The longest-serving Hispanic lawmaker in the State Legislature, Assemblyman Peter Rivera of the Bronx, said Steve Levy’s gubernatorial candidacy will galvanize voters.

Against him.

“The Republican Party has ignored communities of color. So, I’m glad we’re going from people who ignored us to someone who threatened us,” Rivera said. “I’d rather be threatened than ignored, because when I’m threatened, I get organized.”

Rivera said Levy racked up a record on Long Island that turned communities of color “uniformly” against him.

“On Long Island, he has scant support among people of color,” Rivera said of Levy. “Every single Hispanic elected official, at least every single Democratic Hispanic elected official on Long Island, is diametrically opposed to Levy.”

Levy’s battles with Hispanic and minority communities are legendary. Check out: “Shaniqua,” “anchor babies,” “deportation jokes.” All of which could be fodder for television and print ads should Levy really get into the race. (Although, in a Republican primary, who knows how much attention, if any, this part of Levy’s record will actually get.)

Rivera also dismissed Levy’s record on finances, saying what Levy did in Suffolk hasn’t prepared him for work in Albany.

“Just because he handled a couple of million-dollar budgets doesn’t mean he can handle a state as varied as New York,” said Rivera.

UPDATE:

“The emotion that Steve Levy evokes in the minority community will translate to votes for Cuomo. Definitely,” said Assemblyman Phil Ramos of Suffolk.

 

 

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