A Letter from Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz to Senator Adriano Espailliat

To : Senator Adriano Espaillat, Chairman and

Members of the New York State Senate Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus

From: Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz

Date : October 17, 2011

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This memo is in response to Senator Dean Skelos’ invitation to attend the Unidad Latina Legislative Conference this Friday, October 21st at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday October 22nd at 9:00 a.m. in the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in Manhattan, that he will hold with the Hispanic Federation. I urge you NOT to attend this event and instead urge our communities and our leaders to boycott this conference.

As Senate Majority Leader, Senator Dean Skelos agreed with and voted for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Budget cuts with a complete disregard to how those cuts have hurt and will continue to hurt New York’s Hispanic communities.

Senator Dean Skelos continues to boast that New York State has reduced spending although the Budget cuts that he pushed through the Senate have seriously hurt our senior citizen programs, health care, education and general services that so many of our Hispanic constituents need.

As we all know the Hispanic Federation is one of, if not the best organization with a proven track record in working in the best interest of our community. Their integrity and commitment is well known to all of us.

I think you will agree with me that Senator Dean Skelos is trying to take advantage of the Hispanic Federation to convince Hispanic New Yorkers that he actually cares about our communities by organizing this upcoming event.

I believe that many will agree with me that this event has been whipped up by Senator Dean Skelos to win the affection of Hispanic New Yorkers and is insulting and disrespectful to the New York State Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus and to New York’s Hispanic community.

Please feel free to contact me at (718) 496-4793 to discuss this further.