Hispanic Community's Reaction to Levy Announcement Mixed
Reactions somewhat muted regarding county executive's decision not seek a third term.
Leaders of Patchogue’s Hispanic community had a mixed response to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy’s announcement that he will not run for a third term.
Levy and the Hispanic community across Suffolk County have had a tense relationship given the county executive's position on the issue of how illegal immigrants should be handled by governmental agencies.
In addition, following the 2008 murder of Ecuadorean immigrant Marcelo Lucero in Patchogue, the Long Island Press quoted Levy as saying that the murder would of been a one-day story in the media had it occurred in Nassau County.
Joselo Lucero, brother to Marcelo Lucero, said that he was glad that Levy decided not to continue working in the position.
“I hope that the next candidate has more respect and be more in communication with my community,” Joselo Lucero said.
According to Lucero, this hispanic community has had several issues with Levy while in office.
“He attacked my community for many years," Lucero said of Levy. "There definitely has to be some way to stop that."
However, Angel Borja of the Fundacion Lucero de America organization, which is not affiliated with the Lucero family, said that he and the organization are neutral regarding Levy's announcement not to seek a third term.
“I know he’s a little controversial, and maybe the community may be happy, but now we have to see who is coming [next],” Borja said.
Borja said the organization is more focused on helping the Hispanic community of Patchogue, and is otherwise not currently involved in politics. He said that Levy visited Fundacion in 2010, during which he explained his actions and the way government operates.
“When we asked him about the purpose of his actions, he had an explanation,” Borja said.
Borja said that Levy told them that with parents of Italian and Jewish heritage that he was ultimately an immigrant as well.
“In the meantime, our goal is working with the community,” Borja said.
MikeLI
6:22 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
IF BORJA is NOT political, WHY IS HIS ORGANIZATION NAMED "Fundacion Lucero de America" ?
Hey BORJA, we can read English ok ?
Michael Sorrentino
8:27 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Lucero in spanish actually means "Bright Star", according to my interview with Angel Borja and when typed into Google Translate, which is how the organization has the same name as the family but is not affiliated.
MikeLI
11:40 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
"Borja said the organization is more focused on helping the Hispanic community of Patchogue, and is otherwise not currently involved in politics. He said that Levy visited Fundacion in 2010, during which he explained his actions and the way government operates."
Michael, thanks for the translation but IN ANY LANGUAGE the words of Borja say they are engaging in politics.
IF he is a not for profit, naturally he wants to preserve the legal status of his organization, but you don't have to read between the lines here, to realize just whose and what purpose they serve to exist for.
MikeLI
12:03 pm on Wednesday, March 30, 2011
LAPD makes it easier for illegal immigrant drivers
March 14, 2011 | Frank Stoltze | KPCC
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Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck announced Monday that his officers will no longer automatically tow the cars of illegal immigrant drivers stopped at sobriety checkpoints.
The policy comes in response to the concerns of Latino civil rights activists, who say impound fees are unfairly costing otherwise hardworking illegal immigrant drivers hundreds of dollars.
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said his department impounds about 1,000 cars a year from illegal immigrants at sobriety checkpoints – not because they’re drunk but because they don’t have driver’s licenses.
“As we reviewed our impound policies it became obvious to me that they had disparate impact on individuals based on something that was entirely out of their control," Beck said.
MORE...
http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/03/14/lapd-makes-it-easier-illegal-immigrant-drivers/
Travis
8:52 am on Friday, April 1, 2011
There's using the name as a venue to get money,period.