Does the Bronx matter?(Page 2 of 5)
By Adam Wisnieski Posted 6/20/12
Mr. Espaillat is so focused on the borough that he has hired the Mirram Group as a consultant. The group is run by Robert Ramirez, the former leader of the Bronx Democratic Party and founder/publisher of the Bronx Free Press and Manhattan Times (which covers Inwood — also in the district — and has been giving Mr. Espaillat some over-the-top positive coverage lately). The Bronx Delegation and many of its members back the incumbent Mr. Rangel. The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, Mr. Ferrer, along with former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, state Sen. Gustavo Rivera and Councilman Oliver Koppell are the high-profile Bronxites who have endorsed Mr. Espailat. As the only Latino in the race, the Bronx’s heavy Latino-population may help him as well. “The Bronx is going to carry me over,” Mr. Espaillat said on June 13. Other candidates seem to be banking more heavily on Manhattan and even having trouble wrapping their heads around the Bronx portions of the redrawn district. Mr. Williams’ campaign slogan, “Moving Uptown Forward,” includes a tagline with each of the neighborhoods he hopes to represent. Except those that fall on the mainland. When asked about the omission of the Bronx on his website by Gary Axelbank during a Norwood News and Riverdale Press sponsored BronxNet debate on June 11, Mr. Williams apologized for the oversight and said the website was launched before the lines were redrawn. On NY1’s debate on June 14, host Errol Lewis asked each candidate what major issue in the Bronx they planned to attack if elected — a question that seemed to stump most of the crowd. Mr. Williams said he wanted to increase employment opportunities throughout the district and bring hotels to Harlem. “You look at the fact that in New York City $8 billion comes in because of tourism and so we need to figure out how to expand those opportunities Uptown,” Mr. Williams said. Mr. Lewis reminded him it was a Bronx question.
KeywordsAdam Wisnieski, politics, political arena, Adriano Espaillat, Fernando Ferrer, Grimaldi, Clyde Williams, Michael Bloomberg, Cliff Stanton,
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Does the Bronx Matter yes but only if you are living in an area where the majority of the people are Hispanics?
I have lived in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx (actually between Bailey Avenue and Albany Crescent) and I have to tell you that not only do we not count as part of the Bronx we don’t even count as part of the Kingsbridge Business Development Group. Can tell you now that when it comes to politicians they never come to even ask for our votes? For the three terms that Bloomberg has been in office he has never once came near this section of the Bronx. Does this surprise anyone who lives here? Hell no. You must remember that we do not enough of those who are known as Hispanics. Think about it who represents the Bronx, Fernando Ferrerr, Robert Ramirez Adirano Espaillat, Gustavo Rivera, and Adolfo Carrion are all only interested in their people (and Fererr has said so on many occasions). You see this area of Kingsbridge is made up of majority of white and blacks who are lower and middle middle class so we don’t count.
I personally think that we should send all of these non English speaking people back to where it is they think they come from. Although to the best of my knowledge they have made it clear they do not know what country they come from since they are so mixed up. But still lets send them away.