Senator Diaz has Bronx Pols in Panic Mode

Posted by THE PEREZ NOTES

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 7:20PM

http://www.thepereznotes.com/2012/09/senator-diaz-has-bronx-pols-in-panic.html

Senator Diaz has Bronx Pols in Panic Mode

My sources tell me that after he got over his loss to Sen. Adriano Espaillat, Assemblyman Guillermo Linares was seriously considering running against Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez.

It turns out that after meeting with supporters Linares decided to lay low for a while and let things calm down, but he is quietly planning to run again for the state Senate in two years.

District Leader Mark Levine has a little problem. I hear that Levine, who was the favorite to replace Councilman Robert Jackson, was drawn out of the district under the lines proposed by the redistricting commission. Turns out, that unless things change, Levine may not run for Jackson's seat because he is an owner and not a renter, so moving may prove to be more difficult under those circumstances. I called Levine to see if the rumors were true, but he did not respond to my call.

Levine would have probably received the blessing of the new political godfather, State Sen. Espaillat in his bid to replace Jackson. Remember that Levine was a candidate for Espaillat's senate seat until he lost to Congressman Rangel. If Levine would have run for the Senate seat his chances of winning would have been pretty good, because Espaillat and Linares would have fragmented the Latino vote creating a path for Levine, so I refuse to believe that Levine stepped aside without obtaining something in return.

I also called District Leader Manny De los Santos to see what his political plans are, now that Levine may not be running for the seat, remember that De los Santos was allegedly asked to step aside by the Godfather and his minions to let Gabriela Rosa run for the assembly seat, Manny can make the argument that it's his turn to get the nod, he did not respond to my call.

Another rumor circulating in Washington Heights is that Alianza Dominicana founder, Moises Perez, is quietly exploring the possibility of running against Ydanis Rodriguez. The problem, I hear, is that Perez lives in New Jersey, so we'll see what happens.

In The Bronx there is a rumor going around that some people are very concerned about the growing influence of State Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz, and his conservative agenda. It is a known fact that the Reverend has established himself as the undisputed leader in the Eastern parts of the Bronx. Remember that Assemblyman Marcos Crespo was once part of his staff. And that the Reverend muscled both Assemblyman Peter Rivera and former District Leader Ken Padilla out of the political arena, he then quickly proceeded to replace Rivera with his protege, Attorney Luis Sepulveda.

Senator Diaz backed Mark Gjonaj over Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, and he lit a fire under Senator Gustavo Rivera even though the candidate he endorsed, Manny Tavarez, lost, he put Rivera on notice. Apparently the Reverend enjoy's taking down anyone with the surname Rivera.

He also has an ideological brother in arms in conservative Councilman Fernando Cabrera, and you can bet your bottom dollar that when East Bronx Councilwoman Annabel Palma's term ends, the Reverend will definitely have a say on who will replace her.

Add to that having your son in Borough Hall, so whether or not you agree with the Reverend you would have to be a fool not to admit that he is sitting pretty right now.