TODO TIENE SU FINAL

The “King” has been dethroned. The first nail has been hammered into the casket. The end is near. José Rivera, Bronx New York State Assembly member and for 6 years Bronx Democratic party Boss has been declared a loser by the Bronx Supreme Court. He will no longer serve as the Chairman of the Bronx Democratic Party. The “Rainbow Rebels” have finally defeated the Bronx Cacique.

Rumors abound as to how Rivera will respond to the loss. Will he mount a full court attack on the Rainbow Rebels by running a candidate for Borough President and by challenging Rainbow rebel incumbents? Will he form a coalition with newly elected State Senator Pedro Espada? Some say he will make a nonaggression pact with the Rainbow Rebels, protect his son’s seat and ride into the sunset with a plum position.

The day after the Court decree there were few people defending Rivera. The El Diario Editorial seemed to say that Rivera brought this on himself by engaging in gross nepotism and using autocratic measures against all who criticized him. The message of the Editorial was clearly one of advising readers that it was time to move on.

Among the few defenders of Boss Rivera was El Diario’s columnist Gerson Borrero. Borrero went so far as to suggest that Puerto Ricans and Latino people have genetic material that inclines them to attack and destroy any member of their group that rises. Borrero argues that Rivera was the only Puerto Rican/Latino county leader and deserved more support from “all those people he helped”.

Assemblyman Rivera, always with his video camera seen in many community cultural gatherings and staunch supporter of Puerto Rican causes forgot the fundamentals of why he was elected, to help improve the conditions of his entire community here in the Bronx and address issues affecting Puerto Ricans closer to home.

There has been much speculation about the relationship of Gerson Borrero to José Rivera. In previous essays I wrote entitled “Boricua Si, Pendejo No.” I attempted to refute the arguments presented by Borrero. His reasoning is very dangerous and takes Nationalism to its ultimate.

Both the Accomplishments and Sins of Boss Rivera have been detailed in my two previous essays. Most dictionaries define nepotism as the practice of showing favoritism to relatives-through Appointments, support for public office, etc in disregard to the claims of others better fitted for office. Most politicians engage in small doses of nepotism-Rivera over dosed on it. Rivera as Bronx Democratic Leader anointed his son (to City Council) and his daughter (to New York State Assembly) and had plans to run his son-in-law for office; helped his other son obtain employment with State senator Malcolm Smith; assisted the mother of two of his children and his daughter in law in keeping their very “political” positions.

Cronyism is similar to Nepotism but includes favorable treatment to cronies (friends) like supporting unqualified candidates such as Councilmember Maria Baez-based on friendship, not competency.

Borrero ignores this and practically chastises Boricuas-who were helped by Rivera and now have abandoned him. He cites Roberto Ramirez and Fernando Ferrer-but implies all Latinos engage in the practice of bringing down the successful of there own kind.

How far does Gerson take this position? Does it mean as long as I am Puerto Rican/Latino I can get away with anything? Are we not to hold our elected officials accountable? How much nepotism and cronyism is enough before we say no?

Gerson fails to answer these questions. As many questions there are of Rivera, there are even more of the Rainbow Rebels? Among their advisors is attorney Stanly Schlein-who served both former convicted Bronx Democratic leader Stanley Friedman and Boss Rivera. Schlein, who has never been about change or reform, is rumored to be in line to serve as counsel to Ruben Diaz Jr. attempt to become Bronx Borough President.

Schlein is about deals, contracts, judicial appointments and business. Another leader of the Rainbow Rebels is State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. In these times of economic collapse, the housing crisis, and growing poverty, the main concern of Ruben Diaz has been to stop the legalization of Gay marriage in New York State.

The Rainbow Rebels sure don’t sound like rebels to me. It look more like “quitate tu pa ponerme yo” politics. Perhaps the last and most important questions are whether a third independent progressive alternative will appear in the Bronx? Will there be candidates whose commitment to the community is primary and who will be able to avoid the temptations and seductions of the Status Quo? Candidates whose main goal is to empower their communities as opposed to self-individual advancement? Candidates who will bring ethics and reform back to the Bronx?

The Rainbow Rebels were right when they said we need a change. The question is who will bring real change?

For the time being I have visions of José Rivera sitting at a bar in Old San Juan listening over and over to Hector Lavoe’s “Todo Tiene Su Final”.