New York Latino Political Leaders - A Video Short

Here's a terrific 4:00 minute history of the rise of Latino political power in New York by Marlene Peralta for HITNTelevision.

"Latinos started having a political presence in New York dating back to the late 1800s. In the 1930s East Harlem became El Barrio, and the main hub for Puerto Ricans, a community that rapidly became politically active, leadership that later spread to other local Hispanic groups."

BTW: NY's 1st elected Latino was Oscar Garcia Rivera, a native of Puerto Rico who won a seat in the NYS Assembly in 1937 as a Republican. Garcia Rivera was a Social Democrat by philosophy and a strong proponent of labor unions. It was he who drafted NYS' Unemployment Insurance Law and paved the way for minimum wage, right to organize and child labor laws.

Thompson, Liu & De Blasio: The Democratic Dream Team!

The Democratic 'Dream' Team for NYC: Bill Thompson, John Liu and Bill de Blasio. A true coordinated effort by these 3 candidates could very well trump his $millions and decide the fate of King Bloomie. Stay tuned.

Unity Rally at City Hall - 10/4/09

Bill Thompson for Mayor
John Liu for NYC Comproller
Bill De Blasio for Public Advocate

Cesar Perales & The Latino Struggle

Civil rights leader Cesar Perales recently went to Washington, D.C. to offer his opinion on the woman who may become the next Supreme Court justice. It's the latest chapter in an illustrious career which includes city, state and federal government work, plus helping those who can't help themselves through LatinoJustice, a civil rights agency he founded in the early 1970's.

All Latinos in New York--indeed, in the country--owe a deep measure of gratitude to Cesar Perales, a tireless fighter for Latino rights. Borikua. Americano. Hero.

Cesar Perales On The Latino Struggle:


Link: One On 1: Cesar Perales Discusses The Latino Struggle
TAVIS SMILEY Guest: Cesar Perales PBS

National Puerto Rican Day Parade 2009 - Photos

Links:
Photo series (30 images)
National Puerto Rican Day Parade 2009 -- Video
National Puerto Rican Day Parade - Wikipedia

NYJets' Mark Sanchez: Franchise Player & Latino Role Model

Viva Mark Sanchez! New Jets QB celebrates his Mexican heritage NY DailyNews

NYJets 2009 NFL Draft pick QB Mark Sanchez:


Jets fans react to selection of Sanchez:


Sanchez' USC '08 highlights & USC fan reaction the draft:


Sanchez on being Latino & a role model:

Gov. Paterson's Wheelchair Skit

From the Daily Politics Blog....

Gov. David Paterson, who is legally blind, used his response to last night's LCA show to hit back at an 1199/GNYHA TV ad released during the budget battle that featured a blind man in a wheelchair slamming the governor's proposed healthcare spending cuts.

Three thoughts:

1) While the audio is bad and hard to hear in parts, it's clear that the skit is a 5 minute whinefest by an unpopular politician.

2) It's one thing to skewer critics using humor. It's quite another to do so in a way that's demeaning to yourself and others.

3) In a state in which Wall Street billionaires pay the same rate in state taxes as the very poor, is it really funny to mock the disabled worried about cuts in healthcare funding?

On the plus side, Paterson did a funny impersonation of Sheldon Silvers--and the folks in the jaded Capitol reporters in the room laughed throughout the monologue.

The question though is, were they laughing with the governor, or at him?

Gov. Paterson's Skit


Healthcare Cuts Ad