Senator Ruben Diaz just sent out a press release once again criticizing Andrew Cuomo for failing to pick a minority to be on his ticket. This comes one day after he made it clear he would have preferred Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown over Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy.

The outspoken Senator seized on reports that Cuomo had called to apologize for the decision to Reverend Al Sharpton, and then he went one step further, suggesting Democratic leaders are taking Hispanics for granted.

“I am glad to hear that our future Governor, Andrew Cuomo has called Rev. Al Sharpton to apologize for not choosing a person of color on his ballot for Governor.”

“At the same time, it worries me that Andrew Cuomo did not take the same opportunity and show a little respect and appreciation to the Hispanic community. This is the dilemma that we, the Hispanics, face. Our endorsement and vote has always been solid towards the Democratic Party, but they have always taken us for granted.”

The entire news release is after the jump.

Hispanics Ignored Once Again

I am glad to hear that our future Governor, Andrew Cuomo has called Rev. Al Sharpton to apologize for not choosing a person of color on his ballot for Governor.

At the same time, it worries me that Andrew Cuomo did not take the same opportunity and show a little respect and appreciation to the Hispanic community. This is the dilemma that we, the Hispanics, face. Our endorsement and vote has always been solid towards the Democratic Party, but they have always taken us for granted.

The two ethnic groups that have always shown solid affiliation with the Democratic Party are African Americans and Hispanics. Without the support of both groups, the Democratic Party would not exist.

But the fact of the matter is that both groups are regarded as secured votes and are not considered for high positions of leadership throughout the state is very disappointing.

It is even more disappointing to see that all candidates for elected positions in this election are all Caucasian and that there is not one Hispanic or an African American; and at the same time, Andrew Cuomo did not have the same courtesy to pick up the phone and call the Hispanic leadership and apologize publicly as he did with the Rev. Al Sharpton.

I realize that the times of Ramón S. Velez, Gilberto Gerena Valentín, Dr. Evelina Antoneti, Herman Badillo, Belen Dennis and those great leaders who moved our community no longer exist. But at the same time, I think we have to form political and militant boycotts again to show that our community deserves respect and consideration.

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