Uproar follows Monserrate to pair of Ecuadorian heritage events
Posted on August 2, 2010 by Christina Santucci and Howard Koplowitz in Assembly, District 13, District 39, State Senate
Karla Giraldo (r.) proclaims her Ecuadorian heritage. Photo by Christina Santucci
Former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate showed up to two community events honoring the Ecuadorian community over the weekend as tension and arguments erupted between himself and elected officials and his Assembly primary opponent, Francisco Moya.
Monserrate attended the renaming of a Corona street Saturday that honored the Ecuadorian community with since reconciled ex-girlfriend Karla Giraldo at his side, although the former legislator was not invited to the event.
Before the sign was unveiled, chants of “Hey hey, ho ho, Hiram Monserrate has got to go!” rang out, with state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Jackson Heights) among the chanters.
Peralta replaced Monserrate in the Senate after Monserrate was kicked out of the body by his colleagues last year following his misdemeanor assault conviction for slashing Giraldo’s face with a broken glass.
Giraldo, who is Ecuadorian, screamed, saying the elected officials were disrespecting her heritage.
Earlier at the event, City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst) was also the subject of protest as several picketers criticized her over a payment dispute involving a former intern.
Moya spokesman Nathan Smith said the intern’s uncle, Charlie Castro, was a former Monserrate staffer and accused Monserrate of encouraging the protest to disturb the ceremony.
“We are running a non-confrontational campaign,” Smith said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to run a non-confrontational campaign when Hiram’s involved, as witnessed by the street renaming.”
At the Ecuadorian Parade in Jackson Heights Sunday, Monserrate again showed up with Giraldo.
Moya’s brother, Edgar Moya, attempted to prevent Monserrate from marching in the parade, arguing he did not have a permit to participate, Monserrate spokesman Mike Nieves said.
Smith said Edgar Moya was not involved in the dispute and that Monserrate requested to march with his campaign banner next to elected officials, but Nieves denied that took place.
After speaking with police officers and the president of the parade, Monserrate was allowed to march behind another Assembly candidate, Anthony Miranda.
Monserrate told Francisco Moya that he should act like a gentleman and the two argued over who was being a “gentleman.”
“You’re not a gentlemen,” Moya said. “If you were a gentleman, it would be completely different.”
Nieves said Moya and the elected officials “can act however they want to act.”
“We’re in harmony with the Ecuadorian community,” Nieves said. “We don’t want this to be anything other than that.”
-
- About one dozen people staged a protest against Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (r.) over a payment dispute with one of her employees, Steven Castro. Photo by Christina Santucci
About one dozen people staged a protest against Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (r.) over a payment dispute with one of her employees, Steven Castro. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Both candidates for Jose Peralta's former Assembly seat - Hiram Monserrate (l.) and Francisco Moya (r.) were in attendance. Photo by Christina Santucci
Both candidates for Jose Peralta's former Assembly seat - Hiram Monserrate (l.) and Francisco Moya (r.) were in attendance. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Protesters yell in support of Steven Castro. Photo by Christina Santucci
Protesters yell in support of Steven Castro. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Hiram Monserrate uses his phone while Francisco Moya speaks. Photo by Christina Santucci
Hiram Monserrate uses his phone while Francisco Moya speaks. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Francisco Moya spoke during the event, while Hiram Monserrate did not. Photo by Christina Santucci
Francisco Moya spoke during the event, while Hiram Monserrate did not. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Assemblyman Jose Peralta chants, "Monserrate has got to go." Photo by Christina Santucci
Assemblyman Jose Peralta chants, "Monserrate has got to go." Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Grupo Infantil Bella Flor de Maiz. Photo by Christina Santucci
Grupo Infantil Bella Flor de Maiz. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Jorge Lopez, Consul General del Ecuador (c.) applauds for the dancers from Grupo Infantil Bella Flor de Maiz. Photo by Christina Santucci
Jorge Lopez, Consul General del Ecuador (c.) applauds for the dancers from Grupo Infantil Bella Flor de Maiz. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Elected officials, Ecuadorian honorees and candidates for office all helped to pull off the sign covering for Calle Mitad del Mundo. Photo by Christina Santucci
Elected officials, Ecuadorian honorees and candidates for office all helped to pull off the sign covering for Calle Mitad del Mundo. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (l. to r.), Assembly candidate Francisco Moya, Councilman Danny Dromm and Assembly candidate Hiram Monserrate pose for a photo after the street-name unveiling. Photo by Christina Santucci
Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (l. to r.), Assembly candidate Francisco Moya, Councilman Danny Dromm and Assembly candidate Hiram Monserrate pose for a photo after the street-name unveiling. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Words are exchanged between Councilman Hiram Monserrate (c.) and Assmblyman Jose Peralta. Photo by Christina Santucci
Words are exchanged between Councilman Hiram Monserrate (c.) and Assmblyman Jose Peralta. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Queens County Civil Court Judge Carmen Velasquez, Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, Assemblyman Jose Peralta, Assembly candidate Francisco Moya and Councilman Danny Dromm pose for a seperate photo without Monserrate as Democratic District Leader Martha Flores-Vazquez (r.), a Monserrate ally, shouts criticisms of Peralta. Photo by Christina Santucci
Queens County Civil Court Judge Carmen Velasquez, Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, Assemblyman Jose Peralta, Assembly candidate Francisco Moya and Councilman Danny Dromm pose for a seperate photo without Monserrate as Democratic District Leader Martha Flores-Vazquez (r.), a Monserrate ally, shouts criticisms of Peralta. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Monserrate (l.) attended the street renaming event with girlfriend Karla Giraldo, whom he was convicted of assaulting last year. Photo by Christina Santucci
Monserrate (l.) attended the street renaming event with girlfriend Karla Giraldo, whom he was convicted of assaulting last year. Photo by Christina Santucci
-
- Karla Giraldo (r.) proclaims her Ecuadorian heritage. Photo by Christina Santucci
Karla Giraldo (r.) proclaims her Ecuadorian heritage. Photo by Christina Santucci
Brilliant.
Monserrate is a thug – and a turncoat on top of that. Nobody liked him when he was a cop in the 111th precinct. Nobody liked him in the City Council. Ditto for the State Senate.
But his vote was needed in the Senate. Not so in the Assembly, where Sheldon Silver has a huge majority of hand-puppets to nod on cue.
Hopefully, the voters in his district will show just a glimmer of common sense and turn their backs on him… in the one instance where it’s safe.
Who is Francisco Moya anyway? Never heard of him.
So let me get this straight,Francisco Moya unilaterally decides who gets to march in the ecuadorian parade.And other elected officials like dromm and peralta openly encouraged this fascist thug.Right.
I am going to vote for Monserrate just because it would be so ironic that Hiram actually wins and returns to office based on the anti-incumbent sentiment among us voters.