A Sabini Supporter Defects to Monserrate
One of State Senator John Sabini’s longtime Hispanic supporters, Assemblyman Jose Peralta, is signaling that he may be ready to support Sabini’s likely challenger, City Councilman Hiram Monserrate.
In an interview earlier today, he told me he wasn't quite ready to make a formal endorsement, but that for Monserrate, "the time is now."
If Peralta goes through with an endorsement, it would be a serious blow to Sabini that may also hint at who local leaders in Jackson Heights will endorse when the Queens County Democratic Organization reconvenes on Friday.
Peralta supported Sabini for reelection in 2002, 2004 and 2006 (the last one, it should be noted, was against Monserrate).
Peralta's apparent change of heart is because of two larger issues: demographics (the district is rapidly becoming more Latino) and the Democratic takeover of the State Senate.
"And if that were to happen," Peralta said, "you need someone who sometimes takes on the executive. And unlike the senator, Councilman Monserrate has a track record of taking on the executive." As evidence, he cited Monserrate's opposition to Michael Bloomberg on parking and development.
The historical angle also appeals to Peralta, who said the county organization has had a history of “empowering” emerging communities.
“There were many firsts in the room today at Queens county," he told me, referring to the Democrats' earlier meeting. "Queens County had the opportunity to empower the gay community by electing [the first openly gay district leader] Danny Dromm. There was the borough president of Queens, Helen Marshall, who was there today. Queens County had the opportunity to empower [the African-American community by electing an] African-American borough president. And now it’s an opportunity for Queens County to empower first Latino state senator in the borough.”
Peralta wants someone to stand up to the executive - like Moserratte did when he sold his vote on congestion pricing for Mike's support?
it's funny he cites danny dromm who also sold out sabini today and talked out of both sides of his mouth. he works against all gay candidates look what hes doing to charles ober stealing credit for everything. danny and dorothy showed a lot about loyalty today and how theyd sell out friends.
it's funny he cites danny dromm who also sold out sabini today and talked out of both sides of his mouth. he works against all gay candidates look what hes doing to charles ober stealing credit for everything. danny and dorothy showed a lot about loyalty today and how theyd sell out friends.
its funny when it is painfully obvious that the con ed spokesman is commenting on this blog.
i've also heard rumors that danny dromm has previously abandonded personal friends who worked for monserrate over sabini in '06...
Sabini is close with the current executive--they served in the Senate together--and can do a lot more to bring State resources to Senate District 13 than the abrasive and--as we learned from the New York Times, probably corrupt--Hiram Monserrate can. Hopefully Monserrate will get indicted so he can spend his post-Council days selling cars at Paragon Honda and his nights trying to pick up young girls at Rancho Jubilee.
danny dromm has a long-standing record of abandoning
friends. his motto is use em then lose em. anyway
he's busy in bed educating elizabeth crowley daughter of
mary crowley who opposed the children of the rainbow
curriculum. didn't danny come out as a gay teacher in
support of that curriculum? didn't he speak out
against the district 24 school board of which mary
crowley was the president? i guess danny’s abandoned his
ideals as well as his friends.
It's ludicrous to think that Jose Peralta has any power in this election - the guy is a zero! Even though he "endorsed" Sabini in '06, he "supported" Hiram all the way, having secret midnight meetings (at Rancho) and not including Sabini on his palm card. It's actually better for Sabini to have Peralta endorse Hiram because that way Hiram won't throw a phony candidate at Jose which would actually make him work and bring out the vote in the 39th.
Peralta better watch it. Between McLaughlin & Monserrate it seems he can't get away from crooks. I guess he didn't learn anything from his wife kicking him out for having an affair with his young staffer - he just loves trouble!
Peralta has no conviction or real influence whatsoever. However, the most interesting part of all of this is that the Senate Dems leader, from Queens, seems unable to get the locals behind his guy.
It is very disturbing to see that the Queens County Democratic Organization is likely to endorse Councilman Hiram Monserrate for a State Senate seat, over the incumbent, John Sabini. Yes, Mr. Sabini did commit a crime, and has answered for it. But Monserrate has also committed crimes of which he has not been brought up on charges as of yet, this is inappropriate. While a DWI is serious, misappropriation of funds is also a crime. While this has yet to be proven, Sabini's case has concluded and he has abided by the judgment. I am completely against supporting a "rebel" and "shady" politician, it is completely unfair for Mr. Monserrate, who is media hungry, to be endorsed by the party while there are serious accusations against himself and his staff. Lastly, no, you do not have to be Latino to represent Latinos, just clearing that up.
Peralta is another thing, he tells people what they want to hear. There have been rumors for a while now that he would defect to the Monserrate side.
On the other hand, Danny Dromm is completely honest, while he has loyalty to the Chair, he did abandon friends over the last Sabini v. Monserrate. My hope is that he stays with Sabini.
Politics, mudslinging, and racism as usual here in The Heights.
Peralta is doing the right thing. Career politicians are just not the best idea in a democracy/republic. When they are in too long, so many seem to develop a trademark shiftiness. Seems to be a common psychological ailment... why not limit terms to prevent it?
Maybe Peralta is just fishing for some support from Sabini. That's how it works, right? I do house painting up in Portland and I can tell you that if you see a tiny bit of paint peeling, you can bet that a whole lot more of the paint is just about ready to go.
I run a limo service on Miami Street, and I know a guy who knows Peralta. He is a good guy, and he tries to do the right thing. I might be wrong, but I think they went to real estate school or something together. Anyway, my guy thinks he is a good guy.