So what happened with the Trustee appointments?

Many have been asking about the English translation to the last post, so nice to see that our blog is getting around...here it is:

When Mayor Dennis Pilla invited Port Chester residents to submit their letters of interests and resumes for village trustee appointments, three Hispanics answered Pilla's call...they were Rev. Ariel Acosta, Blanca Lopez, Director of a not for profit housing program, and Walter Quiroz, a tax accountant.

So what happened?
From the twelve candidates who sought appointments, the Board of Trustees appointed two African American men for the two open seats.

And why wasn't a Hispanic appointed?
It is not that there weren't any Hispanic candidates who were not prepared for this position. It is the opinion of this writer that Ms. Lopez was the best candidate for this position, but the two Republican Trustees, Robert Sorensen and Dominick Cicatelli, and the formerly registered Republican and now Independent Trustee, John Crane decided not to vote for her. Why?...because they felt that Lopez was too involved in politics since she was the Campaingn Chair for Trustee Brakewood and former Trustee Pilla when they ran two years ago, and also Chair for Mayor Pilla, when he ran last year. So, Lopez only received votes from Mayor Pilla and Trustee Brakewood in her quest to becoming appointed.

Wow...never in the history of Port Chester, has a Hispanic woman...an immigrant woman, I should say, like Lopez been involved in promoting change for this community and in such a short time; and that is possibly why, because of her involvement, that is has also created some backlash, because we all know that when an individual or group of people advance in this social system that we live in, there will always be people who will try to stop their progress.

So, lets analyze reasons why these three Hispanic candidates were not appointed....

Early last year, Rev. Acosta ran for Trustee with the Republican team. He ran with Mr. Cicatelli, and Bart Didden, our favorite village racist who was the mastermind behind the so called anonymous flyers where he referred to Lopez as a "wolf dressed in sheep's clothing and that she was "in bed with Pilla." It was discovered that he had assistance from current Trustee John Crane and then Board of Education President Dominick Bencivenga with the planning and editing for this flyer. Everything came out in the open when the Dept. of Justice questioned Didden and he immediately vomited to the feds everything he knew and those involved.

So, it seems that although Rev. Acosta wanted to become involved in this campaign to promote Hispanic participation and most importantly, get the Hispanic vote, the Republicans used him to promote their stance with Hispanics and to show the feds that they had recruited a Hispanic to run with them. Sadly, although Rev. Acosta wanted to be appointed to one of the open trustee spots, nobody voted for him, not even his republican counterparts, Cicatelli or Sorensen. I think that the Republicans used Acosta for their own benefit, and when he needed them they left him out to dry. Poor Reverend, he did not deserve this.

Mr. Quiroz also submitted his resume like a good citizen, but I do not think that he knew much about what this position entailed.

Well, so now lets analyze why Lopez was not appointed, and this will be easy:

First, there is a rumor in PC that Trustee Sorensen wants to run for mayor in two years, and for trustee this coming March, so now he has to work very hard to please the Republican party and he needs to strenghten his position in it. The problem with Sorensen is that he owes a lot of money to the village because he has not paid his parking tickets. I do not think that PC voters will suppot a candidate who owes money to the village and who has shown to be a bad example for village voters. Maybe Sorensen should give up some or all of the $5k he gets from serving as trustee every year, and maybe that will satisfy his debt.

On the other hand. Mr. Cicatelli just looks lost....he lost the mayoral election, and now he is serving a term that has already expired. It seems that his vote against Lopez, was simply for revenge.... well, that's politics.

So what about Crane....who changed his party affiliation from Republican to Independent a couple of months ago, and who also wanted to be appointed Village justice earlier this year. Unfortunately, Crane, an attorney, represents landlords like Great American, who exploit Hispanics and rent "problematic" apartments and rooms. Seeing how Lopez works in the housing area and knows about housing policies and laws, she may have been seen as a challenge for Crane. Also, it is not surprising that he voted against her since he was involved in the creation of the flyer which was sent to every voter in Port Chester.

There are so many things going on in this little village. It reminds me of a Mexican soap called "Pueblo Chico, Infierno Grande." But, we have to recognize that the appointments made by the trustees was a slap in the face to Hispanics. How is it possible that in a community with a large Hispanic population, there is no Hispanic representative? However, it is also important to understand that if and when a Hispanic candidate runs for office, he or she must be professionally prepared and want what is best for the entire community. But that person must also know about the problems and challenges faced by immigrants as they acculturate into American society.

It is important that we as voters learn and understand each candidate's platforms and the relationship that they will have or have with the Hispanic community, in order to be assured that they will perform a responsible job once in office.

Y que paso con los concejales seleccionados...no hay ningun Hispano representante...porque?

Cuando el Alcalde de Port Chester, Dennis Pilla, hizo un llamado a la gente de Port Chester para seleccionar a dos concejales, ya que habian dos asientos libres (siempre hay seis concejales y un alcalde), tres Hispanos sometieron su nombre y su CV para ser tomados en cuenta. Ellos eran Ariel Acosta, pastor de un Iglesia Pentacostal en Port Chester, Blanca Lopez, Directora de un Programa de Vivienda sin fines de lucro, y Walter Quiroz, contador de impuestos.

Y que paso?
De los 12 candidatos que postularon, la junta de Concejales apuntaron a dos afro-americanos a que cubrieran estas dos posiciones.

Y porque no apuntaron Hispanos?
No es que no habia candidatos Hispanos preparados para esta posicion. Es la opinion de este escritor, que la Srta. Lopez era la mas calificada para esta posicion, pero los dos concejales Republicanos, Robert Sorensen y Dominick Cicatelli, mas el concejal ex-Republicano y ahora Independiente John Crane, decidieron no votar por ella. Porque, se preguntan? Los tres concejales dicen que Lopez esta metida mucho en la politica, ya que ella dirijio las campanas electorales de el Concejal Daniel Brakewood cuando postulo hace dos anos, y tambien dirijio la campana de el Alcalde Dennis Pilla, cuando el corrio para concejal con Brakewood y en estas ultimas eleciones, cuando se postulo para Alcalde. Ella solo recibio votos del Alcalde Pilla y el Concejal Brakewood.

WOW - nunca en la historia de Port Chester, ha habido una mujer Latina e inmigrante como la Srta. Lopez que alla hecho tantos cambios para este pueblo en tan corto tiempo, y sera por eso que ella tambien ha hecho varios enemigos, ya que todos nosotros sabemos que cuando una persona o grupo de personas avanzan en este systema social en que vivimos, siempre habra gente o individuos que trataran de bloquear ese progreso.

Entonces, hay que averiguar las razones por esta negacion que prohibio a estos tres Hispanos a que sean apuntados a estas posiciones.

El Pastor Acosta corrio como Concejal el Marzo pasado, en el equipo Republicano. El corrio con el Sr. Dominick Cicatelli, y Bart Didden - el racista que mando esos volantes anominos, acusando a la Srta. Lopez en ser "una loba vestida en disfraz de oveja" y en "estar en cama con el Sr. Pilla." Solo se conocio que el, con la participacion de el Concejal John Crane, y el Presidente de la Junta Educativa Dominick Bencivenga, planearon y crearon este volante. Todo salio al aire cuando el Departamento de Justicia le mando al Sr. Didden una citacion federal para que les diga si el sabia algo sobre este asquerozo volante, y el vomito todo lo que sabia en un instante.

Parece que aunque el Pastor Acosta quizo involucrarse en esta campana para promover la participacion y el voto Hispano, los Republicanos lo usaron para promover la posicion del grupo con la poblacion Hispana. Ademas, aunque el Pastor postulo para la posicion de Concejal y quizo ser apuntado para uno de los dos posiciones abiertas, nadie voto por el, ni siquiera los Concejales Republicanos que son el Sr. Sorensen y el Sr. Cicatelli. Yo pienso, que le hicieron una mala jugada al Pastor, y el no merecia esto.

El Senor Quiroz postulo como buen ciudadano pero no creo que el sabia mucho sobre lo que esta posicion involucraba, ni parece que su experiencia era suficiente para ser Concejal.

Bueno, ahora hay que analizar las razones porque no apuntaron a Lopez, y esto parece facil:
Hay un rumor en Port Chester, que el Concejal Sorensen quiere correr para Alcalde en un ano, y que ahora tiene que hacer todo lo posible para ayudar a su partido y fortalezer su posicion con los Republicanos. El problema es que este Sr debe miles de dollares al Pueblo de Port Chester, ya que el no ha pagado sus multas de estacionamiento por varios anos, y esas multas se han acumulado. No creo que los votantes de Port Chester apoyaran a alguien como el Sr. Sorensen que debe dinero al pueblo y ofrezca un mal ejemplo a todos las personas que viven aqui.

El Sr. Cicatelli esta un poco perdido - ya que perdio las elecciones cuando se lanzo para alcalde el marzo pasado. Parece que el voto encontra de Lopez para vengarse por su perdida....bueno asi es la politica.

Y que decimos sobre el Sr. Crane - que cambio su registracion electoral de Republicano a Independiente hace algunos meses y quiso ser apuntado para Justicia del pueblo. Desafortunadamente, siendo abogado representa a duenos de vivienda como los de Great American - si los mismos que explotan a los Hispanos y ofrecen viviendas "problematicas" para alquilar. Y viendo que la Srta. Lopez trabaja en la arena de vivienda y sabe de las leyes de vivienda y residencia, parece que al ser apuntada, ella seria un reto para el. Aparte de eso, el estuvo involucrado en ese volante racista que fue mandado a todos los votantes de Port Chester encontra de Lopez.

Uhmmmmm.... muchas cosas que pasan en este pueblo. Como se llama esa novela Mexicana..."Pueblo Chico, Infierno Grande." Pero tenemos que reconocer que estos votos y selecciones de concejales se convertio en una mala jugada para los Hispanos. Como es posible que en una comunidad con el 50% de habitantes Hispanos no hay representate Hispano? Claro, es muy importante reconocer que si un Hispano se lanza para una de estas posiciones, el o ella tienen que estar preparado profesionalmente, y que quieran lo mejor para la comunidad entera, pero tambien tienen que saber sobre los problemas que enfrentan los inmigrantes y personas que recien estan conociendo las normas de cultura de este pais.

Es muy importante que nosotros como votantes conocemos las plataformas de los candidatos y las relaciones que ellos tienen o tengan con el pueblo Hispan para poder asegurarnos que haran un buen trabajo y que lo haran responsablemente.