Senator Diane Savino Called City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito an Idiot

What You Should Know

By State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

32nd Senatorial District

(718) 991-3161

Senator Diane Savino Called City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito an Idiot

You should know that the political war between New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been expanded to include Senator Diane Savino and New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (the one who refuses to salute the American Flag).

As you know, Senator Diane Savino is a Member of the Senate Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) – a group of five renegade Democrats that includes Senators David Carlucci, David Valesky, and Tony Avella and is led by Senator Jeff Klein – who separated from the State Senate Democrats to make an alliance with the Republicans.

The love/hate relationship between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio has been on display for so long that all of us understand how even though they cannot stand each other, in public they tend to deny it. But like people say, actions speak louder than words – and the actions shown by both Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio toward each other speak for themselves.

Now that contempt has spilled over into the hearts of their presumed legislative surrogates – the war rages on.

On Friday, February 13, 2015, Senator Diane Savino threw down the gauntlet by writing on her Facebook page: “Let me say this clearly Madame Speaker, you are an idiot! On any given day, I will match my legislative record of real accomplishments against yours! No matter how many sycophants suck up to you, you could never match Jeff Klein’s 20 year record. And his bravery to lead legislators that produce real change for real people!”

Senator Savino even tweeted her outrage: “How dare the Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito insinuate the #IDC has never made public housing a priority?!?!?!”

Wow!

You should know that Senator Diane Savino is apparently very angry with Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito after hearing remarks the New York City Council Speaker made on WNYC’s “Brian Lehrer Show” where she accused Senator Jeff Klein and the IDC of never caring about New York City housing or its residents.

The New York Observer’s Ross Barkan used the following lead for his February 13, 2015 column titled "Council Speaker ‘Surprised’ IDC ‘Suddenly’ Cares About Public Housing": “For Melissa Mark-Viverito, IDC may be stand for “I don’t care.”

Mr. Ross also reported:

Her comments came a day after their leader, Bronx State Senator Jeffrey Klein, rolled out a report slamming the New York City Housing Authority for failing to properly maintain their buildings.

“Let me just say this, I am surprised that the IDC suddenly finds public housing of interest,” Ms. Mark-Viverito, with a strong hint of skepticism in her voice, told WNYC’s Brian Lehrer.

“IDC being that branch of the Democratic Party that was aligned with the Republican Party in the last session?” Mr. Lehrer asked.

“Yes and I welcome any interest in helping support our public housing stock. Maybe Senator Klein can help us advocate for state funding for the New York City Housing Authority,” she continued.

My dear reader, as you can see, the stain of Albany is not only tainted by the scandals and corruption of state officials who have been indicted, or who are accused of rape and sexual abuse, or who misuse travel expenses or campaign funds, or who engage in bribery, or who are running for cover to hide from the tenacious U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. New York politics is now overshadowed with the obvious war between Albany and New York City Hall, where legislators are adding themselves to the ground troops.

Ladies and gentlemen, we all remember the chilling words that U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara left us with on January 23rd when he said: “Stay tuned.” With all due respect to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, I would like to borrow his phrase to tell all of you: Stay tuned for more dirt between Albany and City Hall.

For my part, you should know that there is no love lost between City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and myself. We don’t communicate, speak at all – we don’t even like each other. And I really believe that she is some of the things that she has been called in the past: a communist, anti-American, a terrorist sympathizer, a socialist, a left-winger – but an idiot? I don’t think so. Especially after her State of the City speech.

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