VTMBH Article: Body
The creation of the largely Latino District 39 in Queens is struggling to change Latino under-representation in the State Assembly and Senate. The district, made up of parts of Jackson Heights, Corona, and Elmhurst, is troubled by huge problems in education, health, housing, and crime.
According to assembly and senate candidates, District 39 has the most overcrowded schools, a serious housing shortage, the highest rate of tuberculosis and one of the highest crime rates in the city. For years, Latino officials have warned that these problems, born out of poor representation in government, will only worsen. Traditionally, elected officials in the district are white and represent 14 percent of the community; Latinos comprise 54 percent, and of those, 86 percent are immigrants.
Until recently, it seemed that all this was going to change with a new Latino representative. However, a division caused by Assemblymen Brian McLaughlin (Flushing), Adriano Espaillat (Upper Manhattan), Councilman Hiram Monserrate (Jackson Heights), and newcomer Assemblyman José Peralta (Queens), caused a rift in the Latino political community, and practically paved the way for the reelection of former Councilman John Sabini.
The conflict began in 2000, when Colombian William Salgado, Dominican José Guevara, and Puerto Rican Hiram Monserrate made a pact to elect Monserrate as District Leader against James Lisa. Lisa is from an Italian-American family who occupied the district politically for generations and was endorsed by the Democratic Party. Monserrate won the election and, with help from the same coalition, won the position of City Councilman in November, 2001. The pact that we made was that we would support Monserrate for the City Council, and he in turn would support William [Salgado] for the Assembly, explained Guevara.
However, at the beginning of this year, when the new District 39 was created, Monserrate broke his agreement with the coalition, and instead endorsed Salgados rival, Ivan Lafayette, for the Assembly, representing District 34. Under the new structure, District 34 fell under the jurisdiction of District 39. This was the motive behind supporting Julissa until a month ago for Assemblyman of District 39, said Bolívar Balcalcer, a Dominican involved in local politics.
Balcalcer is referring to Julissa Ferraras, daughter of a respected Dominican leader who was to be endorsed by Monserrate. However, at the last minute Monserrate surprised his colleagues by cutting his ties with the group and aligning himself instead with Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, who has powerful ties to labor unions, and Dominican Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat. Now, his candidate is José Peralta.
He [Monserrate] chose José Peralta, a newcomer to local Queens politics, only to harm us. McLaughlin bought him with his union money. They are not interested in the community, only in power, said Guevara, adding, All McLaughlin wants is a puppet to take to Albany and turn into a loyal dog who does whatever he is told. The same thing will happen to Adriano [Espaillat], who is only interested in extending his power to Queens. But he [Espaillat] has never shown interest in the Dominicans of Queens. What they wanted to do, and what they did, was to destroy our coalition. Now we will lose our chances in the Senate.
Monserrate, for his part, says that he has done nothing wrong and that, in politics there are things that must be done. Although he has made efforts to reclaim the friendship of the coalition that helped bring him to power, he has still not given them a satisfactory explanation for his betrayal, nor has he publicly explained pulling his endorsement of Ferraras at the last minute.
For councilman, Monserrate endorses local politician Charlie Castro; the other Latino candidate is Néstor Díaz. Chances are slim that either of these men will triumph over Sabini.
In six months, Monserrate lost the support of Colombian and Dominican community leaders as well as the Democratic Party. His critics say that Monserrate thinks so little that he still doesnt realize what he lost when he betrayed his old colleagues and supporters and rejected Ferraras as his candidate. Julissa Ferraras, Lafayattes candidate, was also looked upon favorably by Thomas Manton, as a young woman and a Latina, two identities that interest the Democratic Party to show diversity and attract young voters.
Although Peralta denies being involved in the controversy, Salgado claims that he has a separate agreement with Monserrate.
According to assembly and senate candidates, District 39 has the most overcrowded schools, a serious housing shortage, the highest rate of tuberculosis and one of the highest crime rates in the city. For years, Latino officials have warned that these problems, born out of poor representation in government, will only worsen. Traditionally, elected officials in the district are white and represent 14 percent of the community; Latinos comprise 54 percent, and of those, 86 percent are immigrants.
Until recently, it seemed that all this was going to change with a new Latino representative. However, a division caused by Assemblymen Brian McLaughlin (Flushing), Adriano Espaillat (Upper Manhattan), Councilman Hiram Monserrate (Jackson Heights), and newcomer Assemblyman José Peralta (Queens), caused a rift in the Latino political community, and practically paved the way for the reelection of former Councilman John Sabini.
The conflict began in 2000, when Colombian William Salgado, Dominican José Guevara, and Puerto Rican Hiram Monserrate made a pact to elect Monserrate as District Leader against James Lisa. Lisa is from an Italian-American family who occupied the district politically for generations and was endorsed by the Democratic Party. Monserrate won the election and, with help from the same coalition, won the position of City Councilman in November, 2001. The pact that we made was that we would support Monserrate for the City Council, and he in turn would support William [Salgado] for the Assembly, explained Guevara.
However, at the beginning of this year, when the new District 39 was created, Monserrate broke his agreement with the coalition, and instead endorsed Salgados rival, Ivan Lafayette, for the Assembly, representing District 34. Under the new structure, District 34 fell under the jurisdiction of District 39. This was the motive behind supporting Julissa until a month ago for Assemblyman of District 39, said Bolívar Balcalcer, a Dominican involved in local politics.
Balcalcer is referring to Julissa Ferraras, daughter of a respected Dominican leader who was to be endorsed by Monserrate. However, at the last minute Monserrate surprised his colleagues by cutting his ties with the group and aligning himself instead with Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, who has powerful ties to labor unions, and Dominican Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat. Now, his candidate is José Peralta.
He [Monserrate] chose José Peralta, a newcomer to local Queens politics, only to harm us. McLaughlin bought him with his union money. They are not interested in the community, only in power, said Guevara, adding, All McLaughlin wants is a puppet to take to Albany and turn into a loyal dog who does whatever he is told. The same thing will happen to Adriano [Espaillat], who is only interested in extending his power to Queens. But he [Espaillat] has never shown interest in the Dominicans of Queens. What they wanted to do, and what they did, was to destroy our coalition. Now we will lose our chances in the Senate.
Monserrate, for his part, says that he has done nothing wrong and that, in politics there are things that must be done. Although he has made efforts to reclaim the friendship of the coalition that helped bring him to power, he has still not given them a satisfactory explanation for his betrayal, nor has he publicly explained pulling his endorsement of Ferraras at the last minute.
For councilman, Monserrate endorses local politician Charlie Castro; the other Latino candidate is Néstor Díaz. Chances are slim that either of these men will triumph over Sabini.
In six months, Monserrate lost the support of Colombian and Dominican community leaders as well as the Democratic Party. His critics say that Monserrate thinks so little that he still doesnt realize what he lost when he betrayed his old colleagues and supporters and rejected Ferraras as his candidate. Julissa Ferraras, Lafayattes candidate, was also looked upon favorably by Thomas Manton, as a young woman and a Latina, two identities that interest the Democratic Party to show diversity and attract young voters.
Although Peralta denies being involved in the controversy, Salgado claims that he has a separate agreement with Monserrate.