Foster Challenges 'Polarizing' Hispanic Machine in the Bronx
Helen Foster, who is contemplating a run for Bronx Borough President, said the last two people who have held that job have divided the borough’s black and Puerto Rican communities.
A story in the Riverdale Review (still not online!) this week quoted Foster’s father, the former Councilman in the area, at a February 7 meeting saying, “The last two borough presidents we've had were not and are not sympathetic to the black community.”
Helen Foster, who was at the meeting, defended the remarks. She told me in an interview yesterday afternoon, “In terms of Freddy Ferrer and Adolfo Carrion, I don’t think those statements need further explaining. It is what it is.”
She continued, “I think they have furthered the polarization between the black and Puerto Rican community in Bronx County.”
Proof?
“I think where you need to look is look in his office, and see who is hired and who is working on projects and see the projects he’s endorsed,” she said.
The Riverdale Review article had also quoted Foster saying, “Queens is the last plantation, and I'm not talking about the residents, I'm talking about the elected officials.”
That would be a reference to Queens Democratic County Leader Joe Crowley.
When asked about the comment, she told me, “I’m not limiting it to Joe Crowley. What I’m saying is it is a stronghold for people that are into County organizations and it’s an example to look to where the County leader controls how people vote, controls everything.”
UPDATE: When asked for comment, Ferrer emailed to say, "How very sad."
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Said the DAUGHTER of a FORMER COUNCILMAN. Foster, you are about the ONLY thing that can make the Bronx machine look good.
This racist pig should run on a ticket with Barron and Sharpton. A trio of "advocates" claiming oppression, laughing all the way to the bank... all at their constituents expense.
That this appeared in the Riverdale Review can only mean that someone thinks that whites would benefit from black-Latino strife.
Or it could mean that the only paper in the borough that covers local controvesial issues is the Riverdale/Bronx Review...
Or it could just mean that the Black community is beating its chest so it can possibly lay claim to the County Clerk position...
It appeared in the Bronx Press Review also.
Foster is not imagining anything or making this up.
When was the last time Jose & Co. invested time, money or volunteers in a non-Latino district?
When was the last time Jose invited African Americans to his election night round-up at County headquarters? Or had any African Americans there period? How many?
How many African Americans hold positions of consequence in Bronx County Dem Headquarters?
How about in the District Office?
The last time race relations with Bronx County Dems was this bad, Cunningham was the county leader.
Bronx Press Review is published by the same company as Riverdale Review and most of the articles are the same... Its essentially the same paper...
I am far from one to defend Bronx County, but you should at least try to get your facts straight while you try to extort jobs/county clerk/budget items from County over this fight.
Do you really want to go to the exciting election night round-up? If you did, you should have just showed up. Bronx County isn't know for sending out a fancy invite to anyone. You're lucky they remember which day the election is on, much less whether you were sent a formal invitation!
There are only like 2 employees out of county, so it isn't like there are many jobs to go around. As to "positions of consequence", isnt Assemblyman Heastie and Assemblywoman Greene, both African American, on Bronx Democratic County's Executive Committee? To my recollection, thats more then the number of white executive committee members.
As to Jose Rivera's District Office, I do recall two African Americans that worked in his office, Edwina and an older African American man. Does Helen Foster have any hispanics in her office?
And isn't BP Carrion's deputy borough president, his number two person, Earl Brown, African American? He may not be your person, but he sure looks black to me!
TO the last comment at 10:44 p.m. You tell it like it is.....people should do their research before making dumb comments.
Jimmy Vacca for BP!!!!
Joel Rivera deserves his career in politics like George W. Bush deserves to be president.
Is this a DECLARATION OF WAR?!?
Did John DeSio witness the Fosters, African-American Bronx Politicians, RACE-BAITING her constituents?
Does Michael Benjamin REALLY think THE BRONX is “DYSFUNCTIONAL”
Are Helen Foster and Michael Benjamin using the Republican-style rhetoric of the past decade?
WHERE ARE THE WEAPONS OF POLITICAL DESTRUCTION?
ET TU, MICHAEL? LEST WE FORGET . . .
As Councilman, Adolfo Carrion was very “SYMPATHETIC” to Michael Benjamin—HE HIRED HIM!
Congressman Jose Serrano was vey “SYMPATHETIC” to Michael Benjamin—HE HIRED HIM!
Ex. Bronx Dem. Chief Roberto Ramirez was very “SYMPATHETIC” to Michael Benjamin—he had the Bronx Board of Elections HIRE HIM as Deputy Chief Clerk
Carrion’s Chief of Staff was—AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Carrion’s Deputy Borough President— AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Ferrer’s Deputy Borough President— AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Over in Brooklyn, Deputy Borough President— AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN
Over in Queens, Borough President— AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN
ET TU, HELEN? DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!
The Bronx Democratic “STRONGHOLD” supported Michael Benjamin when it came time to replace Gloria Davis despite him having a Latino opponent.
The Bronx Democratic “STRONGHOLD” asked Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene NOT to retire 2 yrs ago so there would be NO LOSS in AFRICAN-AMERICAN REPRESENTATION
The Bronx Democratic “STRONGHOLD” supported the election of the first African-American District Attorney in the history of New York State, and the longest-serving District Attorney in Bronx history, ROBERT T. JOHNSON. ~~~This was done despite having present Latino Assemblyman Peter Rivera as an opponent~~~
The Bronx Democratic “STRONGHOLD” supported LARRY SEABROOK FOR CONGRESS.
The Bronx Democratic “STRONGHOLD” supported Helen Foster in her election to the City Council
The Bronx Democratic “STRONGHOLD” included Helen Foster in committee assignments when selection for City council Speaker was being made
Sometimes you can’t bend over backwards enough
Now that she has sights on higher office HELEN FOSTER forgets the advances African-Americans have made in the Bronx.
THERE ARE NO WEAPONS OF POLITICAL DESTRUCTION IN THE BRONX!!
Walter H. Gladwin, the pioneer African-American politician in The Bronx, would FROWN UPON HELEN RIGHT ABOUT NOW.
Walter was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1954, representing Morrisania, he served until 1957, when he became the first black judge of the Bronx Supreme Court.
Gladwin is also noted for his contribution to FURTHERING PEACEFUL RACE RELATIONS IN THE BOROUGH by establishing and heading the Bronx Urban League.