A Win for Labor
They've finished counting ballots in that East Harlem City Council race, and the winner is Melissa Mark-Viverito.
The former 1199 staffer prevailed over Felipe Luciano by 84 votes.
Mark-Viverito's win, along with Darlene Mealy's win in central Brooklyn, is a mark of how powerful the "progressive" wing of the labor movement, and its agent, the Working Families Party, have become in local races that have dropped off the radar for unorganized citizens and other interest groups.
Some commentators, notably Fred Siegel, are dismayed at this trend, but at this rate, the City Council may just have to declare itself an 1199 local one of these years.
People in East Harlem were duped by Melissa Mark Viverito. A wealthy, gentrified, pseudo Hispanic running against gentrification. Contributions from Local 1199, particularly in-kind contributions guaranteed her an advantage over the other candidates.
On August first, the New York Times had a special supplement covering Harlem Week. It was a glorious celebration of.....Gentrification. Parts of Harlem, which is generally inclusive of West, Central and East Harlem, seem to have embraced gentrification zealously. The reasons are obvious; there has been no real displacement, most of the development has been vacant buildings and the residents are benefitting from the influx of working people, professionals and developers into the area. Unfortunately, the east side has been noticeably lacking in enthusiasm and, although it has been gentrifying, the pace is slower than in other sections of Harlem. If you try and build anything other than low income housing in East Harlem, there is a public outcry. Yes, there is a place for low income housing but in moderation. Why would we want to import large numbers of low income and public dependent people when we already have an extremely large indigenous population? We obviously wouldn
Melissa Mark Viverito was born and raised in Puerto Rico to Puertorican parents, speaks fluent Spanish which is her native language and dominates English language too. Since when is that pseudo Hispanic? I think ConcernedCitizen's comments sound like sour grapes or stupidity or both. And what is wrong with being pro Labor and affordable housing? Maybe ConcernedCitizen can afford to buy or live in a NYC where the average one bedroom is over a million dollars (I doubt he can). And if can afford it well Merry Christmas Feliz Navidad to him. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Eat up.