Well, Well, Where Were #11 and #12?
What You Should Know
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District
718-991-3161
You should know that Mrs. Gail Badillo, the widow of the late Congressman
Herman Badillo is upset and angry because of the lack of respect and reverence
from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and some elected officials who
did not attend the funeral services for her husband on Sunday, December 7, 2014.
As you know, the Honorable Herman Badillo served our community with great
distinction. He was the first of many firsts. Herman Badillo was the first
Hispanic to be appointed as a Commissioner of New York City, and the first
Hispanic to be elected to serve as a Borough President in New York City.
He was the first Puerto Rican to be elected to the United States Congress
as a voting Member, and the first Hispanic to be a Deputy Mayor for any
New York City Mayor. He was the first Puerto Rican to serve as the Chairman
of the City University of New York, and the first Puerto Rican to run
eleven times in the New York City Marathon.
You should know that there are news reports saying that our beloved New
York City Mayor Bill de Blasio chose to spend Sunday morning working out
in the gym instead of attending the funeral services for one of New York
City’s most distinguished leaders. (Before the funeral, Mrs. Badillo
had not even received a phone call of condolences from the Mayor.)
It is also important for you to know that the Mayor was not the only elected
official from New York who did not commit his or her time to pay respects
on Sunday morning. These other elected officials include the New York
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (the same person who will not
salute the United States flag during the National Anthem), and former
Bronx Borough Presidents Fernando Ferrer and Adolfo Carrión, Jr.
I would like for you to also know that in the history of Bronx County,
there have been 13 Borough Presidents, and Herman Badillo was #8. During
the time of Herman Badillo’s tenure as Bronx Borough President,
the Bronx was controlled politically by the Irish and the Jewish power-
brokers and it was difficult if not impossible for a Hispanic to be elected
– but Herman Badillo broke down the barrier and became our 8th Borough
President. Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo was succeeded by the
9th Borough President Robert Abrams, who was succeeded by Bronx Borough
President Stanley Simon #10th.
You should know that it was not until many years later when the Bronx
Hispanic community grew in size that the Irish and the Jewish politicians
lost control. Since then, Hispanics elected the last three Borough Presidents:
#11 Fernando Ferrer, #12 Adolfo Carrión, Jr., and #13 Rubén
Díaz, Jr.
It is important to recognize that were it not for Herman Badillo and his
ability to break down these barriers that #11, #12 and #13 would not have
become Bronx Borough Presidents. The three of them should have attended
the funeral service united and together. Of the three, only Borough President
Rubén Díaz, Jr. was present at the funeral, and the absence
of #11 Ferrer and #12 Carrión was duly noted and spoken about by
those in attendance.
Perhaps they chose to go out and play golf, or go to the gym like Mayor
Bill de Blasio, or maybe they just slept in … who knows? Among
the elected officials and dignitaries who did attend the funeral service
to honor the life of Herman Badillo were: Bronx Borough President Rubén
Díaz, Jr., Former New York City Mayors Rudy Giuliani and David
Dinkins, Congressman Charlie Rangel, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Congressman
José Serrano, State Senator José Marcos Serrano, Assemblyman
Marcos Crespo, and me.
I don’t want to leave out the names of other dignitaries who were
also in attendance and who are important to New York’s Hispanic
Community: New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton, Former New
York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, and Former Assemblyman Adam Clayton
Powel, Jr. Respected news reporters included Gabe Pressman, Geraldo Rivera,
Juan Gonzalez, Gerson Borrero, Curtis Sliwa, Wayne Barrett and Errol Louis.
It is frustrating to know that not even Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez, President
of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade nor Members of the Board of Directors
were not only not present during the funeral service, but they refused
to issue a statement about the passing of Herman Badillo.
My question to them – and to #11 and #12 is: Where the %*&!$
were you??? What reason caused you to miss this important occasion?
Ladies and gentlemen, even Mr. Wayne Barrett who is suffering from a serious
illness with an oxygen tank in a wheelchair pushed by Curtis Sliwa made
the time to get there. If Mr. Barrett in his condition and Mr. Gabe Pressman
who pushed a walker were able to get there, what possible excuse could
those not in attendance possibly have for Mrs. Gail Badillo?
This is Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz, and this is what you
should know.