office of Bill Lynch.
“This is not about Andrew Cuomo. We are staying away from the Cuomo spin,” said a key player in the “small group of advisors” when asked how much of their strategy is based on the Attorney General challenging the Governor in a primary.
A source told the Borrero Report that, in addition to Ickes, Paterson counts on the expertise of his father, Basil Paterson, Roberto Ramirez, and Lawrence S. ‘Larry’ Schwartz. All three, in addition to Lynch and Ickes, were present at the strategy session on Sunday.
Time to Face the Music
New York, NY, December 7, 2009
It looks like the movement to hold State Senators accountable for the demise of the gay marriage bill in Albany has begun.
Giovanni Vaughn, a self described homosexual Christian, has called, in this YouTube video, on anti gay marriage State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. to explain his position.
Vaughn says that Diaz, whose virulent opposition contributed to the defeat of the bill, has been avoiding his phone calls.
We find that strange for a politician who has never been known to back down from a good fight.
Come on Ruben, pick up the phone and answer this young man’s legitimate and appropriate questions.
You are a tough guy behind the microphones and when the cameras are rolling; now it’s time to face the music.
How NOT to Stop Domestic Violence
New York, NY, December 4, 2009
“He gets what anybody would get in the same situation.” With those words, Justice William Erlbaum, of Queens State Supreme Court, handed State Senator Hiram Monserrate the biggest Christmas gift he has ever received and has shown why we should not expect abusers to learn that the crime of domestic violence should be a one-way ticket to jail. 
By now, the details we have learned surrounding this case, make it more than obvious that Erlbaum gave Monserrate the first part of his early Christmas present back in October when he found him guilty of a lesser misdemeanor crime versus, what we believe, was a clearly proven felony assault charge.
The real story today is not that Monserrate got away virtually scot-free, what is of concern is that the esteemed jurist saw no problem in letting the protagonist, of what Erlbaum, himself, described as a series of events which caused "the blood to boil,” to walk out of the courtroom without a minute of jail time to be served and displaying, what our grandmothers would call, his “cara fresca” (his insolent face).
That Erlbaum would give anyone else similarly situated, what he gave Monserrate, is a problem.
Efforts to teach abusers that actions carry consequences will be futile as long as “first offenders” are treated with kid gloves by the judiciary. The type of “justice” handed out by Erlbaum is what creates second, third, and fourth time offenders.
Justice William M. Erlbaum has never been elected by the people of Queens as a Supreme Court Justice. He was appointed an Acting Supreme Court Justice by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman and his term is due to expire at the end of this year.
Anti domestic violence activists should remember that.
NO WAY TO TREAT OUR VETERANS
New York, NY, December 2, 2009
At a time when many New Yorkers are risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, it must be comforting for them to know that the administration of Michael R. Bloomberg could stomp on their rights when they return to the beloved city they sought to protect.
In an article entitled “Veteran vendor bust in Met beef” in last Wednesday’s New York Post, reporters Amanda Melillo and Jeremy Olshan describe disabled Vietnam veteran Dan Rossi’s ongoing dispute with the City over his rights as a street vendor. Despite a long standing law clearly allowing Rossi, and other disabled veterans, to vend their wares on city streets, the Bloomberg administration has, apparently, decided to ignore its provisions and oust Rossi from a coveted spot in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The law in question dates back to 1894. Back then State legislators, rightfully, felt that the benefit gained by the law was the least they could do for individuals who defended our country. The law has withstood the test of time - along with a number of lawsuits looking to eliminate or modify it.
New York City, just recently, started viewing location like the Met Museum as money-making prime vending sites. However, the fact of the matter is that veterans had, and continue to have, a right to those locations before anybody else. The City may not like it but that is the law. Period.
Rossi’s arrest for disorderly conduct is, in our view, totally illegal. If police ordered Mr. Rossi to "move" it seems that he was well within his right to refuse what seems to have been an unlawful order. How can anything, which Mr. Rossi may have done, be violation of the law cited below?
NYS Penal Law: S 240.20 Disorderly conduct.
A person is guilty of disorderly conduct when, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof:
1. He engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior; or
2. He makes unreasonable noise; or
3. In a public place, he uses abusive or obscene language, or makes an obscene gesture; or
4. Without lawful authority, he disturbs any lawful assembly or meeting of persons; or
5. He obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic; or
6. He congregates with other persons in a public place and refuses to comply with a lawful order of the police to disperse; or
7. He creates a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose.
Disorderly conduct is a violation.
Using "obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic," to justify the charge of disorderly conduct is clearly a subterfuge intended to justify the continued harassment of Mr. Rossi.
Most New Yorkers are familiar with the location and have seen the vendors at work. They stand well on the sides of the museum entrance and people walk up to them to make their purchases. How is that obstruction?
The order to arrest Rossi had to come from the Parks Commissioner or directly from City Hall. Any Police Officer, and their supervisors, would know that the charges used to arrest Mr. Rossi are bogus. These cops would not put themselves in line for a lawsuit on false arrest (which is what they have done) unless someone at the very top ordered it to be done.
Mayor Bloomberg is fond of calling things he disagrees with "ridiculous." What will Hizzoner say about this?
The Borrero Report urges the New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union to take up the case on behalf of Mr. Rossi and the other affected veterans.
Time for NAHJ to Throw Lou Dobbs off Lifetime Membership Roll
New York, NY, November 13, 2009 New York, NY, October 20, 2009 A report yesterday by New York Times reporter David W. Chen confirms a reality that most New Yorkers know. Rudolph W. Giuliani’s time has come and gone. Period. The disgusting, offensive, and incendiary remarks made by Giuliani, while campaigning with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, are a reminder of why, prior to being resuscitated by the tragedy of 9-11, Giuliani was one of New York City’s most reviled office holders (a thing called Hiram Monserrate did not exist, politically, at that time). Lest we forget our recent history, by the end of his second term, New Yorkers were tired of Giuliani’s Gestapo-like tactics, abrasive manner, extra-marital dalliances, and overall self-righteousness. It was the national and local media, for reasons of uniting the country, and giving us a most needed rallying point after the devastation of the Twin Towers, that made Giuliani a national figure. But Giuliani’s devious, duplicitous, and hateful character could not survive the accolades thrown his way after 9-11 and wise Republican voters, on a national level, gave him a resounding “no” during his disastrous 2008 presidential campaign. The voters did their part last year; now we, the media, must step-up and do ours. It’s time that reporters, editors, and op-ed pages stop wasting paper on every Giuliani mussing and utterance. Not through censorship, but by acknowledging that there are many other voices in politics with important and constructive ideas. Now, more than ever, our City and the Nation need to hear those individuals. Granted, this particular Giuliani diatribe had to be reported. It has been instructive to know that Mayor Bloomberg, standing side-by-side with the now disgraced ex-mayor as he spewed his not so veiled hateful venom, has not disavowed any of Giuliani’s remarks. It’s something, no doubt, many voters will remember on November 3rd. Mr. Giuliani is a private citizen. He has no official role or title in New York City government. His “ideas” are hardly new and neither is his divisive and repugnant persona. Frankly, he is irrelevant to the public discourse and, except for Mr. Bloomberg who will use anything and anyone in his desire to cling to power, few any longer care what Giuliani has to say.
By Gerson Borrero
Bravo!
Now that serial undocumented immigrant basher Lou Dobbs is off CNN’s daily programming, let the triumphant forces not waste the self-congratulatory patting on the back and march on to the next Dobbs comfort zone. Strike the vitriolic offender before he finds an inviting foxy network from which to continue his immigrant bashing.
The demand should go forth to the National Association of Hispanic Journalist (NAHJ) that it expunges Dobbs from its Lifetime Members roster.
The otherwise distinguished list of the NAHJ was tarnished when the finger pointing anti-immigrant was asked to join the journalist group with a one-time five-thousand dollar contribution in 2006.
When I first reported this story in my El Diario column in May of 2007 then President of NAHJ, Rafael Olmeda, said, “We’ve never put membership through an ideological test.”
Olmeda, currently a reporter with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, indicated at the time that, “Mr. Dobbs was approached and asked to make a Lifetime Membership donation.”
The solicitation was made by then NAHJ Region Three Board Member Regina Medina at the NAHJ June 14 – 17, 2006 Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Ms. Medina, a reporter with the Philadelphia Daily News, described how she had approached Dobbs, who was engaged in a conversation with NAHJ staffers, and asked him, “Excuse me, Mr. Dobbs, would you like to be a Lifetime Member of NAHJ?”
According to Ms. Medina, Dobb’s responded, “I’m not Hispanic.”
“Well neither are a lot of our Lifetime Members,” was her comeback line.
Ms. Medina explained how, when she first saw Dobbs, her immediate thought was, “He’s got a thousand bucks.”
At the time, I asked Ms. Medina why NAHJ would want money from a Latino immigrant hater like Dobbs, she responded, “We can’t discriminate, maybe we can change this guy. It’s not like it’s tobacco money.”
Yet, much like tobacco, Dobbs has continued to spread cancer – a verbal cancer that eats away at the positive contributions Latinos make to this country. In the last two years, Dobbs has increased his unjustified attacks on Latino undocumented immigrants. He portrays them as an evil force whose presence jeopardizes every aspect of the Nation’s existence. Well, so much for change.
The listing of Dobbs as an NAHJ Lifetime Member, in some circles, gives credence to the habitual offender’s sarcastic claim that he is, in spite of the documented evidence to the contrary, not out to demonize Latinos.
It is troubling that the NAHJ continues to see no moral or ethical conflict in keeping Dobbs as a member and has no problem keeping his five-thousand dollars – money earned, in part, from bashing our less fortunate brothers and sisters.
The current President of NAHJ, O. Ricardo Pimentel, writes on the home page of the organization’s website that: “Our issue with Dobbs has never been about “advocacy journalism.” Opinion journalism plays a treasured role as watchdog and valuable source of information in a democratic society. But this opinion should ideally be supported by facts. Dobbs has failed in this regard.”
The premise by Mr. Pimentel that Dobbs’ opinion has to be based on fact goes against the grain of what opinion is. Facts are statements that can be proven. Opinions cannot be proven. They are based on someone's thoughts, their feelings and their understanding. An opinion does not have to be substantiated by positive knowledge or proof. Though you may be able to use facts to add credibility to an opinion, it is still an opinion!
Mr. Pimentel’s argument holds no water.
It is Lou Dobbs’ right to say whatever he wants - that is what he has done, and will probably continue doing.
Mr. Pimentel, who is the Editorial Page Editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, told the Borrero Report: “We have talked about it as a Board, whether we would revoke Dobbs' membership and are fearful of the precedent it would establish. What happens to the next member that someone does not like? We’re journalists.”
The NAHJ President then referred us to what the organization posted on the subject and added, “We challenge our members to challenge Dobbs.”
If, in fact, Dobbs remains a member of the NAHJ, it seems obligatory that the forces claiming victory over his leaving CNN make it clear to the NAHJ how abhorrent Dobbs membership in that organization is. Therefore, the challenge to them would be to set, as their next goal, a demand that the NAHJ return Mr. Dobbs’ money and remove him from their roster.
Or could it be that, as a community, Latinos will only bash Anglo individuals and institutions that trash us, but still take their money – money they may have earned, in part, by verbally stomping on our people? This appears to be the case with the NAHJ.
The looking the other way by the Board of Directors of the NAHJ, regarding Dobbs’ membership, due to a misguided sense of fairness, objectivity and impartiality towards an individual who continues to gratuitously and maliciously speak ill of our sisters and brothers is, frankly, hypocritical, denigrating, and repugnant.
The NAHJ should return Mr. Dobbs’ money and remove him from its membership list.
Immediately.
Monserrate is Not Much of a Catch for Karla
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, October 19, 2009
Can someone please translate the lyrics of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It” for Karla Giraldo?
The recipient of Hiram Monserrate’s "affection" has been promised an engagement ring by the creep who could turn out to be her very own version of Ike Turner. Karla may be so overwhelmed with the Queens State Senator’s "amor" that she has not done the math. So let’s help Karla with the numbers.
Which Miguelito Will Show Up At El Museo Del Barrio?
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, October 13, 2009
Everyone knows who the Mayor of New York City is. What no one knows is which of his egomaniacal personalities will be on hand this evening in East Harlem for the first of only two mayoral debates.
Will it be Mike-the-Democrat-turned-Republican who morphed into his version of an Independent only to return to the Republican fold?
Or will it be Mike-the-one-dollar-a-year-Mayor whose insatiable controlling ways and billions of dollars led him to believe that after buying City Hall in 2001 and 2005, in 2008 he could also buy the White House?
Maybe it will be the Mike who would have settled for the Vice Presidency if Barack Hussein Obama had offered it to him while he hoped for some misfortune to befall the much younger Commander-In-Chief so he could step up?
The burden of figuring out which Miguelito shows up tonight will fall on the panel of journalists that will be questioning both the candidates. How Dominic Carter, as moderator and journalists Brian Lehrer, Juan Manuel Benitez, Adam Lisberg and Michael Scotto will pull this off is bound to be an interrogation challenge.
What about Thompson?
By merely standing on the same stage with Michael R. Bloomberg, the challenger, William C. Thompson, Jr., will get more attention than he has thus far been able to generate during his entire campaign. Even though the Comptroller could score big by unnerving the short-fused Mayor, Mr. Thompson is forced to use his share of the 60-minute debate to make his case to New Yorkers that he is better suited than his rival.
Again, the challenge for the interrogators will be to determine for themselves and define for the NY1, Noticias viewing audience and listeners of WNYC Radio which Mike Bloomberg is responding to their questions.
Which Miguelito will they have before them? Will it be Mike-the-loser?
Will it be the omnipotent Mike that could not convince voters about non-partisan elections? Or will we be treated to an appearance by the West-Side-Stadium-failure-Mike? Or will it be congestion-pricing Mike? Or perhaps Mike-the-Olympian, who failed in his bid for the 2012 Olympics?
The one Mike that cannot elude questioning is the double talking Term Limits Mayor—The Miguelito that overturned the people’s will by buying Christine Quinn and another 28 City Council members.
That tyrannical Mike has to be bought on to the stage in the El Museo Auditorium at the outset.
Still Looking For The Real Miguelito Bloomberg
New York, NY, October 9. 2009
While the Borrero Report waits to chime in with our opinion of Joyce Purnick's book about Billionaire Mike, we find the review by Jacob Weisberg, in this week's Books of The Times, a straight to the point critique of the book and of NYC's richest, and power obsessed, Mayor. Mr. Weisberg writes in one paragraph that:
"Like most liberal billionaires, Mr. Bloomberg is a hypocrite for pushing social equality while using his cash to buy extraordinary power and privilege. If bottomless wealth frees him from the conventional temptations of politics, it inclines him to buy his way out of tight corners, as in negotiations with the big municipal unions, where he has overpaid relative to what the city can afford. Living so long in a coddled bubble has left Mr. Bloomberg philanthropically minded but less engaged by the specific problems of the city’s poor than by livability issues like traffic, transportation, public safety and clean air."
For the rest of the review click here.
A Queens Comedy
New York, New York, October 7, 2009
We have refrained from commenting on the State Senator Hiram Monserrate circus, ah, we mean trial which has been unfolding in Queens over the last few weeks.
However, this report by NBC news reporter Tim Minton is a sure bet for the “you can’t make this stuff up” files and one you should read.
It turns out that a witness at the trial, who asked for a translator since she claimed not speak English, ended up stopping her testimony, and pointing out to the court, that the translator was not translating correctly!
OK, so let’s run this one again. Witness says “I no speak English,” court appoints translator, witness then says, “I speak English now, translator no good judge!”
Only in America folks!
New Suite to Wear For Felony Assault Trial: $50
Hiring Slick Lawyer to Defend You: $250,000
Finding A Witness Who Will Testy-lie On Your Behalf And Claim Not To Speak English So That Prosecutor Will Not Hammer Her During Cross-Examination (But Turns Out To Know English Better Than The Court Translator She Was Provided): PRICELESS!
White House Doesn’t Even Know If They Want Democrat To Win in NYC Mayoral Race
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, September 28, 2009
Any hope that Democratic Mayoral Nominee, William ‘Bill’ Thompson, Jr. may have had for an endorsement from President Barack Hussein Obama seems like a pipe dream, at best. Here’s part of the read out of this afternoon’s (1:17 PM – 1:49 PM) Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:
Q. REPORTER: And then a
A. MR. GIBBS: I haven't talked to anybody in political affairs about that.
Q. REPORTER: So there's no preference in who wins that? Do you want to see the Democrat -- there is a Democrat --
A. MR. GIBBS: Chuck, I said I hadn't talked to the political affairs office on that, so I'm not going to conjecture.
The President’s Press Secretary would not even “conjecture” that the Leader of the Democratic Party wants the Mayoral Nominee of his party to beat the Republican incumbent Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Marching Order For Ray Kelly And His Anti-Terrorist Cowboys...ROUNDUP GADDAFI!!
New York, NY, September 22, 2009
Well, at least that’s what Geoffrey Robertson, who has served part time as a UN appeals judge at its war-crimes court in Sierra Leone, argues in an article in today’s New York Post.
What a terrific idea - arresting Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi while he attends the 64th Annual United Nations General Assembly - the perfect scenario for Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly to show the world his prowess as Gotham's top cop!
Maybe the arrest can also help him repair the damage he, and his anti-terrorist cowboys, have caused in relations with the FBI after screwing-up their investigation on terrorist suspect Najibullah Zazi.
And while he’s at it, Kelly may want to detain the entire Sudanese delegation since their president, Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, already has a warrant for his capture resulting from the genocide he has inflicted on his people.
Actually, a little NYPD style “Stop & Frisk” action, at the gates of the UN, may turn up all sorts of interesting things!
Oh, how some pine for the days of Rudy Giuliani. After having had Yasir Arafat kicked out of Lincoln Center, we are sure Rudy would, personally, break-in to the General Assembly and slap the cuffs of Gaddafi!
José Rivera Agrees with The President, “the Governor should not run”
By Gerson Borrero
In a telephone call to The Borrero Report, Bronx Assemblyman José Rivera said, “I agree with the President, the Governor should not run”. According to Rivera, who also chaired the Bronx Democratic County Organization, “We don’t owe this Governor anything.”
Stop Meddling In NY Politics, Mr. President
By Gerson Borrero
Senator Díaz has already expressed his opposition to Governor Paterson but, in his sarcastic statement, he accurately points out the President's hypocrisy in asking the Democratic governor to abandon ship. The glaring contradiction is that Obama has not yet endorsed Thompson against Republican Mike Bloomberg. This, even though Bloomberg has repeatedly refused to divulge who he voted for in the 2008 presidential election.
We may have a lot of political problems all over the state, but they are our problems to solve and we don't appreciate comments from the peanut gallery at the White House.
Ray Kelly At It Again!
New York, NY, September 18, 2009
Date Line: September 2009, Huffington Post: “Fearful of a Madrid-style subway train bombing, authorities are poised to make more raids to seize bomb-making materials at locations in Queens, sources said Wednesday.
Date Line: October 2005, CNN: “New York City's subway system was put under heightened alert Thursday after officials received information from the FBI about a “specific threat.”
Does it all sound familiar? Thank Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, and his anti-terrorist cowboys, for the current Yogi Berra inspired “Déjà vu all over again” moment.
How interesting is it that both warnings of possible disaster in the NYC subway system occurred precisely at the height of Michael Bloomberg’s re-election campaigns?
Those pesky (but politically valuable) terrorist and their threats just happen to rear their ugly heads every four years!
But if the current account that Colorado resident Najibullah Zazi was in New York City to possibly pull off another terrorist
attack is to be believed, authorities have yet to find anything linking him to such a plot.
Instead, the real story is how Commissioner Kelly will seize any opportunity; including derailing what may very well have been a promising FBI investigation to gain political advantage for his boss Mayor Bloomberg.
No one can accuse Kelly of incompetence, so flashing Zazi’s picture all around the City causing him to flee back to Colorado thus leaving an FBI investigation – which had taken many months and in which they had expended untold resources – in tatters was no mistake.
The rift Kelly’s actions may have caused with the FBI and other federal agencies is secondary, the primary concern should be just what valuable information the FBI lost due to Kelly’s politicking.
Kelly, who prides himself at having created a “mini-CIA” at One Police Plaza, needs to concentrate on fighting urban crime. Anti-Terrorism, and the related spy-games that go with it, are best left to the FBI and CIA. Mayor Bloomberg needs to clip Kelly’s wings. And while he’s at it, he needs to declare Kelly’s salary as an “in-kind” political contribution.
My Party Right or Wrong!
New York, NY, September 10, 2009
Below is a perfect example from today’s The New York Times on how party idolatry has shaped political discourse in our country. It would appear that, for many, partisan politics has become the American version of the "fundamentalist extremism" found in parts of the Middle Eastern world.
Susan Collier is a breast cancer survivor who was denied payment by her insurance company. One would think she would welcome any change to the current health care system. Instead, she says about President Obama, "…..I don't trust him to do anything about it. I don't believe he has our best interest at heart."
So, even though she has been sick and was screwed by her insurance company, it seems that since she is such a "committed Republican" she would rather stick with things the way they are and can't find anything right in what Obama does. Scary, sad, but reflective of how many, many, many Americans think.
We can thank Bozos like Rep. Joe Wilson (Rep.-SC) (no offense to Bozo whom we happen to like) for helping to balkanize American politics. Way to go Joe!
Distrustful | Susan Collier, 60, is an interior designer, committed Republican and breast cancer survivor who lives in Montezuma, Ga.
"I find it very hard to believe anything Obama says because I can't see improvements in any of the things he's tried to do," she said. "I agree that we should build on what we already have.
"It was wrong for insurance not to pay for my radiation. I agree that the insurance companies need to be held accountable. But I don't trust him to do anything about it. I don't believe he has our best interest at heart. He outlined his goals and they sound good but I saw no substance to back them up. He still has the public option in his plan. I believe that it is just a foot in the door for the government. I don't see how it can work.
"He said that he will pay for this with money from the savings that he finds in the existing system. That's crazy. Has the government ever saved us money? It only grows.
"I do believe in tort reform but want to see it implemented before I believe him. It was a token. I think the Republicans are smarter than that. My prayer is that the American people will see through this man. I see more and more people standing up to him." Apparently not “chosen,” at least by the New York City Police Department, is Moscowitz who, according to the article, was fired by the NYPD. Notwithstanding, Moscowitz has a new career teaching other rabbis Rambo style anti-terrorist techniques. Moscowitz, one would guess has been crying wolf on terrorist matters for a long time, since NY Post writers Reuven Fenton and Andy Geller say in the article, “few people took him seriously until May, when the FBI busted homegrown Muslim terrorists for allegedly plotting to blow up synagogues in The Bronx.” Anyplace else, the International Security Coalition of Clergy would be considered a militia group but, in New York City, not even a question is raised as to whether the men in the front page photo are carrying real guns and, if so, do they have licenses to posses them? If they are not real, do these rabbis have a stash of weapons they will access when and if Armageddon arrives? These are questions it would seem police commissioner Raymond Kelly and his much touted NYPD anti-terrorism force - which some refer to as a mini-CIA (and which has cost New York City taxpayers multi-millions of dollars) should be interested in answering.
For Some the Ends Justify Their Needs
New York, NY, September 4, 2009
“Chosen Guns,” so reads today’s NY Post front page. The associated article goes on to describe how a group of rabbis calling themselves the International Security Coalition of Clergy and lead by one Gary Moscowitz, has been training to protect themselves in case they are “attacked by terrorists during prayer.”
Never mind that, by this time, almost everyone recognizes those so-called “homegrown Muslim terrorists,” charged with The Bronx/Riverdale alleged attempted bombings were, actually, four big time looser drug addicts who appear to have been patsies in a case mostly concocted by the FBI, NYPD, and an out of control informant, Shahed Hussain. More details on Hussain and his antics can be found in this great article. We guess that one man’s “crack-head” is another man’s “terrorist.”
Still No Response from AG Cuomo To State Senator Diaz' Request To Probe Albany Nepotism
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, August 31, 2009
Eighteen days after receiving a written request from State Senator Rubén Díaz that he look into New York State legislators who have family members on the public payroll, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo still has not responded. (Read original posting by The Borrero Report near bottom of page).
“I have not heard anything form Cuomo since he called after I sent the letter,” Díaz said on Sunday afternoon after church services.
A disappointed Diaz told The Borrero Report, “We continue to read stories about investigations about Pedro Espada, but nothing from Cuomo about the investigation I requested.”
Díaz was referring to leaked reports published in the New York Post on Friday and Sunday that the AG is investigating the Senate’s Majority Leader.
Cuomo’s office has repeatedly declined to respond to inquiries by The Borrero Report as to whether the AG is pursuing the request from Senator Díaz.
Mayor Mike Endorsed By Giuliani and McCain Supporter
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, August 26, 2009
Among the many insignificant endorsements touted in press releases by mayoral candidates, Team Bloomberg has landed what must be the most meaningless of this political season—that of Luis G. Fortuño.
Fortuño, Governor of Puerto Rico, is a full-fledged, card-carrying member of the GOP. In 2008, Fortuño endorsed Rudy Giuliani in the Republican primary. When the ex-Mayor’s bid for the nomination fizzled, Fortuño endorsed John McCain.
“New York needs an honest and independent leader who will make the tough, necessary decisions that will create jobs, keep the streets safe and continue the strides in education that have been made over the last few years -- That’s why I am proud to support Mike Bloomberg for Mayor,” said Governor Fortuño. “New York also needs a leader who understands the diverse nature of the city, appreciates how invaluable it is, and works to ensure this diversity. When it comes to Latinos, Mayor Bloomberg wants to make sure that all of us are heard,” Fortuño added.
Bloomberg’s high-priced political masterminds must have rationalized that Fortuño’s support would help the Mayor with Puerto Rican voters. What they did not imagine was that it could have the reverse effect.Their misreading and misunderstanding of New York City’s Puerto Rican community is truly astounding. Perhaps they did not even know that, among Fortuño’s many problems, he is suffering major backlash back home with labor unions and dissenters within his own political party (Partido Nuevo Progresista).
Then there is Fortuño’s connection to Senator McCain. The Arizona Senator not only voted against the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor, along with another 30 Republicans, but he was also particularly harsh in speaking against the newest member of the Supreme Court.
If there is one thing Puerto Ricans in New York City were in almost unanimous agreement on it was the pride felt when Sonia Sotomayor was nominated and confirmed to the nation’s highest court.
Despite Giuliani’s rocky relationship with New York’s Puerto Rican community Fortuño, in 2008, endorsed the then-Republican presidential contender. That’s something many New York Puerto Ricans did not appreciate.
When news of Fortuño’s endorsement of Bloomberg was reported in Puerto Rico on island-wide radio station WKAQ, the initial reaction was one of disbelief. Given the enormous economic and social crises affecting the island of almost 4 million, people wondered how Fortuño had the time to get involved in a mayoral election taking place over 1,500 miles away.
Miguelito, your political geniuses are billing a ton of bucks for press like this? Next time, do your homework and while you’re at it, ask for your money back.
Paterson Update
Dominic Carter And NY1 Go To The Video Tape
Transcript Shows That Al Sharpton, Not Carter, Threw Gov. Paterson's Daughter Into the Fray
New York, NY, August 25, 2009
Apparently still hurt by what he considers unfair criticism from New York Governor David Paterson, NY1's Dominic Carter, and the news station, released a transcript of the much talked about Al Sharpton interview by Carter.
In a recent interview with The Borrero Report, Paterson was, among other things, incensed at references made to his daughter during the Sharpton interview. But Carter points out that it was Sharpton who, in fact, first mentioned the Governor's daughter.
The transcript does show that Carter, briefly, alluded to the Governor's daughter being underage but he immediately conditions the statement by adding, "if that's the case."
Below is the relevant portion of the interview graciously provided by NY1.
DC: it seems like he is almost aloof, that he doesn't get it. In terms of.
Sharpton: doesn't get what?
DC: In terms of, showing up at a party, it's one o'clock in the morning, he's the governor of the state.
Rev: You know, one, I understand there was a staff member, his daughter was with him, and you know I have two daughters, and you know how you guys are; so you are out with your daughter at a staff party and you all crop the daughter out of the picture and it's a good story. I mean, C'mon. Let's be fair. The Governor going to a staff party with his daughter is not exactly something inappropriate.
DC: But then hiring the woman that's in the picture, at a job that's $88,000 a year
Rev: I don't know all the details. I understand that the young lady was qualified for the job. Has anyone questioned that? I mean, it's just nice every day, let's beat up the governor. Because you never see the next day, that the woman wasn't qualified and had to resign, so therefore, when you all find out that was all right, you just go on to the next thing.
DC: But what about the hiring freeze?
Rev: What about looking at the fact that this Governor inherited this state at the worst economic time that it ever has seen in our lifetimes. Wall Street and all. He got it when he had no time for transition at all and the miracle is that he has been able to deal with all of this, a state senate that went nuts, under his watch, absolute no control of his own, an economy he had no control over, and you guys that are roaming around like some paparazzi looking at the middle of the night and forget its his daughter with him. And you think that people that look at this truthfully can look at this as being fair? If I go to an event with either one of my daughters, something is inappropriate about that?
DC: of Course not
Rev; I think It's more inappropriate that you didn't say he was with his daughter. Did anyone ever get on TV and say why didn't you all say his daughter was there, why was she cropped out of the picture? Let's be fair.
***DC: I don't know if his daughter was there Rev. Sharpton. But I do believe that his daughter is under the age of 18. So if that's the case ,she shouldn't be at a bar at one o'clock in the morning.
Rev: So it's a bar.
DC: Not a bar.
Rev: But see how we go, that's exhibit one, public, about what I'm talking about. Now it was a bar, he dragged his daughter in a bar, this is how these fictitious stories are. I don't think it's inappropriate about his daughter being with her father at one o'clock in the morning at a social event. I've seen a lot of reporters with their children out.
DC: I knew we were going there.
Rev. I think I'm going to buy a camera and taking y'alls pictures.
Paterson Not Backing Down
Calling him ‘The Accidental Governor’ may not be racist but feeds stereotype
Says Dominic Carter Owes Him Apology, “As a Father and as a Man”
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, August 24, 2009
David A. Paterson is not taking it anymore. The Governor of New York State has had it. He is fed up with the media and pundits who have been ridiculing him since he was sworn in on March 17, 2008 after Eliot Spitzer resigned because of a prostitution scandal.
“It was not an accident, it is a constitutional mandate. I became governor by a constitutional mandate,”
“I have been quiet for seventeen months on this issue,” said the first African-American to hold the title of Governor in
To further buttress his point,
The Governor does make a valid point. I am one of those journalists that have used the term “accidental governor” in describing his ascent to the governorship numerous times both in my commentaries as well as my columns.
When asked to clarify how his being Black has affected the media coverage he has gotten as Governor,
The Governor feels very strongly that, “The media is trying to control the politics. Not reporting it. They’re trying to control it. There are some folks in the media who think that it’s alright to racially stereotype.”
The Governor did clarify that, “Whether I like the stories or not—the criticisms on the budget, the Senate chaos, appointments, or anything else that the governor is responsible for—they are legitimate criticisms. But when Dicker [Frederic Dicker, Albany Bureau Chief, New York Post] writes the same article every week…the same story week after week, then there’s something wrong here.”
The Governor also opined that, “Part of what I feel is that one very successful minority is permissible, but when you see too many success stories then some people get nervous.”
However, Dicker is not the only journalist the Governor has a problem with…
Why he believes he deserves an apology from NY1’s Dominic Carter
Sounding much angrier at NY1's Road To City Hall anchor and political reporter than he let on with Errol Louis, the Governor said: “It’s not that he’s Black; it’s that he lied about my daughter. As a father and as a man I deserve an apology from Dominic.”
According to Governor Paterson, “Dominic has asked Al Sharpton, Lillian Roberts, Charlie Rangel and almost every Black politician that has appeared on NY1 about the incident that he thinks is true. But the fact is my daughter is of age and it was not 1:30 AM. It was misreported by a blogger who wasn’t there; he was told a story.”
The Governor explained that when he spoke on WWRL on Friday morning, “I had just heard about this comment the night before.”
“He had no proof and yet he said it as a fact,” the Governor said about Carter. “My daughter was born May 13, 1988. She is 21 years old. She is of age. I was at the club with her at 9:30 PM. She is not a minor.”
The Governor explained that, “What I’m saying is that the excessive coverage of an event that belongs on Page Six is still being reported as news. It’s irresponsible and I saw that as a personal matter.”
Asked why he thought someone would go out of their way to distort a matter as sensitive as that, the Governor replied, “Quite frankly, anybody that does that, I just see them as a son of a bitch.”
The Borrero Report spoke to Dominic Carter on Sunday as he left church services. He would only say that, “the Governor is entitled to his opinion.”
Sources who spoke to Carter on Friday told The Borrero Report that the veteran journalist is genuinely hurt by the Governor’s attack. “He is especially hurt at the governor labeling him a modern day Uncle Tom.”
The Governor denied having made any such reference about Dominic.
One source went on to suggest that
A source close to the Governor confided that, “The Governor does have an issue with him. Dominic fucked him. He didn’t need to do that. David trusted him and he screwed him by asking him that question.”
If that were true, the point of whether Carter did persist on revisiting the topic with the Governor’s daughter may be secondary to
If I know my colleague Dominic—with whom over the past three years I have done the NY1’s Political Rundown segment —then the demand for an apology by the Governor will, more than likely, not be forth coming. Dominic probably feels he was doing his job and that it was not personal.
As for the Governor, who told us that, “I will probably not talk about this for another three or four years,” he will have to get back to tending to the State’s affairs until one of us in the media pisses him off again.
Bob's "Wascally Wabbit"
New York, NY, August 18, 2009
Our friend Bob Kappstatter of the NY Daily News has written a good piece today on Pedro Espada, Jr. and other things of interest. Read it here.
We especially like the last line of Bob's column, " Wonder who's offering 20 bucks and a pint of Night Train for a vote?"
Hey, that sounds like something WE would write!
State Senator Diaz Says If AG Cuomo Is Not Interested He Will Ask Others To Probe Albany Nepotism Scandal
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, August 17, 2009
State Senator Ruben Diaz told The Borrreo Report that, “if Andrew Cuomo doesn’t have jurisdiction in investigating the legislators that have family members who have jobs with the State, I will seek someone who does.”
Diaz wrote a letter to the NYS Attorney General last week on the heels of reports that Cuomo was looking into possible violations of State law in the State Senate's hiring of Pedro Gautier Espada, the son of Senator Pedro Espada, Jr.
According to Senator Diaz, “Andrew told me he would look into whether he could do it.”
When asked what he would do if Cuomo determines that he cannot or will not investigate the ever growing scandal of political nepotism in the State capital, Diaz responded, “I will discuss this with my Amigos Carl Kruger, Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada, Jr.”
If Diaz is serious about his request for a probe, and his letter to the AG Cuomo is not just a publicity stunt, he could ask Albany DA, David Soares to investigate the matter. Some argue that, given Soares' success with the investigations of Alan Hevesi and Antonia Coello Novello, the Bronx Senator may want to go ahead and make the request and not wait for Cuomo.
Others say an option Diaz could explore is asking NYS State Inspector General, Joseph Fisch, to conduct the nepotism probe.
And then there is always US Attorney General, Eric Holder. A Federal probe may just be what is needed to straighten out the Empire State's corrupt legislature.
A Combative Espada Says: “I am not going to forget…this is personal”
Tells Attorney General Cuomo to, "get real"
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, August 14, 2009
Claiming that other officeholders have their relatives on the
Espada Jr., who has a reputation of getting even with his political enemies, without offering names, argued that "this was a selective accusation."
"There are colleagues who have their children on the State payroll and there seemed to be no problem until it was Gautier,” referring to his son by his middle name.
Sounding more like a protective father than the Senate villain or thug that most New Yorkers accuse him of being, Espada, Jr. told The Borrero Report that, “The kid was up there [
According to a source, Senator Espada, Jr, “Did not want his son to be going through what he has to endure with the reporters, cameras and photographers that follow him around.”
“He did not want his son to have this in his life,” the source close to Espada, Jr. said.
The embattled politician would only say that, “I had a father and son conversation with Gautier. I don’t want my son to become an official piñata. No father wants this for a son."
When asked about the investigation by Attorney General Cuomo on the matter of the deal that got his son hired, Espada, Jr. responded with a touch of sarcasm, “Andrew Cuomo is investigating me? Come on, get real.”
After chuckling about what he believes is an absurdity, the controversial state senator went on to speak of how the now Attorney General was running then-Governor Mario M. Cuomo's political operation from the second floor of the
Espada, Jr., argued that his son was more than qualified for the job. "John Sampson is re-organizing and Gautier would be doing that form the intergovernmental side." Insofar as the 120,000 dollar salary that his son would have received, the defensive Papa said, “He makes about 135,000 now. So, he would actually be taking a pay reduction.”
Resigned to the fact that his son was a casualty, Espada, Jr. understands that, “This is the business we are in”.
However, Espada, Jr., made it clear that he is not backing down from the political fight nor is he losing any sleep over the negative coverage of his maneuvers in
According to the Senator, he walked up to a group of reporters camped out in front of his Soundview Health Center in The Bronx yesterday and told them: “Do you truly understand that I don’t give a shit about what you write?”
Well, our readers, and most New Yorkers do Senator. And we shall continue to report.
Give it up, Billy
New York, NY, August 14, 2009
Howard Wolfson is absolutely on target with his request for Bill Thompson to disclose the questionnaire he submitted to DC37 while vying for the union's endorsement.
The Democratic mayoral contender should just follow the lead from Wolfson's own boss on the subject of disclosures. Bloomberg will, we are sure, release all information related to his endorsements. It’s just that after 1, 239,453 unions and organizations have endorsed you it takes a little time to compile records!
Thompson has to be as forthright as the Mayor was in disclosing what DC37 obtained from him in 2005, when he received the powerful union's backing.
Wait a second, what? We are still waiting for that report? Well, come on, give the guy a break. With all those union endorsements it takes time to compile records!
So, come on Bill, just do as the Mayor has done.
We think that's all that Wolfson wants you to do. Right, Howie?
Mediaite Meets Dynamite
New York, NY, August 13, 2009
The current issue of Mediaite.com describes Gersons Borrero’s journalistic style as “insult-ridden.”
To paraphrase Captain Louis Renault, we are "schocked, schocked we tell you!" that anyone would describe our Gerson's fine prose that way. What? You don't know who Capt. Renault is??!! You need to get out more often!
But seriously, we think you'll enjoy this article by José Simián.
Who’s In The Loop...Or, In The “Fruit Loop!”
New York, NY, August 13, 2009
For those who love to keep track of such things (not that we would be among them), it appears that yesterday’s “diss” of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has, at least, cleared up one thing.
As The Borrero Report had reported, Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided not attend a White House reception held in honor of Judge Sotomayor.
Caught off guard by our inquiries on the matter, City Hall issued a one line response stating that New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Board Member, Margarita López, would represent the Mayor in Washington. The statement did not elaborate on what more pressing matters kept Bloomberg from attending the historic White House event.
The one thing this incident does appear to clear up is that, Deputy Mayor Carol Robles-Roman and newly minted NYCHA Chairperson, John “JR” Rhea, are both out of the City Hall loop.
Although NYCHA’s spokesperson, Howard Marder, refused to release them, The Borrero Report has learned that internal NYCHA memos indicated that Rhea had no idea his subordinate, López, would be representing Mayor Bloomberg at the nation’s capital.
Even more telling is that Deputy Mayor Roman-Robles, who attended the event, and who as the highest ranking Latina in the Bloomberg administration should have filled in after Bloomberg’s unexplained absence, was not asked to do so.
So, for those who keep score on who is in the, what we will call, “fruit loop” score one for Margarita López.
Was It Something I Said Mike?......
New York, NY, August 12, 2009
Is what Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor may be asking today as one of her, ostensibly, most ardent supporters decided not to show up at a White House reception held to celebrate her confirmation as the first Puerto Rican/Latina to occupy a seat on the nation’s highest court.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg who, with all the fanfare befitting an election year, testified on behalf of Sotomayor before the US Senate’s Judiciary Committee, decided to skip the historic reception.
Apparently caught off guard this morning, City Hall answered inquiries from The Borrero Report into Bloomberg’s absence with the following terse statement, “NYCHA [New York City Housing Authority] Board Member Margarita López represented the Mayor at the White House Reception for Justice Sotomayor. Deputy Mayor Carol Robles-Roman was also at the ceremony.”
All fine, except for one thing, The Borrero Report has learned that, in a memo distributed throughout the Housing Authority, its recently appointed Chairperson, John Rhea (“JR” to those in the know) described López’ appearance thus, “She will attend the celebration as a representative of the nation's largest public housing authority.”
Nothing about representing the Mayor. And, if anyone were to represent Bloomberg, wouldn’t it make sense that it should be Deputy Mayor Carlos Robles-Roman?
So it appears that Bloomberg, who was among those hand-picked to testify on Sotomayor’s behalf either was not invited or, if he was, decided not to go. Either way, Bloomberg’s appearance at the reception would have been symbolic of his professed support for Sotomayor.
Or, maybe, the political advantage from endorsing Sotomayor had already been gained by Bloomberg and, after all, who wants to hang out with those people anyway. Especially when there are so many East Side cocktail parties to attend!
Then again, maybe Bloomberg’s own dismal record on appointing Latino judges, in his own bailiwick, made him persona non-grata at the White House.
UPDATE: Hours after The Borrero Report’s inquiries, the New York City Housing Authority issued the following press release.
The press release begs the question, an agency’s Commissioner (and not even a Mayoral agency at that) outranks a Deputy Mayor?
The Senator And The Professor
New York, NY, August 11, 2009
New York State Senator Eric Adams is quoted in The Brooklyn Paper today as saying, "I would have handcuffed Gates
as soon as I entered the household." He was, of course, referring to the now famous July 16th incident in which Henry Louis Gates Jr., a black Harvard professor, was arrested by the Cambridge Police Department - reigniting the long standing issue of "racial profiling."
In an excellent article, The Brooklyn Paper reporter Mike McLaughlin quotes Adams (who is black) as saying that, for safety reasons, he would have handcuffed Gates until he was able to sort out the situation and find out what he was “dealing with.”
Senator Adams may have better served the debate by making his comments contemporaneous with the incident. But, then again, had he done so, some (probably us included) would have labeled him an opportunist! The life of a politician is never easy folks.
But agree with him or not, his comments should, at least, get all sides to pause and realize that, sometimes, there may be even more than two sides to every story.
And Speaking Of Opportunists……
It seems very curious that another New York State Senator, Hiram Monserrate (you remember him: Senate turncoat, woman slasher, campaign finance law violator, and general public pariah), put out a press release lamenting the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
The very first line of the press release reads, “As the father of a special needs son…” Calls us cynical, or perhaps we are as tired of Monserrate’s antics as everyone else is, but using a son’s disability to gain sympathy is disgusting and a new low for a politician whom many believed had already hit rock bottom. Generally, a person should get the benefit of the doubt on a question like this, but not Senator Monserrate. His conduct has demonstrated he does not deserve it.
In Case You Missed It
New York, NY August 10, 2009
Yesterday, in the New York Post, Gerson wrote a piece on reaction to the swearing in of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. You can read it here.
Humm, We Wonder……..
New York, NY August 9, 2009
The 31 Senators who voted against confirming Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor were, we are sure, trying to protect American jurisprudence from a no good “liberal activist” jurist.
While we doubt Sotomayor will turn out to be an “activist” on the bench (we’ll write more on that in the future), we have no doubts that American jurisprudence may well learn a few things from how things are done in other parts of the world.
Case in point is this article from The New York Times describing a recent bribery conviction of a high ranking Chinese government official. While in America we are forever looking for ways to combat corruption, (unless, of course, it’s corruption having to do with the likes of Halliburton and Bechtel) the Chinese seem to have found a way to, at least, cut down on prison costs when an official is found guilty of violating his public trust.
The Times describes how it took exactly 180 days (yes, 180 days!!!!!) from the time Li Peiying, Chairman and CEO of Capital Airports Holding Company, was found guilty of bribery and embezzlement then executed. No Habeas corpus, no Writ of Certiorari, no request for pardon, nothing. 180 days!
Imagine if in the US corrupt politicians knew they would barely have enough time to enjoy their last meal before they were marched off to meet their Creator!
The possibilities, in just our neck of the woods, are endless. Let’s see, names like, Miguel Martinez, Clarence Norman Jr., Brian McLaughlin, Bernard Kerik, Diane Gordon, Anthony Seminerio, and Gloria Davis, are just a few which immediately come to mind.
The 31 senators would, we think, have no problem confirming any of the Chinese judges, who condemned Peiying, to the US Supreme Court. “After all,” they would say, “a little judicial activism is not a bad thing when it keeps those people, err, we mean, all people in their place!”
Before there was Sonia…There was Olga! Eulogy for Olga Aran Mendez Delivered on Monday, August 3, 2009 10:00 am Church of the Holy Agony, 101 Third Avenue NYC, NY Buenos Dias. And it is a good morning as we gather at this blessed house of the Lord as, amigos, constituents, familia and……maybe even some detractors…since, let’s face it, Olga Aran Mendez was not perfect and certainly not shy about putting anyone in their place. We come together, to celebrate the fruitful life of a pioneer and to pay our respects to Olga for her devoted service and to let Olga’s family know that she was, indeed, a treasure. This week, most New Yorkers—and certainly los Puertorriqueños and Latinos in general—anxiously anticipate the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, by the United States Senate, to the Supreme Court. I can assure you that the Olga I wrote about in my columns, interviewed on the radio, spoke with about hard-fought battles to open doors of exclusion to our community, talked to about the “machismo” she experienced along with the sexism that punishes women in the body politic of our nation, is, I’m certain, one of those women on whose shoulders Sonia Sotomayor stands. It is convenient for some—especially those that tried to prevent her from participating in that historical election 31 years ago—to forget that a daughter of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico became the first Puertorriqueña to be elected to a legislative body in this country. Today, 39 women serve the state of New York in the legislature. They have been elected from across the state, serving rural, suburban and urban counties. Since 1983, these women have worked through the bipartisan legislative women’s caucus to improve the participation of women in all areas of government. However, let it be clear that Olga was not a feminist who worked against men. From her first day in office, Olga represented all of her district. Olga also understood that partisan politics while at times rough and dirty, was above all service to the community. For Olga it was a vocation. Olga no era una roba camara y no andaba como si fuera un pavo real buscando titulares. She worked hard and smart behind the scenes while others pranced around like peacocks. Olga never called me to curry favor for herself. It was always about one of her legislative battles or a community struggle or one or another injustice, que le hacía temblar sus labios. Never called to attack a fellow legislator. Olga sabía defenderse sin armar escandalos…How we can all learn from her, especially in these times! But she certainly was not shy once I started asking questions. Olga did not hesitate to respond with exactly what she thought about anyone, especially those in her own party. And, of course, Olga would always speak of her constituents’ needs and her legislative agenda. Olga never let it be forgotten that she was Puertorriqueña. And if you made the mistake of calling her Hispanic or Latina, man…you were in for una pela de lengua. She was a proud Puertorriqueña and encouraged others to be proud of their native lands. This would be wise to remember by those that at present have stripped the Puerto Rican identity from the name of institutions that they inherited from pioneers like Olga. They have to be told that their callous action in pursuit of illusive funding negates our people’s struggle and is offensive to Olga. Todos sabemos quienes son. This is yet another reason, that as an observer of the political scene, I truly felt that when Olga lost her Senate seat in 2004, the real losers were the people of her district. It also, deprived New Yorkers of her extraordinary ability to work with all sides and forge a consensus when the occasion required it. For all that has been spoken and written, and for all that will be remembered about Olga Aran Mendez, let it be known that, in the enlightened opinion of this most humble person, Olga was, indeed, among the wisest of our numerous wise Puertorriqueñas. Never to be equaled or duplicated—she was an original. Gracias Olga, for your dedication, inspiration, sense of humor, passion, and devoted service… We will miss you guerrera. Decansa en paz, patriota. Another Missed Opportunity to Go Beyond the Black/White Construct Who Said Polls Don’t Matter?
What Else Do You Forget, Mike?
New York, NY, August 6, 2009
Defending himself today in the latest slush fund case Mayor Michael Bloomberg is quoted by Michael Barbaro, of the NY Times, as saying, "When you get to be my age, I’m telling you get to forget some things, too."
- That you and Nicholas Scoppetta are guilty of gross incompetence in running the NYFD?
- That you have spent millions of dollars obtaining nonsense endorsements to make it seem like you have broad political support as you run for re-election?
- That you should debate Thompson if you really believe the voters should be well informed as to their choices (not just what you want them to think of you from your campaign commercials)?
- That the Board of Education is not your personal fiefdom and that those who criticize your education policies are not against good education for our children?
- That YOU are an EMPLOYEE of the people of New York City and, as such, they have a right to see your complete, unredacted, tax returns to determine conflicts of interest or whether you have enriched yourself through your position?
Serrano Claims “Birthright” Gives Him Membership in the Senate Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus
Diaz Says “He is not a member” and Chastises Serrano for Not Signing a Letter of Support for Sotomayor sent to Obama
By Gerson Borrero
“By birthright I am a part of it,” was Serrano’s response to The Borrero Report's inquiry as to his membership status in the Caucus during a telephone interview about the late Senator Olga A. Mendez.
The Caucus was created as part of the booty obtained by the Four Amigos from then Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith during the battle for control in January. “He is not a member of the Caucus,” said Diaz who is the Chairman of what he described as a four-member entity as he chuckled at Serrano’s claim of “birthright” membership.
“He did not want to be a member. He wanted to be left alone,” Diaz said as his tone became more serious when read some of the other quotes. “Some of the politics in their work I’m not in agreement with,” Serrano had told The Borrero Report, without citing an example other than the trip to
Diaz went on to admonish Serrano’s selective rules about membership in the Caucus and said that, “He doesn’t want to ruffle feathers." As the conversation continued, Diaz asked if Serrano had told The Borrero Report about the letter of support for Sonia Sotomayor.
“He refused to sign the letters sent to the President, Senator Schumer, and Senator Gillibrand. I bet you he didn’t tell you about that,” said Diaz as he spoke at a more rapid pace than usual.
The letter to President Barack Hussein Obama was sent on May 11, 2009 and, indeed, was signed by Diaz, Espada, Jr, Monserrate, and Malave Dilan. “I had to re-do the letter after Marco refused to sign the letter that included his name,” said Marlene Cintron, Executive Director of the Caucus, who had been asked by Diaz to come to the phone and speak to The Borrero Report.
Diaz went on to describe how bad he felt that Serrano would not sign a letter in support of Judge Sonia Sotomayor. “I felt so defrauded that if I had not been a Minister I would have cursed at him and smacked him,” Diaz said.
“He would more readily support Liz Krueger and Eric Scheneiderman than one of us,” Diaz said as he continued the barrage against Serrano.
Without a trace of the humor present when the interview began, Diaz charged in Spanish that, “Jose Marco Serrano es la porqueria mas grande que tenemos” (Jose Marco Serrano is the biggest piece of junk that we have).
OLGA, WE WILL MISS YOU
New York, NY, August 3, 2009
Hundreds gathered at a tiny church in El Barrio today to pay their last respects to a true community and political legend.
The pews of the Church of the Holy Agony in East Harlem teemed with politicians and community residents as they said a final goodbye to former New York State Senator Olga Aran Méndez. Méndez, who passed away last Wednesday, was remembered as a consensus builder and fierce advocate for the community she represented. The presence of everyone form "little old ladies," to burly construction workers was testament to the love Olga had for El Barrio, and it's residents for her.
Richard Lipsky in his blog, and David Gonzalez in the NY Times have provided great coverage of today's memorial mass. Tom Robbins of the Village Voice gives his "uncensored" recollection of our beloved Olga
Our own Gerson Borrero delivered the eulogy which we share with you below.
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, July 25, 2009
The racial profiling arrest of Harvard professor, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he attempted to enter his home on the Harvard campus is now the subject of a national discussion. President Obama's remark that the actions of law enforcement, in this narrow instance, were unjustifiable in every respect has shed national attention to an issue that for too long has been ignored.
President Obama remarked that the episode confronting Prof. Gates was symptomatic of how both blacks and Latinos are stereotyped in this country. Actually, the President should have gone further: racial profiling in law enforcement goes beyond the black/white construct to ensnare all who are deemed “other” be they black, Latino, Asian or native peoples. It is especially pernicious when applied to our youth who are defenseless against racial profiling by police. In the Latino community we have had high profile cases that have been ignored by the media and agencies that could and should rectify the practice of racial profiling of our community. This is not a black and white issue. It is an issue that impacts the lives of Latinos, Blacks, Asians, Native Americans and immigrants throughout the nation.
The undersigned are individuals who have committed the bulk of their professional careers to eliminate these stereotypes – especially the profiling of our Latino community. We ask only that our national leaders recognize that the solutions to unacceptable racial profiling in law enforcement cannot be realized unless Latino/a voices are incorporated into this national dialogue. We stand ready to constructively add to the discourse.
New York, New York, Saturday July 25, 2009
Juan Cartagena
Civil Rights Attorney
Dr. Marta Moreno Vega
President
Caribbean Cultural Center
New York City
Vicente Alba
Spokesperson
National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights
Miguel Melendez
Activist and Author
Gerson Borrero
Columnist, Political Analyst and Commentator
The Borrero Report
Zoilo Torres
Organizer and former NCPRR president
Alex Nogales
President/CEO
National Hispanic Media Coalition
Kimi Wei
thewei.com
Reynolds D. Mulero
Rogelio Reyes, Ph.D.
Professof of Linguistics
San Diego State University
Mimi Lozano
www.SomosPrimos.com
Kathryn F. Galan
Executive Director
NALIP
www.nalip.org
Wilfredo "Wil" Rojas, M.Ed.
President
Delaware Valley Voter Registration Education Project - Latino Vote
Emilio Zamora, Professor
Department of History
University of Texas at Austin
Jesus Papoleto Melendez
Angel L. Ortiz
Reverend Miguel Rivera
National Coalition Of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders (CONLAMIC)
Wanda Ramos
Alberto Cruz
Activist
Dylcia Pagan
Filmaker, Activist, Writer, Former Puerto Rican Poltical Prisoner
DylciaPagan.Com
NYS SENATOR HIRAM MONSERRATE IN COURT TODAY
FACING FELONY ASSAULT CHARGES
New York, NY, July 30, 2009
All of State Senator Hiram Monserrate's legal motions were denied today by Queens Supreme Court Judge William M. Erlbaum. Erlbaum set a trial date of September 14th.
Initial information received by The Borrero Report revealed that Monserrate was attempting to broker a deal with the Queens District Attorney's office. However, late in the day, a source with intimate knowledge of the proceedings told The Borrero Report, "it is absolutely not true that a deal is being worked out."
Today's ruling by Judge Erlbaum allows into evidence a damaging video tape of Monserrate allegedly dragging his then girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, by the hair in the building where he is alleged to have viciously assaulted her. The judge, however, left the door open for Monserrate's lawyers to again raise an objection to the use of the video tape once the trial begins.
Former NYS Senator Olga Méndez' Death Confirmed
New York, NY, July 29, 2009
Sadly, The Borrero Report has confirmed the death of former State Senator Olga Méndez.
According to her nephew, and primary caretaker for the past months, Erick Vazquez, “Titi [Auntie] died this morning at 1:10 AM in her East Harlem apartment.” There was a priest present, Padre Candido from East Harlem, who administered the last rites. Olga was a devout Roman Catholic.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan. The Senator had requested that she be cremated and, on Monday morning, there will be a funeral mass, with her ashes present, at her church the Church of the Holy Agony. The time has not been determined, according to Vazquez, who was still making arrangements when The Borrero Report reached him at his aunt’s apartment on Fifth Avenue. When asked about Olga’s last days, her nephew said, “She was ready. She had been under a lot of pain for the last five months. She did it on her terms, and died very peacefully.”
Olga Méndez was born Olga Aran in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico on February 5th, 1925. Her burial will take place at St. Michael’s Cemetery in the Bronx.
In lieu of flowers, the Senator had requested donations be made, in her name, to the Boriken Health Center at Taino Towers in East Harlem.
As she had also requested, there will be no viewing or wake.
Former State Senator Olga Méndez Dies
East Harlem Political Pioneer Losses Fight With Cancer
New York, NY, July 29, 2009 1:05PM
Credible sources tell The Borrero Report that former State Senator Olga Méndez has lost her battle with cancer. Mendez, who the sources say died at a local hospital, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a year ago.
In 1978 she became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the state Senate.
She was the wife of the late Tony Méndez who was the first Puerto Rican district leader in New York City and an East Harlem political legend in his own right.
The Borrero Report is working to confirm the report and will provide details of a recent interview we had with the vivacious and ever colorful Méndez.
Questions Still Linger For Bloomberg And Scoppetta
New York, NY, July 28, 2009
Last Tuesday we posted a link to Wayne Barrett’s article in the Village Voice entitled, “Bloomberg's Biggest Scandal—The Deutsche Bank Fire—Should Be His Downfall. Why Isn't It?”
This week, Voice reporters Johanna Barr and Tom Feeney Jr., give us a reaction by firefighters, and their family members, to Wayne’s excellent piece (read it here).
As we told you for the last article, be prepared to have your blood pressure boil over.
Mike Bloomberg does a Joe Jackson By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, July 27, 2009
If you have not seen the CNN interview with the late Michael Jackson’s father, Joe, in which the elder Jackson turns the interview - which should have been an expression of sorrow - into a cheap and cheesy infomercial, then you probably have read or heard about the publicity-seeking peddler's repulsive opportunism.
When asked by CNN correspondent Don Lemon how his family and daughters were doing after Michael’s death, Joe Jackson virtually ignores the question and launches into a self-serving monologue describing his newest money-making scheme-- a company he refers to as “Ranch Records” (view the entire CNN interview here.)
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, stealing a page from Joe "The Peddler" Jackson's book of conduct, launched into his own self-serving and disgraceful monologue during a Sunday press briefing about the shooting of Police Officer Rodney Lewis.
The staging was complete with a full ensemble of police brass behind him. This begs the question, why does the Mayor need anyone aside from the Police Commissioner at a briefing involving the shooting of one of New York's Finest?
Bloomberg used all of 124 words to talk about the shooting of Officer Lewis and then went on to make, in his words, “a couple of points.” The “couple of points” consisted of 695 words spoken by the Mayor. He extolled on the virtues of his administration with regards to crime-fighting (read the press release here.) This, at a press briefing he called to supposedly speak about Officer Lewis’ condition!
It is nothing new for mayors to tout their accomplishments during election years. However, Bloomberg’s electioneering bombastic propaganda - while an officer lay shot in a hospital bed - seems, to an outspoken critic of police brutality, racial profiling and law enforcement excesses, as repulsive. As repulsive an act as Joe Jackson’s antics were to the King of Pop's millions of fans.
A retired high-ranking NYPD official, who was also a cop and who preferred to remain anonymous, may have summed it up best when he told The Borrero Report, “I think it's disgusting and, in my experience, unprecedented, that a mayor use a press conference announcing the shooting of a cop to, so blatantly, tout his accomplishments and try to boost the image of his police commissioner.”
One would have expected a statement of denunciation from the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association on Mayor Bloomberg’s Joe Jackson moment. Guess Patrick J. Lynch, president of the PBA, is on vacation.
Bill Challenges Mike into the School Yard By Gerson Borrero
Will the Mayor Strut his Alleged Knowledge of the School System?
New York, NY, July 23, 2004
It’s not exactly a ‘see you in the schoolyard, chump’ dare, but here is Democratic mayoral candidate William C. Thompson, Jr.’s challenge to the Mayor: “New Yorkers deserve to know exactly where Mike Bloomberg and I stand on these issues – that is why I’m calling on him to join me at a debate on education. Instead of hearing a canned political response from his campaign machine, the public wants to hear from the Mayor directly.”
The Comptroller, who so far this week has issued reports with specific accusations against the claims of success by the Control Freak Billionaire will for certain get a response from one of the flacks at City Hall and/or the campaign declining the invite.
The rejection of the challenge should not discourage the media from asking the Mayor why he won’t debate his opponent for two hours on the one subject that he claims to have had so much success at since being elected.
Bill Thompson makes his point very clear, “Mike Bloomberg and I have very different ideas about our children’s education and the meaning of accountability, transparency and parental involvement in our City’s public schools.”
The Mayor has dogged the old Board of Education and here is an opportunity for him to take the person who presided over it during its last years, head on.
Governor Appealing to the Second Department
New York, NY, July 21, 2009
It took Governor David A. Paterson about a day to take the 51-34 percent margin of support for his right to select a Lieutenant Governor in the Sienna Poll to decide to get back to the legal wrangling. The poll, plus the decision by Judge William R. LaMarca of State Supreme Court that bars Richard Ravitch from "exercising any of the powers" of the Lieutenant Governor, has sent the Governor running to the Appellate court.
Here’s the statement just issued by Peter E. Kaufmann, Communications Director for Paterson:
"Governor Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor is legally sound and we are confident the appellate courts will ultimately rule in our favor. We will go to the Appellate Division, Second Department, tomorrow to seek to have the preliminary injunction lifted."
Teflon Has Nothing On Bloomberg
New York, NY, July 21, 2009
Comparing other politicians to Nazi's, minimizing parental participation in public education, and even insulting reporters - nothing seems to stick to our the "Teflon Don," ah, we mean "Teflon Mayor."
Our friend Wayne Barrett, of the Village Voice, has written another must read article on how Bloomberg has, so far, gotten away with the most serious debacle of his administration. One which cost two hero NYC firefighters their lives.
In, "Bloomberg's Biggest Scandal—The Deutsche Bank Fire—Should Be His Downfall. Why Isn't It?" Barrett recounts how Manhattan District Attorney, Robert Morgenthau, almost charged Bloomberg, as head of the City, with criminally negligent homicide!
Barrett's piece is a scathing indictment of not just Bloomberg's incompetence, but also the dereliction of duty which seems to permeate his administration. This is something which, in our opinion, deserves close scrutiny by the United States Attorney's Office.
Read Wayne's article here and be prepared to have your blood pressure boil over.
Tell Us Something We Don't Know
New York, NY, July 20, 2009
While the good folks at Siena College with their new poll have made what we all know official, The Borrero Report is surprised that the "angry" rate, which New Yorkers feel for the NY State Senate, is not 100 percent!
Governor David Paterson's press office must be busy touting this poll since their boss, finally, gets a positive nod from NY State voters.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, on the other hand, does not get an easy go from the savvy respondents who see the NY State Assembly as part of the whole Albany legislative chaos.
You can read it all here.
OFFER REJECTED: WILL STAY LOYAL TO REPUBLICANS AND THE IDEA OF SENATE REFORMS
New York, NY 6/19/09
Today, on NY1n's Spanish-language program, Pura Politica, State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. declared that Senate Democrats have asked him to rejoin their coalition while still holding on to his seat as President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
In an interview which aired tonight, Espada told Pura Politica's host, Juan Manuel Benítez, that Senate Democrats had asked him to, "leave the thirty Republicans thrown in the corner and come with us - you can be our president."
Asked by Benítez why he did not do so, Espada said, "I arrived at this position with thirty votes from Republicans, in a bi-partisan reform. I gave my word.....I arrived, now I'm not going in reverse because doing it that way would not be pleasing and I would lose my word with the Republicans and with the idea of reforms in the Senate."
Espada's statement is the strongest indication, yet, that Senate Democrats seem willing to abandon former Senate President (or current, depending on your party affiliation) Malcolm A. Smith and that even Sen. John Sampson's recent election as Senate Democratic Conference Leader may be negotiable.
(See Gerson discussing the Albany senate deadlock, in Spanish, on Pura Politica)
New York, NY, July 17, 2009
Her name was not as prominent in the news as some of the more headline grabbing barracudas, but Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) definitely had a role in the Albany circus.
Reviewing the notes we took during the height of the chaos, The Borrero Report repeatedly had sources tell us that the Manhattan liberal was one of Pedro Espada Jr.'s fiercest opponents.
Krueger, along with State Senators Eric Scheneiderman and Jeff Klein - yes, the same Klein that is now part of the "reformed" senate - did everything possible to prevent self-described "balls of steel" Espada from getting his way.
So, while not as big a Clown as the other Bozo's, "La Liz" certainly stalled the process.
With this significant piece of legislation - not intended for the cry babies in the senate, but for real babies - Krueger appears to be back on track to doing the people's work.
SOTOMAYOR CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
Another Take On What Has (Or Has Not) Been Accomplished
New York, NY, July 17, 2009
OK, so we admit it. We are huge fans of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. But, come on, as New Yorkers, how can we not root for the home team!! Not to mention that, in this case, the "home team" is so easy to root for.
While some view the confirmation hearing as a fait accompli and a lovefest between Sotomayor and the Democratic Senators others are, understandably, outraged at abrasive conduct of Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, and others, who have used the hearings as a platform for their conservative agenda.
Glenn Thrush, a seasoned and objective reporter at Politico.com, has written a great piece on how different senators fared during the hearings.
We encourage you to read Glenn's article here.
New York, NY, July 16, 2009
So, now that the unruly Senators have committed, in writing, to "historic" Senate Rules reform, let The Borrero Report offer you the bridge at right for sale.
Read the press release , which the main And speaking about pigs, (we could have sworn we hear an oink!) our least favorite porcine, Hiram Monserrate has proven, yet again, why The Borrero Report has honored him with the moniker, "El Puerco."
In a report by Ken Lovett and Glenn Blain of the NY Daily News, we learn that as part of any settlement of the Albany Senate deadlock, Monserrate insisted he be reinstated to the Chairmanship of the Senate's Consumer Protection Committee and, along with it, that he receive the $12,500 which the position calls for (that's the bad thing about keeping pigs - THEY ARE NEVER SATISFIED!!)
You may remember that Monserrate had been stripped of the chairmanship by then Senate President and Majority Leader, Malcolm Smith, after he (Monserrate) is alleged to have viciously slashed one of his girlfriends in the face.
Monserrate denied the assault and described the slashing, which occasioned numerous stitches to close his girlfriend's wounds, as an accident! (You're sure you don't want the bridge?) I don't know how Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings will end up. My hope, like that of millions who see in Sonia, her brother Juan and her dear mother Celina, the realization of the evasive American Dream, is that finally one of our own families will make it to the top. Without a doubt, the obnoxious statements made, and questions asked, by some Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, though predictable, did not cease to disgust us. An example came from Jeff Sessions, the Alabama senator who serves as the Republican spokesperson for the committee, a pest that has been taking selective episodes in the Judge's life and distorting them. Understand that the exchange between a nominee and a senator, whose turn it is to interrogate, is acceptable within the process. What provokes my fury is that while questioning speeches and public statements made by Judge Sotomayor, Sessions forgot his own racist record. As federal judge in the Southern District of Alabama, Sessions blindly followed an alleged electoral fraud by African-Americans while ignoring similar acts carried out by Whites, and for years there was talk about his sympathies for the Ku Klux Klan. It was not until he, supposedly, found out that members of that criminal group smoked marijuana that he changed his opinion. Imagine the morality of an individual who rejects the use of marijuana, but does not care when those same individuals belong to a group that lynched African-Americans in the South. Amidst all this, our judge responded to the poisonous questions made by the gangsters who call themselves senators. As of yesterday, Sotomayor had not lost her composure. The tone of her voice did not change. She listened attentively and responded in the best language, one that does not belong to her ancestors. There has not been a Latino in general, or a Puerto Rican specifically that I have spoken to who, for the most part, upon seeing and hearing all that has been said about Judge Sotomayor, has not felt anger. I would have told them to go to hell. That is not Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor is someone who is sure of what she knows--without being arrogant and pompous—and who does not waste her words. Our lioness need not roar. SOTOMAYOR'S OPENING STATEMENT
The Lioness Need Not Roar By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, July 15, 2009
OPENING STATEMENT OF JUDGE SONIA SOTOMAYOR
Before the Senate Judiciary Committee
July 13, 2009
As Prepared for Delivery
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want to thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for that kind introduction.
In recent weeks, I have had the privilege and pleasure of meeting eighty-nine gracious Senators, including all the members of this Committee. I thank you for the time you have spent with me. Our meetings have given me an illuminating tour of the fifty states and invaluable insights into the American people.
There are countless family members, friends, mentors, colleagues, and clerks who have done so much over the years to make this day possible. I am deeply appreciative for their love and support. I want to make one special note of thanks to my mom. I am here today because of her aspirations and sacrifices for both my brother Juan and me. Mom, I love that we are sharing this together. I am very grateful to the President and humbled to be here today as a nominee to the United States Supreme Court.
The progression of my life has been uniquely American. My parents left Puerto Rico during World War II. I grew up in modest circumstances in a Bronx housing project. My father, a factory worker with a third grade education, passed away when I was nine years old.
On her own, my mother raised my brother and me. She taught us that the key to success in America is a good education. And she set the example, studying alongside my brother and me at our kitchen table so that she could become a registered nurse. We worked hard. I poured myself into my studies at Cardinal Spellman High School, earning scholarships to Princeton University and then Yale Law School, while my brother went to medical school. Our achievements are due to the values that we learned as children, and they have continued to guide my life’s endeavors. I try to pass on this legacy by serving as a mentor and friend to my many godchildren and students of all backgrounds.
Over the past three decades, I have seen our judicial system from a number of different perspectives – as a big-city prosecutor, a corporate litigator, a trial judge and an appellate judge. My first job after law school was as an assistant District Attorney in New York. There, I saw children exploited and abused. I felt the suffering of victims’ families torn apart by a loved one’s needless death. And I learned the tough job law enforcement has protecting the public safety. In my next legal job, I focused on commercial, instead of criminal, matters. I litigated issues on behalf of national and international businesses and advised them on matters ranging from contracts to trademarks.
My career as an advocate ended—and my career as a judge began—when I was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. As a trial judge, I decided over four hundred and fifty cases, and presided over dozens of trials, with perhaps my best known case involving the Major League Baseball strike in 1995.
After six extraordinary years on the district court, I was appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On that Court, I have enjoyed the benefit of sharing ideas and perspectives with wonderful colleagues as we have worked together to resolve the issues before us. I have now served as an appellate judge for over a decade, deciding a wide range of Constitutional, statutory, and other legal questions.
Throughout my seventeen years on the bench, I have witnessed the human consequences of my decisions. Those decisions have been made not to serve the interests of any one litigant, but always to serve the larger interest of impartial justice.
In the past month, many Senators have asked me about my judicial philosophy. It is simple: fidelity to the law. The task of a judge is not to make the law – it is to apply the law. And it is clear, I believe, that my record in two courts reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its terms; interpreting statutes according to their terms and Congress’s intent; and hewing faithfully to precedents established by the Supreme Court and my Circuit Court. In each case I have heard, I have applied the law to the facts at hand.
The process of judging is enhanced when the arguments and concerns of the parties to the litigation are understood and acknowledged. That is why I generally structure my opinions by setting out what the law requires and then by explaining why a contrary position, sympathetic or not, is accepted or rejected. That is how I seek to strengthen both the rule of law and faith in the impartiality of our justice system. My personal and professional experiences help me listen and understand, with the law always commanding the result in every case.
Since President Obama announced my nomination in May, I have received letters from people all over this country. Many tell a unique story of hope in spite of struggles. Each letter has deeply touched me. Each reflects a belief in the dream that led my parents to come to New York all those years ago. It is our Constitution that makes that Dream possible, and I now seek the honor of upholding the Constitution as a Justice on the Supreme Court.
I look forward in the next few days to answering your questions, to having the American people learn more about me, and to being part of a process that reflects the greatness of our Constitution and of our nation. Thank you.
But not all issues, it appears, have been resolved for the Democrats since, in the same statement, they say, "we urge our colleagues in the Senate to join us in a governing agreement that will enable the Senate to get back to work." The devil may well be in the details of that "governing agreement." O’Donnell has tremendous potential and has always been talked about as a future statewide office holder. "It seems to me that the Public Officers Law says that any time there's a vacancy in an elected office, the governor shall appoint a person to fill it until the next election," Gianaris said on Monday. Fidler seems repulsed, stating that “the idea of canonizing a man with his incredibly poor behavior to children is offensive.”
Schumer Predicts “Large Majority” Confirmation of Sotomayor
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, July 13, 2009
Hours before the historical Confirmation Hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor were set to begin, Senator Charles E. Schumer told The Borrero Report that, “This is not going to be a squeaker. She will be confirmed by a large majority.”
One of Sotomayor's most enthusiastic supporters, Schumer added, “Every one of the 89 Senators she has met with has been impressed.” The senior Senator from
Schumer, who has been extolling Sotomayor's background and judicial temperament, said, “Not only is it hard not to like her, but not to be impressed by her.”
Sotomayor's strongest critic in the Senate has been Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), who is expected to be her strongest questioner. Sessions, who has harped on Sotomayor’s years as Board Member of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, was singled out by NAACP President Benjamin Jealous at the Civil Rights group's 100th year anniversary convention in Manhattan.
"Sessions should cool his heels and focus on her qualifications," warned Jealous as he revealed that thousands of members will be lobbying Sessions, and other Senators, to confirm Sotomayor.
The ever optimistic Schumer concluded, “When the Founding Fathers wrote at the end of the Constitution that we are God’s noble experiment, at the end of the Confirmation Hearings we will prove that we are still God’s noble experiment.”
Softball Injury Won’t Keep Rep. Velazquez Away from Sotomayor Hearings
Limping, on Crutches or in a Wheel Chair, Says She’ll be there
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, July 13, 2009
Taking her duties on the field almost as seriously as her pursuit of convincing President Barack Hussein Obama to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the US Supreme Court, and now getting her confirmed, Congress Member Nydia Margarita Velazquez suffered a hip injury during a softball practice on Friday morning.
“I was running after a fly ball and tripped,” said the NY Mets fan and shortstop for the Women Democratic Committee softball team who, along with her House and Senate colleagues, will take the field against the Women Democratic and Republican Committees on Tuesday.
The injury was serious enough to require a brace for her hip, pain killers, and crutches, but Velazquez decided to set the crutches aside.
So, while she may not be able to play softball, Nydia – as she is known in the barrios of the City – will be ready for the partisan political hardball that Judge Sotomayor will face as she answers questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Congress Member Velazquez, in addition to testifying in favor of Judge Sotomayor, will occupy a prominent seat near the nominee during the course of the confirmation hearings.
The softball game is a bi-partisan, bi-cameral event benefiting the Young Survival Coalition.
The Sky Is Not Falling After All
No Wonder Bloomberg (And His Staff) Cried After Not Being Able to Hammer City Residents With Tax Increase
New York, NY, July 11, 2009
Seems all the doomsday talk about financial collapse coming from the ever shriller sounding voiceferous Mayor were just as The Borrero Report had speculated on Tuesday - plain old scare tactics. The NY Daily News reports today that Mayor Michael Bloomberg "quietly" authorized close to 70 million dollars in raises for city managers. If you, like many of us, have not gotten a raise but instead got a pay-cut, then click here to read the DN article and try not to weep. We end as Frank Lombardi, so fittingly, began his report: What budget crises?
And, to continue your reading....
New York, NY, July 11, 2009
We provide a different topic (FINALLY) other than the circus, chaos, asylum, sewer, pig sty, (no offense to pigs, we actually like them), and general cesspool known as the Albany Legislature (yes, Senate AND Assembly).
In an outstanding article entitled, "The Alarming Record of the F.B.I.'s Informant in the Bronx Bomb Plot," Graham Rayman, of the Village Voice, takes an in-depth look at last month's arrest of four "terrorist" from the city of Newburg, NY.
Rayman makes a compelling case that the four arrested men were actually dupes of an out of control FBI informant. His report brings into question the effectiveness, and tactics, of the so-called "war-on-terror" which New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, and others, want us to believe they are waging.
Get your cup of coffee or tea, kick off the slippers, and read the article here.
As We Take A Breather
New York, NY, July 10, 2009
With so much going on the last few days we can all, finally, catch up on our reading. A great place to start would be with an excellent piece, written several days ago, by NY Daily News columnist Michael Goodwin. In "As Albany pols dither, Gotham Syndrome spreads like wildfire," Goodwin argues that the public has gone just as crazy as the Albany politicians! Read it here to find out why.
Malcolm Smith Is President Pro Tempore Only Until December 31 By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY July 9, 2009 4:50PM
The deal that brought back Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. to the Democrats, and gives him the Majority-Leader title, has not fared as well for Senator Malcolm A. Smith.
Two independent sources, involved in brokering the soon to be announced deal, said that Smith “will only serve until December 31” and added that the role of President Pro Tempore of the Senate, “is a way to give the guy the save face way out that he asked for.”
“He knows he has to get off the stage, but doesn’t want to do it,” a person close to Smith told The Borrero Report last Thursday.
Democrats have felt for a while that Smith was not providing leadership and were unhappy with his short comings. “He basically will have no power or role in this new structure of the Democratic majority,” responded one of the sources when asked if Smith was still relevant in the restructured Democratic Conference.
Espada Returns To Democrats As Majority Leader By Gerson Borrero
Claims Victory In "
Responding to a text message with a call the polemic State Senator said, “I am immensely proud to have run this marathon of endurance that will also bring recognition to Puerto Ricans and Latinos.”
“As Majority Leader, I really look forward to bringing the reforms that we need in our State,” Espada, Jr. said.
The deal, which will be formally announced within the hour, gives Espada, Jr. most of what he had been asking for since the coup d'état of June 8. “We will have resources, committee chairs, reform of the Senate Rules that will allow for bills not to be held up by the leadership and thus empowering members,” Majority Leader Espada, Jr. told The Borrero Report.
While there is an agreement on all the aforementioned areas, details are to be worked out in the next 60 days.
Malcolm A. Smith will serve as President Pro Tempore. Espada, Jr. did not respond as to whether the role for the embattled ex Majority Leader was for a phase out period.
Espada, Jr. had no comment as to what role his partner, Republican Dean Skelos, would play in this new deal.
Judge Issues Restraining Order Against Governor and New LG By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, July 9, 2009 - 1:48AM
State Senator’s Pedro Espada, Jr. and Dean Skelos have just been informed by their attorney, John Ciampioli, Counsel for the New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee, that a restraining order against Governor David A. Paterson and Richard Ravitch has been granted.
“Not prom night yet for them,” Espada told The Borrero Report in a 1:25 AM telephone call.
The order was granted by a NYS Supreme Court Judge in
Espada said he would provide further details later today.
Paterson Appoints Ravitch As New Lieutenant-Governor By The Borrero Report Staff
Lawsuits Sure To Follow
New York, NY, July 8, 2009
As had been widely reported, Governor David A. Paterson today named Richard Ravitch, who turned 76 yesterday, as the State's 75th Lieutenant-Governor.
Proving that politics is not a betting man's game, Paterson chose not to pick any of the names on a widely circulated "short list" and instead named Ravitch, a former Chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, and a person with a long history of public service.
After Attorney General Andrew Cuomo had called the naming of a lieutenant-governor (except by election) "not constitutional," Paterson, in a bid to unlock the Senate stalemate now going into its fifth week, defied Cuomo's assertion and used a section on the NYS Public Officers Law (POL) to name Ravitch.
In a novel approach, which was first proposed by NYS Assemblymember Michael N. Gianaris, Paterson used Article 3 § 43 of the POL which reads, in part, "If a vacancy shall occur, otherwise than by expiration of term, with no provision of law for filling the same, if the office be elective, the governor shall appoint a person to execute the duties thereof until the vacancy shall be filled by an election" as the legal authority for his move. The provision, which had been poopooed by Cuomo, has never been used to appoint a lieutenant-governor. Unlike Cuomo, the Governor issued a detailed and, seemingly, well thought out memo citing the legal justification for the Ravitch appointment (read it here).
Recognizing that the appointment would probably lead to lawsuits, the Governor asked that any legal action "be done expeditiously."
However, one group which apparently will not be running to court are the Senate Democrats. A joint statement released by senate democratic leaders Malcolm Smith and John Sampson said, "We applaud and congratulate Governor Paterson's bold decision to appoint Richard Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor and help end the gridlock in the Senate.......the constitutional issue of succession to the office of Governor has been settled...."
For his part, Senator Pedro Espada Jr., who is most immediately affected by Ravitch's appointment, since he sees himself as currently filling the lieutenant-governor's roll, said of the appointment, "It's totally illegal," and "We will go to court, obviously."
The circus is still in town!
Paterson Rumored To Appoint LG By Gerson Borrero
Three Women Among The Short List
New York, NY, July 8, 2009
Even though sources tell The Borrero Report that Governor David A. Paterson is still in serious discussions with his legal advisors, the appointment of a lieutenant-governor by the embattled politician would be a clear sign that he is now serious about taking control.
At minimum, the 5PM announcement- even if he does not name the person today - would sideline Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s legal rendering on the matter (read Cuomo’s opinion here.
Among the names circulating are those of Tom Suozzi, Nassau County Executive, Former Court of Appeals Chief Judge Judith Kaye, Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez and Denise O'Donnell, who is currently Paterson's Criminal Justice Coordinator and is the former Buffalo U.S. attorney.
Suozzi, on the other hand, might feel compelled to help Paterson given the relationship of their fathers, Basil Paterson and Joseph A. Suozzi, both of the high-powered law firm Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, PC. The LG spot would also put Suozzi in a position to run for Governor should Paterson not run in 2010, and would certainly throw a wrench in the not-so-silent gubernatorial aspirations of Andrew Cuomo. Suozzi could, at least, force a heated Democratic primary.
Cortés-Vázquez surfaces again as perhaps the ideal LG for Paterson. She is well know in the Senate and Assembly, and widely respected as a professional. A person close to the Governor confided to The Borrero Report that the two have had conversations on the subject recently, and in the past. An additional bonus would be that, as a Puerto Rican who is well known in the Community Based Organization circles, Cortés-Vázquez brings two important constituencies to Paterson, should he choose to run for a full term.
The other possibility is that the Governor appoints a person from the “good government” sector. It was, after all, a coalition of good government groups, and Assemblymember Michael N. Gianaris, who proposed the idea of appointing a lieutenant-governor to preside over the Senate and break the 31-31 deadlock.
If Gianaris is accurate, it will make AG Cuomo look like a legal-lightweight and just another obstructionist, for coming out with such a definitive statement that the naming of an LG, via the Public Officers Law (POL), could not be done.
As the Attorney General, his approach to the legal question should have been "scholarly." He could have said that, while the wording of the POL, Article 3 § 43, has never been used to name an LG, it was his opinion that the POL was trumped by the NYS Constitution which has, generally, been interpreted to say that the only way to replace a LG was via the next scheduled gubernatorial election.
Having said that, he could have added that the use of the POL to name a LG, would be an unprecedented use of that law and one which would have to be decided by the courts. As this whole mess will most likely be.
If the threat of naming an LG turns out to be a ploy by the Governor to get movement in the Senate, and if it works, the citizens of New York will applaud him.
Seems like this one, finally, could be a “win-win” for Paterson.
The Sky Is Falling! - Again
For an interesting antidote to the fawning editorials and puff pieces written about Bloomberg by his newspaper owning friends click here.
Lew Fidler Not Playing to Michael Jackson’s Tune By Gerson Borrero
City Council Member Would Oppose a Street Named After “a man with his incredibly poor behavior to children”
New York, NY, July 2, 2009
On the heels of having moon walked out from a “moment of silence” tribute for pop icon Michael Jackson hosted by two of his colleagues (Inez E. Dickens and Helen D. Foster) at a formal session of the New York City Council, Lewis ‘Lew’ A. Fidler says that, “I doubt anything will develop further on the issue. We don’t meet again until the 29th--unless some dodo introduces it as a street name.” 
Concerned that there are so many other serious issues, the straight shooting Democrat from the 46th district in Brooklyn said, “I would hate to see us waste time on a divisive fight over nonsense when there are more important things to do."
Council Member Fidler, who is also a lawyer, did not mince words in his written response to our inquiry: “Yet, a moment of silence for a pedophile--and it's fodder for the blogs, etc. Sometimes, life is frustrating.”
Fidler, who began his first term in the NYC legislative body in 2002, in an apparent jab at what some feel is the excessive media coverage given to the yet interned mega star said, “Seriously, I have held thirteen hearings as Chair of the Youth Services Committee on the subject of runaway and homeless youth in our City, and not a column inch is written about this shameful situation.”
Citing examples of what his work as Chair of the Youth Services has uncovered, Fidler says: “According to a count that the Council commissioned which was done through homeless organizations in this city, there are 3,800 young people up to age 24 who are homeless on any given night in our city. Of that number, some 1,800 are sleeping on a subway grating, in a transportation hub or car. Additionally, 180 of them spent the night as or with a sex worker.”
In spite of his no holds barred criticism of the self proclaimed King of Pop, Fidler states that, “I would not oppose a naming of some entertainment venue. He may surely be glorified for his talent, wasted as much of it may have been. But I would not want to see streets named for him.”
In further defending his concern about the serious issues facing the City and the silliness of the possible attempt by “some dodo” to want to name a street honoring Michael Jackson, Fidler makes the point that, “The overwhelming majority is black or Latino and a third to forty percent are LGBTQ. We have made great progress in adding shelter beds for them over 7 years, but we are obviously far away from an adequate response. Every one of them is more likely to become HIV positive, develop a mental disability, become a burden to the criminal justice system.”
As is widely known, The Jackson 5, with then unknown Michael as the lead vocalist, began their showbiz career at the historic Apollo Theatre. The Borrero Report contacted Council Member Dickens office to inquire if she, or any of her colleagues, has discussed the possibility of renaming any, or all, of 125th Street where the theatre is located, after Jackson.
Lynnette Velasco, the Council Members spokesperson responded the following to our questions. "This happened so suddenly (Jackson’s death) that right now we can't say if there is something else that the Council Member will do to honor his memory. She wanted to recognize that it is undeniable that Michael Jackson made positive contributions. We can't pass judgment and she will not condemn him."
With regards to Council Member Fidler's walking out at the Council Chamber, Ms. Velasco responded:
"We are aware of his sentiment and are respectful of it."
What remains to be seen is if Dickens will understand the clarity of Fidler’s opposition as expressed today.
Was The Mayor Playing Hooky? By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, June 30, 2009
An absurd explanation for Mayor Bloomberg’s school governance hysteria would be that he spent so many days out of the classroom he did not read the required material on the subject.
The law which gave the Mayor control of the City's school system, New York State Education Law, Article 52, (School Governance Reform Act of 2002 as amended on June 14, 2002), clearly states its expiration date as June 30, 2009.
That’s it. There were no assurances, that we know of. Where is it written in the law that there would be an extension or renewal? It was an experiment. A test. No guarantees. However, you can’t tell that from the misleading recent rants of the vociferous Mayor.
No one can argue that Mayor Miguelito is not on top of his political game - all the time. He has some of the sharpest minds on his payroll in government, as well as in his effort to re-impose himself as the City's Emperor. Most of the important editorial boards in town are doing his bidding from their ivory towers; while tabloid headlines are written from cushy seats. Miguelito has more than a handful of so called CBO "leaders", throughout the five boroughs, as cheerleaders for the extension of the Emperor’s school system control.
Case in point is the statement issued by Hector Gesualdo, Executive Director of Aspira of New York. “Mayoral control of New York City’s public schools has made one thing abundantly clear: When there’s accountability at the top of the system, it’s far better for kids than when there’s deniability throughout the system.
“The New York State Senate must extend mayoral control immediately and spare children and taxpayers the petty politics, corruption and widespread academic failure—particularly in minority communities—that were the hallmarks of decentralization.”
When was the last time anyone heard Aspira of New York opine publicly on any education issue? Long gone are the days when this trailblazer institution, founded by Dr. Antonia Pantoja, stopped being an educational advocate to become part of the establishment.
That kind of support allows the Mayor to issue statements like this: "Every decision – from personnel decisions to policy decisions – will be subject to litigation and uncertainty." No, Miguelito the law was clear that Mayoral Control would revert back to the Board of Education (BOE). Why then would there be "litigation and uncertainty?"
The adulation and clamor has led the billionaire—who thinks he knows best—to strike out against the "evil times" of the BOE. It has led the otherwise self-controlled magnate to rant about how his losing control of schools will lead to the sky falling, school buildings crumbling, and children perishing. Look around you, do you see anything out of place, other than the Mayor’s bruised super ego?
“Make no mistake about it, we will not allow our schools to be padlocked, or summer school to be canceled. Summer school starts tomorrow, no if ands or buts,” said the Mayor. Why would a change in school governance mean the cancellation of summer school? Was there no summer school under the old system?
We can almost guarantee that the "playing hooky" theory has not led to Miguelito’s rants, instead, it comes from his need to command and control everything that is near him.
It's not so farfetched an idea that, after running over City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the so-called "independent" legislative side of City Hall, in overturning term limits, the Mayor figured that everyone in the state would sing his official city hymn of "Whatever Mike Wants, Mike Gets."
The "play-along" act of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who provided cosmetic modifications to the School Governance Reform Act, must have made Mayor Miguelito think that it would all be a slam-dunk in the Senate.
"…[W]e are going into uncharted territory," the Mayor warned. What uncharted territory? Everyone (except maybe Miguelito) knows how the Board of Ed worked and where it’s flaws laid! Just ask Comptroller William Thompson.
If, as according to Bloomberg, the Mayor is the only one who can run the schools, now that we are back to the former BOE, then Bill Thompson should be mayor - for the sake of our children!
Most reasonable observers would volunteer to put straitjackets on the loonies running the asylum in the Senate. However, some think that the senators have actually proved that "playing hooky" is quite different from "playing hooker" to the Mayor.
Thompson Calls Bloomberg's High School Graduation Rates "A disgrace"
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, June 23, 2009
City Comptroller and Democratic Mayoral Candidate William C. Thompson did not mince words when reacting to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein claim, yesterday, that New York City's four-year high school graduation rate rose to a new high of 60.7 percent in 2008, and that the graduation rate among English language learners rose more than 10 percentage points between 2007 and 2008. Bloomberg and Klein added that Black and Hispanic students continue to narrow the graduation gap with their white and Asian peers.
"Only 1/3 of English language learners are graduating in four years, over 75% of special education students do not graduate in four years, and black and Hispanic students continue to lag behind white and Asian students in graduation rates," responded Thompson's campaign.
Thompson, who served as the Brooklyn representative to the old Board of Education and it's President for five consecutive terms added, "Also, less than half of all Latino students are graduating in four years. These numbers are not a success, they're a disgrace."
In his reponse to The Borrero Report, Thompson concluded by saying, "Mayor Bloomberg should ask any of the thousands of students and parents that have been short changed by misguided Department of Education policies if they see any reason to celebrate these statistics."
Anyone Listening In Albany? By Gerson Borrero
All Voters Know Great Deal/Some About Senate Fight Fav Unfav DK/NO Fav Unfav DK/NO Tom Golisano 30% 32% 38% 30% 42% 29% Sheldon Silver 27% 37% 36% 28% 49% 23% Dean Skelos 15% 23% 62% 16% 30% 54% Pedro Espada 13% 33% 54% 10% 48% 42% Malcolm Smith 12% 32% 56% 12% 42% 46% John Sampson 9% 12% 79% 6% 14% 80% Hiram Monserrate 7% 36% 58% 5% 51% 44% NYS Assembly 37% 47% 15% 33% 59% 8% NYS Senate 29% 62% 9% 18% 78% “When it comes to the individual senators publicly most involved, all remain unknown to a majority of voters and all have more voters saying they have an unfavorable opinion of them than have a favorable opinion,” Greenberg said. “Among voters who have paid attention to the Senate fight, the senators’ unfavorable ratings are even larger. And while a plurality of voters has an unfavorable view of the State Assembly, an overwhelming majority of voters look upon the State Senate unfavorably.” The Borrero Report was surprised at the numbers in the“Unfavorable” column for Speaker of Assemblyman Sheldon Silver (37%) vs. the (36%) for Senator Hiram Monserrate. The Speaker and Monserrate (who compares himself to Jesus) lead the category that has the names of seven of the infamous leaders of the Albany mess.
View the full Siena Research Institute poll here. Several lawyers I spoke to assured me that a defendant set to go on trial in July, as Monserrate is, should be preparing his case now. The type of negative publicity 'El Puerco' has been receiving does not help his cause. For that reason, the credit Rev. Al Sharpton has been taking for having supposedly convinced Monserrate to rejoin the Democrats, is unmerited. After a week of constant media attention focused on what he would do next it was the lawyers, who will defend Hiram Monserrate in his criminal trial next month, who told him to stop the nonsense. It's obvious that Monserrate is missing a screw, or at least needs a cerebral tune-up. 'El Puerco' contradicts himself constantly - even when he thinks what he says makes sense. A pig on the loose is a distraction. Thanks to the Democrats, soon they will close the pig sty from which they should have never allowed Hiram to escape. Oink, Oink!
Silver More Unpopular Than Monserrate!
New York, NY, June 22, 2009
A Siena (College) Institute Poll released this morning should give the Wackos in the asylum know an the NYS Senate something to reflect on as they fail to get back to the business they were elected to carry out.
Some highlights, from the first poll on how New Yorkers fell about the Albany chaos, are:
- " Nearly half the voters, including pluralities of Democrats and independents, want to see the Senate controlled by a coalition of both parties, rather than by Democrats or Republicans."
- "Two-thirds of New York voters think the Senate leadership fight is bad for the people of the state. An overwhelming 84 percent think the fight will make it harder to pass important legislation – legislation that voters want the Senate to act upon, including property tax reform, state government ethics reform, reducing pension costs, and legislation on same sex marriages," said Siena New York pollster Steven Greenberg.
OLD ALLEGATIONS...NEW PERSECUTION?
New York, NY 6/18/09
Much has been written about State Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. and his questionable residency in the 33rd Senate District he represents.
But these allegations are certainly not new. Edie Borges, then a reporter for The New York Observer, wrote an article in July of 1996 detailing the alleged non-residency and other allegations against Espada. (See the article here.)
Espada, for his part, has insisted that he lives in the district and that the current investigation into the matter, by Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson, is "prosecutorial misconduct and selective prosecution" and that "Johnson has lost all semblance of objectivity when it comes to me."
Senate Democrats Fail in Lawsuit
New York, NY, 6/18/09 6:40PM
The Borrero Report has confirmed that Senate Democrats have failed in their request for a Temporary Restraining Order against Sen Pedro Espada, Jr.
STATE SENATORS REACH AN AGREEMENT!!
But Only On The Fact That They Must Get Paid!
New York, NY, 6/18/09 6:30PM
In what, no doubt, will appear to many as yet another slap in the face to New York State taxpayers, warring New York State Senators reached an "important" agreement, namely, the fact that they need to get paid.
While the bickering Republicans and Democrats have not been able to agree on anything over that last few weeks, it turns out that they have come together and signed appropriate documentation to continue receiving their salaries.
Governor David Paterson's press office just released the following statement:
"The Governor's office earlier today looked into the question of whether or not members of the Senate are eligible to receive their salaries with no presiding officer agreed upon to authorize payment. It turns out that both conferences have come together and signed appropriate documentation to continue receiving their salaries. So there is a power sharing agreement -- but it only includes getting paid. If the leadership of the Senate can agree on a way to keep getting paid, they can reach an agreement to get back to work for the people of New York." - Marissa Shorenstein
While not usual for The Borrero Report, we are at a loss of what else to say!
ALBANY SENATE DEMOCRATS BACK TO COURT By BorreroReport.Com Staff
As We Had Reported Dem.'s Will Seek New Court Order
New York, NY, 6/18/09
Yesterday, we wrote the following:
"...in all probability, the Democrats will be seeking to re-instate the Temporary Restraining Order which had been issued, by a higher court, preventing Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., from assuming the office of Senate President Pro Tem.
"What has become more important for the Democrats is to prevent Espada from assuming the Pro Tem seat and thereby having the ability (if a quorum is ever reached) of being able to cast a tie-breaking vote on any legislation which may come to the floor."
As The Borrero Report had predicted, and Elizabeth Benjamin of the Daily News confirms in her blog, The Daily Politics, Senate Democrats will, indeed, seek a TRO against Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr.
Eventually, look for the State of New York Court of Appeals to become a major player, albeit a reluctant one, in this on-going saga.
Dwyer And Hammond On Monserrate
New York, NY, 6/17/09
Joining our list of "must read" articles on Hiram Monserrate are two excellent pieces. One is by the Jim Dwyer of the New York Times and the other by New York Daily News columnist Bill Hammond. The more we read about Monserrate the more we are convinced that even Sigmund Freud would have met his match in trying to analyze this guys ego!
No Legal Appeal = More Voter Appeal? By BorreroReport.Com Staff
New York, NY, 6/17/09
As reported yesterday afternoon on The Borrero Report, senate Democrat's confirmed that they will not be appealing today's dismissal of their lawsuit against senate Republicans.
Sen. John Sampson, the Senate's new (we think) Majority Leader, Conference Leader, and all-around CEO confirmed that the Democrat's would not be going back to court seeking to reverse Justice Thomas MCNamara's ruling.
However, what he did not say was that, in all probability, the Democrats will be seeking to re-instate the Temporary Restraining Order which had been issued, by a higher court, preventing Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., from assuming the office of Senate President Pro Tem.
In announcing the "no appeal" the Democrats seek to portray themselves as "good government" types who are not anxious to spend the the taxpayers dollars on endless appeals. But the truth is that once Sen. Hiram Monserrate declared that he had legally voted for a change in Senate leadership, their case was over and it really made no sense to pursue a lost cause.
What has become more important for the Democrats is to prevent Espada from assuming the Pro Tem seat and thereby having the ability (if a quorum is ever reached) of being able to cast a tie-breaking vote on any legislation which may come to the floor.
So, don't think the Democrats are being nice responsible citizens in this on-going drama/circus.
After all, no longer in control, Democrats now have to try and get back in via the back door (or the cellar entrance, an open window, the skylight, or whatever works!)
Talking about "whatever works", that's the attitude Governor Paterson's press secretary Marissa Shorenstein apparently has with The Borrero Report.
Yesterday, The Borrero Report requested a reaction from the Governor's office regarding an article we had posted in which Sen. Dean Skelos blamed the Governor for not keeping his promises. After several hours, Ms. Shorenstein forwarded an audio recording in which the Governor might as well have been discussing the theory of Particle Wave Duality as it relates to Quantum Physics!!! NOTHING of what is on the recording has ANYTHING to do with the question The Borrero Report had posed.
Hiram 'El Puerco' (The Pig) Monserrate Returns To The Sty! By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, 6/17/09
Like a pig that escapes from the sty and does not want to return, Hiram 'El Puerco' Monserrate yesterday avoided returning to his sty by granting media interviews to explain his actions over the last week.
"El Puerco', with his snout muddied by the lies he has propagated, spoke about what had motivated him to be part of the con-job that gave the Republicans control of the New York State Senate again. He explained that his antics, though dramatic, were necessary.
Missing from Senator Monserrate's verbal diarrhea was the real reason he returned to the sty where the Democrats anxiously waited as he entered.
No matter how hard 'El Puerco' makes his tail bristle expounding on how much his vote has improved the operation of the State Senate, what took him back to the pig sty were the six criminal charges he faces as a result of the alleged vicious assault against one of his girlfriends Karla Giraldo.
"Senator Monserrate was a victim of criminal coercion,” said Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. That was the reason his accomplice in the fight to gain control of the Senate had left him. According to Espada, Jr., Monserrate feared threats of being included in the Democrats' lawsuits against the Republicans. Espada assured me that his colleague told him he could not handle more legal problems.
Espada truly believes that the pressure exerted on Monserrate was what caused him to announce on Monday that he would returned to vote with the Democrats.
The laughingstock that is now Albany will continue.
A Spanish version of this column can be read here.
Gay Marriage Bill To Be Laid Over
By Gerson Borrero
Sources Say Senate Will "Kill It"
New York, NY, June 24, 2009 11:45AM
Look for Democrats to place the same-sex partner bill on the "controversial calendar" as soon as they convene on the second day of Governor David A. Paterson’s extraordinary session today at 3:00 PM.
Two sources have confirmed to The Borrero Report that the bill will be “laid over,” then placed in the “controversial calendar, which in effect will kill it.”
According to one of the Democratic insiders, “The raucous antics of Rubén Diaz scared some of my guys.” That, and the quick math they did as soon as Diaz started walking towards the awaiting Republicans!
Abundance Of Charlatans Paterson Congratulates Espada "He directly told me I am calling you as the president Pro temp, acknowledging the court decision this morning, and specifically said that he was calling me to share with me his decision that we have to continue, beyond June 22nd, continue to legislate all the business before the state. I agreed with him wholeheartedly, he went on to congratulate me, and thought that this was a transforming moment where we could bring a signature legislative piece - same-sex marriage - to the floor. ESPADA STANDS BY STATEMENTS...QUESTIONS GOVERNOR'S HONESTY
Says He Is Still Supporting Smith / Concerned with Racial 'War' “Pedro Espada did ask me if I wanted to and I said, no,” Díaz stated. The controversial politician and ardent foe of liberal agendas said that, “I gave my word to Malcolm Smith and if I had any concern that he wasn’t keeping his promise to me then I would have acted." The buzz is that Díaz has reservations about Smith bringing the same-sex partners amendment to the Domestic Relations Law to a vote even though they have a deal that this will not happen. As a member of the Democratic Conference, Diaz said that he had already met with Smith and told him among other things “It’s difficult to be judged based on allegations,” Díaz said of the criminal charges for assault of his girlfriend that Monserrate faces. Senator Díaz opines that Smith in effect has done that and appears to be passing judgment on Monserrate’s legal problems before the trial takes place. Although sticking to his claim of not being involved in the Smith coup, Díaz is worried that, “this is not perceived as two This is the wormy Apple who, during the seven and a half year Chairmanship of Tino ‘El Aceitoso’ Hernandez, did not provide the “transparency” that the Mayor now seeks. The same rotten Apple that failed to fix the still dangerous elevator malfunctions throughout NYCHA residential buildings. The same Apple that has not been transparent in reporting the mismanagement of NYCHA operations to Mayor Bloomberg.
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, June 24, 2009
Comparing the NY State Senate with the circus, asylum, or the sewer seems to me an insult to those institutions in which each of their workers, generally, takes pains in fulfilling their responsibilities. The "party-ocracy" which prevails in Albany is due to the dictatorship which results from having a system that imposes two political parties.
Here, there are no "good" Democrats or "bad" Republicans. Individuals that, in their majority, are unknown outside their districts have come to prevail. Those that have come to the forefront are the handful of mediocre actors in
this tragicomedy we call state government.
The citizenry, in general, complain and speak about how "embarrassing" they are. The editorial pages of newspapers make calls to these deranged politicians who carry titles that, normally, we should respect. They are the same editorialists that, in many cases, asked their readers to vote for these inept fools. Now they complain.
Nevertheless, once the con-men return to their normal games, the disaster created by this gang of fast-talkers will be forgotten. All will be "business as usual."
There are so many responsible for this mess, that I'll just name some. Beginning with the disaster that David A. Paterson has been as governor. I received a call, on Monday, from an influential black political strategist who praised Paterson for calling a Special Session of the Senate. What I responded cannot be published. The same individual asked me if I would accept a call from Malcolm Smith. I responded that I would but, wisely, Smith never dialed my number.
Days ago, a Queens activist, wrote to me complaining of the damage I was doing to that great role model of a public servant, Hiram Monserrate, by calling him "El Puerco" (The Pig). Pedro Espada, Jr. continues trying to convince us that he, in fact, has "balls of steel" and that everything printed or said about him he will use to clean
"where the sun don't shine."
And finally, that great religious leader, Rubén Diaz - who is part of the gang of four senators who began all this - today at 4 PM meets with Archbishop Timothy Dolan. While Albany burns, Senator Diaz leaves the battlefield to come and plot with Timothy on how they are going to straighten out the gays.
Charlatans!
*This is a translation of the original Bajo Fuego column by Gerson Borrero in today's edition of El Dairio. (Read it here)
Albany Judge Dismisses Democrat's Lawsuit
Sources Say Dem.'s Will Not Appeal
New York, NY 6/16/09 2:40PM
As predicted by Sen. Pedro Espada yesterday in an interview with The Borrero Report where he said, "It was all done legally and it cannot be undone", the NYS Senate Republicans have won the first round, of what will probably be many, when Justice Thomas McNamara today dismissed a lawsuit which had been brought by the senate Democrats to overturn the senate leadership coup which took place on June 8th.
Paterson's Press Secretary Calls Espada's Statements "TOTALLY FALSE"
New York, NY, June 12, 2009 10:45AM
In response to inquiries by The Borrero Report, and with a direct "No, it is totally false," Governor David A. Paterson's Press Secretary, Marissa Shorenstein, has just dismissed Senator Pedro Espada, Jr.'s recounting of a conversation he had with the governor.
On a Thursday night Special Edition of HITN's Destination Casa Blanca, and as reported by The Borrero Report late yesterday, Sen. Espada had stated the following:
"Today I spoke with Governor Paterson. He is excited about the opportunities to bring same sex marriages onto the floor, to bring bills onto the floor whose destinies have not been determined by two or three people in a locked room, and to really have that sort of opportunity which seems basic but for too long has not been part of the operation of this Legislature. To really bring bills to the floor, vote them up, vote them down, and at least have democracy in those chambers be celebrated as a matter of routine.
"He directly told me I am calling you as the president Pro temp, acknowledging the court decision this morning, and
specifically said that he was calling me to share with me his decision that we have to continue, beyond June 22nd, continue to legislate all the business before the state. I agreed with him wholeheartedly, he went on to congratulate me, and thought that this was a transforming moment where we could bring a signature legislative piece - same-sex marriage - to the floor."
New York, NY 6/12/09
On a Special Edition of HITN'-TV's Destination Casa Blanca broadcast last night, NY State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. said:
"Today I spoke with Governor Paterson. He is excited about the opportunities to bring same sex marriages onto the floor, to bring bills onto the floor whose destinies have not been determined by two or three people in a locked room, and to really have that sort of opportunity which seems basic but for too long has not been part of the operation of this Legislature. To really bring bills to the floor, vote them up, vote them down, and at least have democracy in those chambers be celebrated as a matter of routine.
New York, NY, 6/12/09 2:30PM
State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. today stood by remarks he made Thursday on HITN-TV's Destination Casa Blanca.
Reacting to a statement by Gov. David Paterson's press secretary, Marissa Shorenstein, who labeled Espada's recounting
of the conversation as, "totally false", Espada said that his comments on HITN-TV were totally accurate and, if need be, could be proven.
"There were four people in my office when I took the call from the Governor. I had it on speakerphone," said Espada
who was surprised at the declaration from Paterson's press secretary.
Espada told The Borrero Report that he has, "known David for a long time and I felt it was best to make sure that the two lawyers and two of my staff members heard the conversation", (certainly an interesting insight on Paterson given the
he-said-she-said chaos of the last few days.)
The embattled politician also indicated that if this, "gets a little ridiculous I am sure all four will sign affidavits that will
back up what we all heard the Governor tell me". In a closing comment on the subject, Espada said that,"contrary to
what Juan Gonzalez may say that when people talk to me I am wearing a wire, all I always wear is a pair of
balls of steel."
Now there's a visual for you!
INJUNCTION DENIED! ESPADA APPEARS TO BE NEW SENATE LEADER
New York, NY 6/11/09
An administrative judge today denied a requested for an injunction sought by State Senator Malcolm Smith.
Judge George B. Ceresia, Jr., of Rensselaer County State Supreme Court, denied the request by Smith's attorneys and scheduled oral arguments in his courtroom tomorrow.
Smith sought the injunction in an effort to prevent his ouster as Senate Majority Leader.
Assemblywoman Arroyo's Grandson Arrested By BorreroReport.Com Staff
New York, NY, June 10, 2009 11:55AM
New York City's Department of Investigation (DOI) today arrested Richard Izquierdo Arroyo and Margarita Villegas on federal charges of embezzlement. They stand accused of embezzling funds from a tax-exempt charity. Arroyo and Villegas are executives at Bronx based SBCC Management, a not-for-profit corporation which receives federal and City housing assistance funds through two residential buildings in the Bronx for low-income, disabled, and elderly tenants.
SBCC Corporation has close ties to Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo. Izquierdo is her grandson and nephew of embattled NYC Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.
The federal complaint charges that Arroyo and Villegas, "embezzled approximately $200,000, using SBCC Management Corp.'s credit cards and bank accounts, spending the money on clothing, restaurants, airfare, travel and hotels, political campaign contributions, and other personal expenses."
The Borrero Report has learned that politicians at both the city and state level may be implicated as the investigation continues.
Ex-Party Boss Rivera Rejoices From The Sidelines By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, 6/9/09
“They all deserve each other,” is the way José Rivera summarized his feelings as the events of the Senate side of the Legislature unfolded yesterday.
“Carl Heastie looked like he had seen a ghost when he was told what was happening,” said the gleeful dethroned Democratic Chairman of The Bronx Democratic County Organization.
The Borrero Report spoke to Rivera yesterday as he left the Assembly Chamber on his way to the Senate side to hear the Press Conference held by the triumphant GOP and their cohorts, Pedro Espada, Jr. and Hiram Monserrate and billionaire wanna be player Tom Golisano relish in their coup of Malcolm Smith.
While enjoying the Albany three ring circus, Rivera is also awaiting the decision of an appeal filed by Assemblyman Peter Rivera that challenges the election of Heastie.
Díaz Denies Having Anything To Do With Malcolm Smith Coup By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY 6/8/09 7:45PM
Claiming that, “I don’t even know what happened,” Rubén Díaz told The Borrero Report that “I did not play any role,” in the ousting of Malcolm Smith as Majority Leader of the NYS Senate this afternoon.
that Hiram Monserrate did not like the way he had been treated and so voted with the Republicans.
Puerto Ricans taking down the first black Majority Leader of the senate. It could start a war.”
What the &%*! Happened? By Gerson Borrero
Coup d'éta In NYS Senate Leaves Malcolm Smith Out And Dan Skelos As New Majority Leader
New York, NY 6/8/09 4:50PM
In an unexpected procedural move Republicans, with the complicity of at least Two of The Four Democrat "Amigos" have
outmaneuvered Senator Malcolm Smith and voted him out of his powerful post as Majority Leader. Senators Pedro Espada, Jr.,
and Hiram Monserrate joined the GOP to take control of the Senate. The Borrero Report confirmed that Rubén Díaz and
Carl Kruger – the two other "Amigos" - did not participate in the coup.The Democrats adjourned the chamber on a procedural
vote. However, it seems that the Republicans have a solid deal with the cross-over Democrats.
Conflicting reports originally had the new Majority Leader as Pedro Espada, Jr. while another source was certain that Republican
Dan Skelos, “is in control.” The Borrero Report has confirmed that Espada is President Pro Temp and the Skelos is Majority
Leader.
Velázquez, Towns and Clarke Set to Endorse Gillibrand – Maloney Plowing Ahead
(Update to June 2nd Report, “Sotomayor’s Key Supporter Endorsing Gillibrand”)
By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, 6/5/09
It must be something that Senator Charles Ellis Schumer has strategically put in the water before strong arming New York
Democrats and the White House into submission. What else would bring Congress members Nydia Margarita Velázquez, Edolphus ‘Ed’ Towns and Yvette D. Clarke together at this early stage to endorse anointed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand?
Yesterday, The Borrero Report got a heads-up about the impending endorsement, set to take place on Monday morning on the steps of City Hall. The support from the Brooklyn trio is yet another loud message to Carolyn B. Maloney that her insistence in challenging Gillibrand ‘The Chosen One,’ will become increasingly difficult. Maloney, who has been talking to colleagues in The House – and had a face to face with Velázquez in DC yesterday – has already hired consultants Cindy Darrison for her fundraising efforts and Josh Isay of Knickerbocker SKD to handle communications.
The endorsement is symbolic in that it is being made by three non white reps, sending a message throughout African-American and Latino communities—key constituency groups for anyone looking to win a New York Senate seat.
Maloney should be allowed to go forward with a primary challenge, but Schumer (with the blessing of none other than President Barack Hussein Obama) has ordained that ‘The Chosen One’ be given a free pass.
In the meantime, Governor David A. Paterson must be salivating at the thought of a non-challenge to the Senator he handpicked. The accidental governor is already thinking about his own primary challenge—and hoping that Gillibrand, Schumer, and Obama can sweep in to New York in 2010 to save the day for him as well!
Those who believe in democracy with a little “d” are rooting for Maloney and encouraging her to plow along and force a 2010 primary election.
Stay tuned for more on the race for the Senate seat previously held by Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Interesting Video On Christine Quinn
New York, NY, 6/4/09
A reader has alerted us to a must see video on Christine Quinn's ethical lapses and the alleged betrayal of her constituents. Take a look at it here.
At NYCHA The ‘Rhea’ Change Means More Of The Same By Gerson Borrero
New York, NY, 6/3/09
John B. Rhea was ordered to hit the ground running by City Hall and that’s exactly what he did on Monday, his first official day as Chairman of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
The former Wall Streeter, of whom Michael R. Bloomberg said, “John’s experience makes him the perfect person to lead our efforts to create long-term financial stability at the Authority, and to ring in a new era of transparency and agency responsiveness to improving resident and community quality of life," spoke from 90 Church Street (one of the NYCHA offices) to an audience of 390 managers via teleconferencing.
According to a NYCHA spokesperson, “What Chairman Rhea did manage to do was to communicate a welcoming message effectively through our top managers to NYCHA's 11,726 employees”. I wonder what those employees would opine of their new boss’ decision to keep the incompetent Doug Apple as General Manager “for the foreseeable future.”
To boot, the clueless wonks at City Hall, like Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott, have decided that Apple will, “also be assisting the Chairman on an ongoing basis to help with the Chairman's transition”. I hope, for the sake of NYCHA residents, that Rhea is successful.
My advice to the Chairman? Make sure you don't step into any elevators with Apple alone!
Yetta Kurland Emerges as Real Threat to Christine Quinn By: BorreroReport.com Staff
New York, NY, 6/3/09
Tuesday night, the Downtown Independent Democrats endorsed Yetta Kurland in her primary race against incumbent Christine Quinn for the New York City Council District 3 seat. We reached out to Kurland to ask her some questions, and below you can see for yourself how the phone conversation went.
Q: Have you done internal polling to get a sense of your chances in this race?
A: "Informal polls have been done and it looks good internally from our end. The sense is that there is a very strong dissatisfaction in the community with the current representation. The League of Humane Voters did a poll and what they found was that although Quinn has very high name recognition, only about 38% of people in the district who are prime voters plan on voting for Quinn. 75% of prime voters planning on voting were upset about the term limits vote and said that would affect the way they would vote in the primary. "
Q: That sounds great for you, but how do you go up against a political force like Quinn?
A: "We are not the political insiders. We won't win this through the political machinery. What has been incredible in our campaign has been the groundswell within the community. If you talk to the political insiders they will tell you incumbents never lose. There's this real sense of invincibility among the insiders. But if you talk to people in the community and you go out in the streets, you hear time after time that people are upset with the ways things are happening."
Q: What makes you a viable candidate though?
A: "The first issue is that the term limits change was an absolute breach of the public trust. The second issue is the fact that Quinn has utterly failed to support the Democratic mayoral candidate. These are Democrats coming together as a party. People are very upset about that. They feel like a vote for Quinn is a vote for Bloomberg. The third issue is that people feel really excited about this breath of fresh air. Especially with the national change going on. People feel like we can see change on the local level. Also, residents in this district feel that with a representative who is also Speaker, they have not been feeling that local leadership they want. For those three reasons we have a good chance at this, but it's not going to be the traditional campaign. This isn't about getting endorsements from the powers that be. This is really about organizing people in a local grassroots race and bringing their voice into the process."
Q: So have you spoken to Billy Thompson about an endorsement?
A: "I have spoken with Bill Thompson in general, but there has been nothing decided in one way or another. But I think Thompson is a great candidate."
Q: So will you definitely support Thompson for Mayor?
A: "I will unequivocally support the candidate for Mayor on the Democratic ticket. It would be unthinkable to me to go to the Democratic voters and ask them for their support without offering to give that back."
"Deputy Mayor" Quinn, you better watch out!
Skelos Blames Governor For Not Keeping His Promise By Gerson Borrero
Says, "Espada Supports Me 100%"
New York, NY, June 16, 2009
Senator Dean G. Skelos (R-LI 9th District) places the blame for the current halt to the business of the New York
State Senate on Governor David A. Paterson.
“What the Governor did was not keep his promise of open door negotiations,” Skelos told