Speaking during a 12-minute address on the News 12 cable television station, Levy declared the death of Marcelo Lucero, 37, will not be in vain. The second-term county executive pledged to be more sensitive about his public comments on immigration-related issues in the future.
"Words do matter, and I will do all I can to help ensure that my words are as sensitive as possible toward meeting our goal to heal and to unite," he said.
Let's hope Levy means it. Immigrant-bashing is a bankrupt strategy -- morally, intellectually, and politically.
Marcello Lucero, 37, was walking to a friend's apartment in Patchogue, New York, when he was attacked late Saturday, police said. He was stabbed in the chest and died of his injuries. A friend walking with Lucero was not injured.
The seven teens were trying "to find Latinos and to assault them," said Suffolk County Police Detective Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick. "That was what they went out to do that night, and that's exactly what they did do. ... They were actively seeking victims."
You may not have heard of the role that Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy's anti-immigrant race baiting played in the attack:
Mateo said that Hispanics Across America and Lucero's relatives have retained a law firm and may file suit against the youths' families "to make sure the parents of these seven kids pay the consequences."
But he and other community leaders also laid blame at the feet of Steve Levy, Suffolk County executive.
"He has brought this hate that exists here amongst the Hispanic community," Mateo said. "He has legislated over and over again against Hispanic immigrants. ... He should be the person not welcome in this community."
His first move last fall was to try to ''deputize'' county police officers as federal immigration agents. When the police union balked, he turned to lending their services to the Town of Brookhaven's building department.
The town had its sights on what it said were 117 illegal rooming houses in Farmingville, almost all crowded with laborers who cut lawns, bus dishes and paint houses for sub-minimum wages.
When outraged advocates for immigrants called his tactics ''ethnic cleansing,'' he dismissed them as a ''a lunatic fringe.'' He lambasted newspaper and television coverage of the men left homeless by the rooming house raids, telling reporters at a news conference on Monday that they had missed the real story, about the ''integrity of neighborhoods,'' and sputtering in indignation at any suggestion that he was singling out Hispanic immigrants or playing to voters' prejudices.
''I like Steve, but I think what's he's done is shameful,'' said Paul Tonna, a county legislator. ''And the fact that many people in Suffolk County are happy about it -- I hear his poll numbers have gone up since he did this -- is even more shameful.'' The poll results he referred to could not be confirmed.
To those of our readers who live in Monroe County, this is all too familiar. Remember these mailers that Steve Minarik County Executive Maggie Brooks sent out last year:
We all ought to hope and pray that we don't see hate crime anywhere in the state or in the country every again. But if we see it in Monroe County, the fault will be entirely Maggie Brooks's, although the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle would likely blame it on rap music.
Sarah Palin's attacks on Barack Obama's patriotism provoked a spike in death threats against the future president, Secret Service agents revealed during the final weeks of the campaign.
The new Siena Polls are hot off the presses an things look pretty good for Dems across the state. In fact, if these numbers are correct and the election wre held today, the GOP would lose it's Senate majority.
The biggest numbers to pop out is the lead Brian Foley has over Caesar Trunzo (R-FL) and the huge comeback by incumbent Dem Bill Stachowski. Foley leads Trunzo by a whopping 22 points and Stachowski has turned a 13 point deficit into a 4 point lead.
A rundown:
3rd SD - Suffolk County - Caesar Trunzo (R, incumbent) vs. Brian Foley (D)
Foley has a 56-34 percent lead over Trunzo. Trunzo led 46-40 percent in the previous Siena New York Poll. While Foley has picked up a little more support among Democrats, he has cut Trunzo's lead among Republican voters to 53-39 percent, down dramatically from 71-16 percent. Additionally, Foley has opened up a 63-27 percent lead among independent voters, up from 43-40 percent previously.
Foley has expanded a two-point lead in Brookhaven to a 12-point lead, and reversed 12-point deficit in Islip and turned it into 30-point lead. Where Trunzo had a nine-point lead among voters 55-years of age and older, Foley now leads with those voters 52-40 percent. Foley leads by 13 points with men and 30 points with women. The only demographic group in which Trunzo leads is among Republicans.
If Foley leads by even 10 points in Trunzo's Islip backyard, this thing is over. The poll shows a 30 point lead. And before the GOoPs start screaming about the poll sample, look at the Obama/McCain numbers. They are essentially dead even. It's not like they are only polling Dems.
6th SD - Nassau County - Kemp Hannon (R, incumbent) vs. Kristen McElroy (D)
Hannon has a commanding 56-30 percent lead, in a district that is virtually evenly enrolled between Republicans and Democrats. Hannon has the support of 80 percent of Republicans and picks up the support of nearly one-third of Democrats. McElroy only wins among Democrats 55-32 percent, while only attracting support from 10 percent of Republicans. Hannon leads among independent voters 56-21 percent.
McElroy leads among young voters and those in the Council District 1 section of the Hempstead portion of the Senate district. However, Hannon has much bigger leads in the remainder of the district and has better than 60 percent among voters who are at least 35-years old.
Ouch. Got some work to do here.
15th SD - Queens County - Serph Maltese (R, incumbent) vs. Joseph Addabbo, Jr. (D)
Addabbo currently has a slim 45-43 percent lead over Maltese. In the September Siena poll, the two were tied at 42 percent, in this district that has an overwhelmingly Democratic enrollment edge. Maltese has the support of more than three-quarters of Republicans and one-quarter of Democrats. Addabbo leads 61-27 percent among Democrats and picks up the support of 20 percent of Republicans. Maltese leads among independent voters 51-31 percent. Maltese leads by four points with men, while Addabbo has a seven-point lead with women. Addabbo leads in the southern part of the district and Maltese leads in the north.
Maltese is viewed favorably by 45 percent of voters and unfavorably by 33 percent of voters, down from a 48-16 percent favorable rating previously. Addabbo's favorable rating is 42-30 percent, and was previously 38-20 percent.
Obama leads McCain in this district 57-32 percent, up from 49-31 percent.
48th SD - Oswego/Jefferson/St. Lawrence - Darrel Aubertine (D, incumbent) vs. David Renzi (R)
Aubertine, who had a 51-31 percent lead over Renzi in the last poll, has seen that lead drop to 49-38 percent. Aubertine has the support of nearly three-quarters of Democrats and more than one-third of Republicans in this district with a heavy Republican enrollment edge. Renzi leads 57-35 percent with Republicans, up from 41-37 percent previously, and only gets 13 percent of Democrats. Aubertine is winning among independent voters 49-34 percent, up from 41-37 percent previously. While Renzi has erased a 20-point Aubertine lead in Oswego County, and now leads there 44-37 percent, Aubertine has widened his leads in Jefferson (25 points, up from 16) and St. Lawrence (30 points, up from 27) Counties.
Aubertine is viewed favorably by 54 percent of voters and unfavorably by 31 percent of voters, down from 58-21 percent previously. Renzi has a 40-35 percent favorability rating; previously it was 34-15 percent.
Aubertine is going to fine.
58th SD - Erie County - William Stachowski (D, incumbent) vs. Dennis Delano (R)
Stachowski now has a 47-43 percent lead over Delano, after trailing 49-36 percent in the previous Siena poll in this district where Democrats have a better than two-to-one enrollment edge. Stachowski has increased his lead among Democrats to 62-30 percent (up from 51-34 percent). Delano maintains a 63-25 percent lead among Republicans (virtually unchanged from 64-23 percent) and has seen his lead among independent voters fall to 54-36 percent, down from 67-19 percent.
Whereas Delano led in all three sections of the district previously, Stachowski now leads 47-37 percent in Buffalo/Lackawanna, 48-45 percent in Cheektowaga, and 47-44 percent in the southern suburbs. Stachowski has a 12-point lead with men, while Delano has a two-point lead with women. Delano has a significant lead with Protestants. Stachowski leads with Catholics, and has a big lead among younger voters.
Stachowski has a 50-31 percent favorable rating. It had been 39-14 percent. Delano's favorable rating, 53-33 percent, is down from 63-15 percent. Delano continues to have a positive favorable rating with voters of every party, while Stachowski has increased his favorability among Democrats but lost ground with independent voters and saw his favorability among Republicans drop from 35-12 percent to 29-50 percent.
More than half of voters would like to see the Senate controlled by Democrats, and Obama has opened 55-37 percent lead over McCain, up from 45-41 percent previously.
"Senator Stachowski has turned this race around. In four weeks he has erased a 13-point deficit and turned it into a tight four-point lead. Where Delano previously had a much better favorable rating with voters, the two are now viewed by voters in virtually the same light. We will have to wait until Election Day to see if Stachowski continues his momentum to win re-election, or if Delano can turn this race back around again and defeat a 27-year incumbent in this overwhelmingly Democratic district," Greenberg said.
Stach is back. That's what a comeback looks like. I guess the more folks learn about Delano, the less they like what they see. Also, this one of those races that an Obama wave could seriously affect. If that wave reaches Buffalo, Stachowski could end up blowing Delano right out of the water.
61st SD - Erie and Genesee Counties - Michael Ranzenhofer (R) vs. Joseph Mesi (D)
Ranzenhofer has a 47-42 percent lead over Mesi, who had a slimmer 40-38 percent lead in the previous Siena poll, in this district where Republicans have a very small enrollment edge over Democrats. Ranzenhofer leads among Republicans 69-25 percent, up from 59-21 percent. Mesi leads among Democrats 62-29 percent, closer than the previous 63-19 percent. Mesi leads among independent voters 42-37 percent, although Ranzenhofer closed the gap from 43-28 percent. Mesi leads in Tonawanda by seven points (down from 10). Ranzenhofer leads in the Clarence/Newstead/Genesee County portions of the district by 15 points (up from two points), and in Amherst by three points (up a tick from two points).
Ranzenhofer has a 47-26 percent favorable rating, compared to 35-12 percent previously. Mesi's favorable rating is 46-37 percent, compared to 45-18 percent in the previous Siena poll.
While the race has shifted seven points from Mesi to Ranzenhofer, a reverse trend occurred on the question of who voters support to control the Senate. Previously, voters supported Republican control by a 44-38 percent margin, while now a slim plurality, 43-41 percent, support Democratic control. The presidential race also flipped, with McCain's 45-40 percent lead now becoming a 51-42 percent lead for Obama.
"This district is close in enrollment between Republicans and Democrats. The voters are close in their view on which party should control the Senate. The voters have switched their support from McCain to Obama over the last few weeks. And a small Mesi lead has turned into a slightly wider Ranzenhofer lead. Which party's voters turn out in larger numbers on Tuesday may well determine the outcome of this race. Either way, it figures to be a late night as the votes get counted in this race," Greenberg said.
This one may very well come down to Obama's GOTV operation as well. If his voters show in force, I think Mesi wins this thing. Mesi likes to remind folks that he is undefeated. If the Obama wave does indeed materialize in the manner that it appears to be, he'll be able to call himself undefeated still. Give him a hand.
The fact that Caesar Trunzo (R-FL) hasn't spoken a word into the record of the New York State Senate in over two years has become, rightly, an issue in the tight race in SD-3. When Azi asked GOP spokesman Joe Conway about this, his answer didn't make a whole lot of sense:
When asked for comment, Joe Conway, director of communications for the New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee, didn't dispute the idea that Trunzo hasn't spoken on the floor of the State Senate for two years. But he attacked Foley for attacking.
In an email, he said, "When Brian Foley isn't raising taxes on his constituents, he engages in desperate negative attacks like this. In contrast, Caesar Trunzo has been hard at work cutting taxes, creating jobs, and ensuring quality schools and health care for his constituents."
OK, so he has been a non entity on the floor of the Senate. He hasn't even spoken in over two freaking years, but he's "hard at work" doing a bunch of things that actually haven't come to pass. Taxes have not been cut, at least not the taxes that most concern the residents of the 3rd SD, namely property taxes. Those have gone up. Considerably. There's not a lot of job creation out in Suffolk County at the moment either. Trunzo's record on health care is an abomination and he's one of the top recipients of HMO money in the state.
And besides, does Trunzo work so hard in some sort of other "secret" Senate? If he's not speaking for years at a time in the job we pay him quite well to perform, where exactly is he doing all of this hard work?
How can a man who hasn't uttered an official word in years be said to be "hard at work" doing anything? That's a serious question.
The folks of the 3rd SD desperately need an advocate, someone who really is "hard at work" fighting on their behalf, and they need that advocate now more than ever. Caesar Trunzo is long past being able to do that effectively.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo endorsed Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley today. From the campaign release:
Farmingville, NY - Attorney General Andrew Cuomo today endorsed Brian X. Foley for State Senate in his race against 36-year incumbent Caesar Trunzo. Cuomo's endorsement comes on the heels of other positive developments in Foley's campaign including endorsements from Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Hillary Clinton and Governor David Paterson.
"I'm supporting Brian X. Foley for Senate because he will be a senator who puts working families' interests over special interests," said Attorney General Cuomo. "In these uncertain times, we need Brian's integrity and common-sense approach to government in Albany. He turned around Brookhaven, and I look forward to working with him to turn around our great State."
Thanks to endorsements like Cuomo's and wide-ranging support from voters, the Foley for Senate campaign is picking up crucial momentum heading into Election Day. Voters are concerned with Caesar Trunzo's record of supporting special interests over the needs of Suffolk families. Trunzo has voted against making insurance companies cover mammograms and cervical cancer screenings, despite Long Island having the highest rate of breast cancer in the country. He has crowned himself the King of Pork Barrel spending, bragging about using his pork barrel slush fund to secure support from voters, even as New York faces record budget deficits and the country confronts an economic crisis.
"We need a fighter who will stand up to special interests' influence," said Foley. "I am running for Senate so we can change the broken system in Albany and make our government work for working families right here in Suffolk County."
Yesterday, Foley also picked up the endorsement of Islip Supervisor, Phil Nolan. This i significant because Foley's power base is in Brookhaven while Trunzo's is very much centered in Islip. Such visible support from the other of the district's twin cities is a very good sign.
UPDATE: Andrew Cuomo is going to headline a "Rally for Change" for Brian Foley on Saturday:
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to Headline Rally for Change with Brian X. Foley
Date: Saturday November 1, 2008
Time:
10:30 am
Location:
95 East Main St.
Patchogue, NY 11772
Who:
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
Supervisor Brian X. Foley
Congressman Tim Bishop
Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will join State Senate Candidate Brian X. Foley, Congressman Tim Bishop, Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington and hundreds of local voters at a Rally for Change on Main St. Patchogue.
That Caesar Trunzo and the Senate GOP has been pretty good to the Wizards of Wall St should go without saying. What really should be more of an issue this year is just how good those same folks have been to their champions in the New York State Senate. The Brian Foley campaign seems to get that.
Caesar Trunzo (Hearts) Wall St Trunzo and Senate Republicans give Wall Street Billions, Take in $1 million in campaign cash
Senate Republicans in Albany have worked overtime since 2000 to help Wall Street banks, brokerage firms, and other financial institutions secure billions in special tax breaks and to weaken state oversight and regulation of banks.
And in return, Wall Street interests have made over a million dollars in campaign contributions to the central Senate Republican Campaign Committees. To date, Senate Republicans have spent $921,651 of that money on 36-year incumbent Caesar Trunzo's reelection campaign.
"Caesar Trunzo and the Senate Republicans have been working for Wall Street, and they've been paid handsomely," said Foley, who's locked in a statistical dead heat with Trunzo. "It's the same old Albany story - Wall Street got the special deals, and Trunzo and the Senate Republicans got the money."
...
A review of 26 key votes in the State Senate reveals that:
* Senate Republicans passed special-interest tax cuts and subsidies for Wall Street banks, securities firms, and insurance companies that added up to more than $3.4 billion over the last decade. Caesar Trunzo voted "Yes" on each of these giveaways. (7 key votes)
* On top of that, Senate Republicans passed laws to give big Wall Street banks and finance companies over two-and-a-half billion dollars in special every-year property tax cuts. Caesar Trunzo voted "Yes" on each measure. (6 key votes)
* And Senate Republicans voted thirteen separate times to protect their friends on Wall Street from the strong regulation that could have prevented the crisis we're in. Caesar Trunzo voted "Yes" on each measure. (13 key votes)
In return, Senate Republicans received $1,082,499.00 in campaign contributions from Wall Street banks and big financial companies since 2000. $921,651of that money trickled down to Trunzo's campaign through the Republican Senate Campaign Committee.
"Caesar Trunzo gave Wall Street banks a two-and-a-half billion dollar property tax cut when families right here in Suffolk County got massive property tax increases," said Foley. Trunzo and the Senate Republicans gave over three billion dollars in state subsidies to Wall Street while regular families saw health care, energy, and food prices go up and up."
While Trunzo was saying "Yes!" to every handout request and favor asked by his Wall Street pals, he was voting "No" on protecting the health of Suffolk families. Trunzo voted "No" on making insurance companies cover mammograms for Women, despite the fact that Long Island has the highest rate of breast cancer in the country. Trunzo even voted to allow chemical companies to conceal cancer causing sprays on our lawns and parks.
It's a compelling case to be made against Trunzo, but it's also a case that can be made against pretty much the entire GOP caucus in the Senate.
Here's some more video of the debate between Caesar Trunzo (R-FL) and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brain Foley. In this clip, Caesar begins by threatening his own constituents, an interesting tactic to say the least. Next, he asserts that all th folks he doles out your money to ar firmly behind him. He then unwittingly admits that member items are simply money that he can "give away" before immediately backtracking and saying that it's really about "helping communities." And then...he just pretty much falls apart. It's petty obvious that he loses his train of thought and doesn't quite know what the hell he's talking about anymore. The clip ends with this gem, delivered in a somewhat confused voice:
I've been doing my job. I enjoy my job. And people really...have...never criticized me for it. They've always been thankful for what I have done. I hear it everyday no matter when...no matter what day it might be.
The New York League of Conservation Voters is about to go up with a new ad in SD-3 that hits Ceasar Trunzo (R-FL) pretty hard on energy security, something the man has done absolutely nothing on since he arrived in Albany back during the Nixon years.
This one is quite a doozy. Here, Caesar Trunzo attempts to share his thoughts on immigration, but what comes out doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I especially love the part where Trunzo speaks about those who "speak hispanic" or about how he has helped many immigrants "become senators."
I've got tons of video from the debate I never thought would happen, the debate between Caesar Trunzo (R-FL) and Brian Foley. In this clip, Caesar claims to have invented the rather controversial Intermodal project and then furiously and clumsily tries to backtrack.
UPDATE: From the Foley campaign:
"I was for it before I was against it"
Trunzo Starts up Intermodal, then Opposes it
"With Election Day around the corner, 36-year incumbent senator Caesar Trunzo is coming out swinging against a proposed intermodal facility that could potentially damage our environment and have a disastrous impact on traffic congestion.
Only one problem: Caesar Trunzo is the one who founded this ill-advised plan.
But don't take our word for it. Here's what Trunzo, himself, had to say about the intermodal facility in a News12 debate that aired on October 21, 2008.
"I created the intermodal. As Chairman of the (Senate) Transportation Committee, I started the whole process....members of the industry had indicated they would like to see rails, instead of trucks."
Of course, now that he's facing a tough reelection and hanging on to his seat for dear life, Trunzo is flip-flopping on this very important local issue, claiming he is now against the project.
Given the rather nasty little civil war amongst the local GOP in the 3rd, this development can't be sitting well with the pro-Caesar crowd. From an emailed release:
Republicans See their Future with Foley
"Republicans for Foley" campaign to take back Albany from special interests
Farmingville, NY - More and more Republicans are supporting Brian X. Foley in his effort to unseat 36-year incumbent senator Caesar Trunzo. The Foley for Senate campaign announced the formation of "Republicans for Foley," a group of voters and grass-roots activists who will work to elect Brian X. Foley.
Like the rest of the electorate, Foley's message of putting working families' interests over special interests is resonating with registered Republicans. Voters see Foley as a fiscal conservative who has a record of cutting taxes and strengthening our middle-class.
"As a lifelong Republican, I am proud to support Brian X. Foley for Senate because I know he will stand up for me and my family," said Ken Chebat, of Patchogue.
When it comes to fighting for working families, there is a clear contrast between Brian X. Foley and Caesar Trunzo. While Foley has stood up for the middle-class, Trunzo has supported increasing tax breaks for Wall Street banks.
Trunzo has crowned himself the king of pork-barrel spending and even boasts about using his member-item slush fund as a way to buy votes. On the Senate floor, Trunzo voted against expanding mammography services and cervical cancer screenings for women, despite Long Island having the highest rate of breast cancer in the country.
As Foley cut taxes on residents in Brookhaven, Trunzo went on a tax binge in the State Senate, voting for 611 separate increases in taxes and fees on working families. In total, Trunzo is responsible for $33.4 billion in tax and fee increases. He's voted on increasing taxes on everything from bike helmets to baby diapers to smoke detectors.
"I'm supporting Brian X. Foley because we need someone in the Senate to work for ordinary people, not special interests," said Jack Geoghan, a Republican voter from Davis Park. "Foley has a record of fighting for the middle-class. We need his strong leadership and smart economic policies in Albany."
Foley, a lifelong resident of Brookhaven, has spent the past 15 years working on behalf of those in his community both as a member of the Suffolk County Legislature and in his current position as Brookhaven Supervisor. He will bring to Albany a proven record of fighting for working families and taking on and defeating special interests.
"We are thrilled with the depth of support Brian X. Foley enjoys from a broad base of voters, including Republicans," said Ibrahim Khan, Communications Director for Foley for Senate. "Supervisor Foley has a record of fiscal responsibility and cutting taxes, a sharp contrast from Senator Trunzo's failed economic policies that have brought us the worst crisis since the Great Depression."
Republicans for Foley will actively campaign in the 3rd Senate District to persuade Republicans, Democrats and independents to support Foley. Their efforts will be particularly helpful with GOP supporters since one out of four Republicans already oppose Trunzo's reelection, according to a recent Siena poll. Instead, voters want Brian X. Foley to bring the same integrity and common-sense approach to politics that he used to turnaround Brookhaven.
New York Senator Calls Foley "a champion of working families and the change we need"
West Sayville, NY - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed Brian X. Foley today for State Senate in his race against 36-year incumbent Caesar Trunzo. The endorsement by Clinton, a longtime fighter for working families and a star of the Democratic Party, is a major boost to Foley's campaign and adds to his ever growing support and momentum. Senator Clinton has inspired millions of voters across the nation with the strength of her vision for change, and her advocacy on behalf of middle-class families struggling from years of failed economic policies.
"We need Brian X. Foley in Albany fighting for all of us. He is a champion of working families and represents the change we need," stated Senator Clinton. "We need his record of innovative solutions and proven leadership. This year, it's important that we send new Democratic leaders to the State House. I am confident that Brian will be such a leader."
In just two years as the Brookhaven Town Supervisor, Brian X. Foley cut a $15 million deficit, got the town its highest bond rating ever, and saved taxpayers $10 million through innovative economic policies. Because of his hard work, Brookhaven now has the lowest town tax rate in Suffolk County and is the only Town in Long Island to hold the line on taxes this year.
"Foley knows how to roll up his sleeves and start making government work for people again. He turned around a notoriously corrupt town government, putting it in its best fiscal position in decades and restoring voters' faith in Brookhaven Town Hall. The New York State Senate urgently needs Brian's voice of reason and fiscal responsibility. I enthusiastically endorse Brian X. Foley," added Senator Clinton.
Foley thanked Sen. Clinton. "I am deeply honored to receive Senator Clinton's endorsement. I believe that together, we can bring change to Albany - change that will make a real difference in the lives of working families."
The numbers are staggering: In Suffolk County, as of August, there were 8,055 homes in foreclosure or at risk of foreclosure. Of these, 5,088 were 30 days past due to lenders. Statewide, up to 150,000 homes could be lost to foreclosure.
In Caesar Trunzo's fief, the Third Senatorial District, the numbers indicate real and growing pain. Brentwood has 526 loans in foreclosure and Central Islip has 433 loans in foreclosure. Yes, that's almost a thousand homes in just two towns. Now, think about what that means: that's a thousand families - more, no doubt, because the district is larger than just these two municipalities - on the verge of eviction; several thousand more of their neighbors whose home values are going to be negatively impacted by empty properties next door or down the street (the Empire Justice Center estimates value lost to neighboring houses at $18,000); declining property tax revenues to local authorities just as the demands on them rise; in short, a witches brew of negative effects on entire communities.
In that context, it's fair to ask why Caesar Trunzo and Senate republicans voted against a one year foreclosure moratorium that easily passed the Assembly. Trunzo's vote is especially unforgivable among his peers, and here's why: his district is the hardest-hit Senatorial district in the state. There are other areas being devastated by the foreclosure crisis - Queens, Kings, Nassau, Monroe, Erie, to name a few - but in Suffolk, the pain is greatest.
And Caesar Trunzo walked away from providing relief. Think it's time for a change?
SD-3 challenger and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley is out with a new TV ad that takes it to Caesar Trunzo (R-FL) on a few counts. Before Foley's arrival on the scene in Brookhaven, the city was known for the corruption of its Republican ruling regime and had earned the nickname "Crookhaven." That culture of corruption was enabled and heartily supported for decades by one Caesar Trunzo. It's about time someone started calling him out on it. Check it out:
The taglines to Caesar Trunzo's camapign materials try to potray him as a "fighter" who is "fighting for us" or who is "leading the charge" against this or that. One piece of (taxpayer funded, of course) Trunzo mail I saw when I was out in the district actually showed (I'm not making this up) a boxing gloved hand punching a gas pump. Really. "Caesar Trunzo is knocking out high gas prices" or some such nonsense.
So, we are lead to believe that Caesar Trunzo (R-FL) is out there fighting for us. He's leading the charge, etc.
But, here's a fact that would seem to counter all that. The man hasn't uttered a single word into the record on the floor of the Senate since June of 2006. Nothing. Nada. Not a peep.
That's a Stone. Cold. Fact.
It's got to be pretty hard to be fighting for this and that or defending us from whatever when he hasn't even spoken a single word in that chamber in over two years.
Look, times are tough. The good people of the 3rd SD are hurting. Isn't it about time they were represented by someone who is actually willing and able to speak up on their behalf? Someone who will indeed fight for them?
Liz has posted a photo and some "grassroots tallies" from Caesar Trunzo's handlers that are supposed to show that Caesar Trunzo (R-FL)is actually waging a campaign. The photo itself is unremarkable and it's been on his spectacularly awful campaign site for months. To be perfectly honest, I'm not even sure it is from this cycle. The tallies are somewhat suspect as well, especially the last stat provided:
Average number of events attended by Senator Trunzo on a nightly basis: 3
Um, bull.
Do they really want to go with this? First, if your candidate is able to make 3 events a night, why can't he spare an evening to debate his opponent? Doesn't it strike you as just a little bit disrespectful of the voters that you can be all over the place raising money but you can't actually grant the voters a chance to hear your views on issues of great concern to them, especially given the news of the last few weeks?
Second, if he really is doing 3 events a night, where the hell are they? I assume most are in private homes and they would be fundraisers. Why isn't Caesar being seen in public far more often?
I'm just not buying this.
UPDATE: I'm told that the News12 debate between Foley and Trunzo is today. Will they actually produce him? What would be worse - ducking the debate or putting him on camera for an hour?
Good news. Governor Paterson, who will be joining us later today at 4pm, has just announced his endorsement of Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley in SD-3. From an emailed release:
Governor Paterson Endorses Brian X. Foley for State Senate
Patchogue, NY - Governor Paterson, who has been a leading proponent of proactive leadership and fiscal responsibility during these uncertain times, endorsed Brian X. Foley for State Senate in his race against 36-year incumbent Caesar Trunzo. The endorsement is a clear message that drastic change and fiscal responsibility is urgently needed in the State Senate.
"I am proud to be supporting Brian X. Foley for Senate because he shares my values for New York State's future," Governor Paterson said. "In these uncertain times, we need Brian's strong leadership to confront issues like rising property taxes, out of control energy costs, and spiking healthcare premiums. I look forward to working with him to bring the same integrity and common sense approach to Albany that he used to turn around Brookhaven and deliver millions of dollars in tax relief to its residents."
Foley thanked Governor Paterson. "I am deeply honored to receive Governor Paterson's endorsement. The time has come to set aside the broken policies of the past and bring in new leadership that answers to the people first, not corporations or Wall Street."
West Sayville, NY - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed Brian X. Foley today for State Senate in his race against 36-year incumbent Caesar Trunzo. The endorsement by Clinton, a longtime fighter for working families and a star of the Democratic Party, is a major boost to Foley's campaign and adds to his ever growing support and momentum. Senator Clinton has inspired millions of voters across the nation with the strength of her vision for change, and her advocacy on behalf of middle-class families struggling from years of failed economic policies.
