Melissa Mark-Viverito Should Learn a Lesson from Rudy Giuliani

What You Should Know

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

32nd Senatorial District

718-991-3161

Melissa Mark-Viverito Should Learn a Lesson from Rudy Giuliani

You should know that I remember what happened in 1995 when former Mayor Rudy Giuliani demanded that former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat leave a Lincoln Center concert, and refused to allow him to travel throughout New York City except to give his U.N speech. I also remember not too long after the 9-11 terrorist attacks on New York City when Rudy Giuliani rejected a $10 million dollar donation for disaster relief from a Saudi Prince. Rudy Giuliani let the world know where he stood and how he would not be a hypocrite - even in the case of real need by refusing money from someone he did not trust. Rudy Giuliani did not want to be associated with either person, and he stood up for his convictions in both cases even though they could have cause international incidents.

On the other hand, you should know that New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito - who refuses to place her hand over her heart to honor the American flag when the National Anthem is played – organized a delegation of New York elected officials this weekend during the Somos El Futoro Conference to demand for US federal money to be sent to repair a contaminated canal in Puerto Rico.

Capital New York reporter Gloria Pazmino wrote about this in an article titled “Mark-Viverito and de Blasio call for aid to San Juan.” She reported that Melissa Mark-Viverito brought New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio and a delegation of Councilmembers to the Caño Martin Peña, “a canal clogged with garbage and waste—empties into the surrounding communities, flooding streets with up to three feet of water every time it rains.” Ms. Pazmino wrote: “The mayor and the speaker described the conditions as a “question of human rights” and said they would be willing to ask the Army Corps of Engineers to take up the project to clean up the canal and dredge it so that it can flow again.”

My dear reader, I love the United States of America and I support Statehood for Puerto Rico. It is my great desire for Puerto Rico to become our 51st State. I encourage people to travel to Puerto Rico and spend resources on Puerto Rico and aid Puerto Rico. I cannot understand how someone who routinely dishonors the United States and who fights for Independence from the United States can be so blatantly hypocritical to demand a priority for financial assistance from the United States for Puerto Rico.

You should know that on September 15, 2014, I wrote an article titled The Actions of Melissa Mark-Viverito expressing my disappointment about someone who hates America and wants the United States of America out of Puerto Rico. I wrote:

“She has never honored the American flag at any event. Her Independentista Party in Puerto Rico “Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño, PIP” does not believe in American governance of Puerto Rico. Her Independentista Party adheres to the philosophy to reject America and to do everything to expel the Americanos from Puerto Rico.

“… Melissa Mark-Viverito continues to have free cars, free chauffeurs, free offices, a big salary, huge stipends and lulus, medical insurance - and ALL of those other benefits paid for by the American dollar here in the USA, she is sending the wrong message.”

Ladies and gentlemen, I have to ask myself, how can someone who is blatantly unpatriotic and won’t even honor our flag that people fought and died for can be seen as someone who stands for her convictions. What a difference she is from someone like Rudy Giuliani.

This is Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.