Bronx Politics, Political Buzz

Bronx Political Buzz

October 2, 2017 7:06 AM·

John Cerini_Tax Man_City CouncilDoes Bronx GOP Council Candidate Have The ‘Eye of the Tiger’
Privately, some Bronx Republicans are questioning whether Council District 13 candidate John “Bronx Tax Man” Cerini has the necessary fire in the belly to takedown Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj (who spent over $1.1 million to win 38 percent of the vote against four rivals in the recent Democratic primary). Not long after Cerini joined mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis in opening her Bronx headquarters last week, one insider groused that the Tax Man isn’t listening to any advice. The disappointed source complained Cerini is more interested in Facebook “likes” and appearing at community debates than wearing out shoe leather on door-to-door grunt work. “We’re wasting a good chance to pick up an actual important seat.” Political facts say otherwise.

The 13th CD spans two assembly districts where Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump 5 to 1 (80AD) and 3-1 (82AD) in last year’s presidential election. Although the Trump/Pence ticket won 3 or 4 EDs in Assembly District 82 and none in AD 80, Cerini will have to win many, many, many more. Cerini’s fundraising numbers include $95,000 in public funds from the city’s Campaign Finance Board, plus the $44.110 from private donors. His biggest donors are Vasilios Tsibidis ($2,500), Marilyn Dengler ($1,000), Norbert Dengler ($1,000) and David Diamond ($1,000).

Eye on 2018
On Thursday after seeing state Sen. Marisol Alcantara’s tweet and photo announcing $400,000 in funding to tackle the epidemic of suicide among Latinas, I retweeted it adding, “Look a future @IDC4NY member [@LuisSepulvedaNY rumored to be interested in filling @revrubendiaz vacancy in 2018].”

Kudos to Bronx Electeds, Community Partners 

The response of Bronx elected officials, clergy and CBO leaders to the crisis in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands has been stellar. From Serrano, Espaillat and Crowley in Congress to BP Ruben Diaz, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo and the rest of the borough’s public officials, they have rolled up their sleeves to take on the Trump administration and organize their constituencies to collect and send much needed assistance to fellow Americans. Notably, Assemblyman Crespo, who heads the Legislature’s Puerto Rican/Hispanic Taskforce, desires special mention for turning this November’s annual conference and retreat in San Juan into an aid mission to assist in hurricane relief. Gracias, senor.  

 

New York stands with Puerto Rico We have sent: 72 @PANYNJ emergency personnel 53 @NYSPolice troopers 10 @NYPAenergy power grid experts pic.twitter.com/nP40fvjszB — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) September 30, 2017


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Author: Michael Benjamin is a public affairs consultant and an editorial board member at The New York Post. He is a former contributing columnist to the NY Post, City and State NY and other publications. He is a former Member of the New York State Assembly (2003-2010) and once led the Bronx Board of Elections. Since leaving office, he has appeared as a commentator on TWC NY1, Bronxnet OPEN, Good Day NY, and Al Jazeera America. His columns and blog focus on corruption, government, education, politics, redistricting, nuclear energy and race. He holds a B.A. in political science from Syracuse University.