Titone, Savino Denounce Diaz Sr. As ‘Media Whore’ (Updated)

Diaz is a truly reprehensible bigot. I'm glad some Democrats are finally standing up to him. Diaz doesn't care about anybody on Staten Island.

I'm stunned.. but as that feeling dies.. I'm outranged. Most of the time no one cares what happens on Staten Island. Isn't Staten Island called the forgotten borough.

Thanks Savino… (Your record speaks loudly how well you are working for us! and Titone.. I don't know much about you but.. UR doing a great job!! Thanks for calling the Rev. out! LOL..

Let me see if I am following this correctly: the message from Rev. Baker, according to Senator Savino's statement right before Titone's speech is: “Senator Diaz, we have a message from Reverend Baker. Then Titone goes into his “media whore” rant. So, the message from Reverend Baker to Senator Diaz is to have the courtesy to dress up like a “media whore”?

Dave-

How can you say one issue trumps another issue. In all communities, politicians need to multi-task just like the rest of us are doing in our jobs every day.

You can imply all you want that unemployment rate trumps hate crimes and that you see the real issues. However, Assemblymember Titone has been addressing the issues you talk about while doing things for all communities that suffer attacks based on discrimination—so his record and work speak for themselves.

Your implications without facts in your response and baseless attacks are only showing me that this is likely coming from a sinking campaign.

Mr. Zacchi,

Using human tragedy as a political football does little to solve the problem of bias attacks in our community.

Mr. Titone’s high-handed, high-heeled stunt accomplished absolutely nothing – except to perhaps escalate the disunity and dysfunction of our so-called leadership on Staten Island. At worst, it was little more than a premeditated media stunt in itself, designed to score points at the expense of a political opponent.

Engaging in this type of petty behavior while ignoring the real issues facing us is what has brought New York State to the brink of insolvency, and is driving it right off a cliff.

For the record, it is the un-admitted depression we are in and 19% unemployment that fuels such crime, especially in neighborhoods with poor immigrant populations.

Unemployment does not trump bias attacks, sir… It is the root cause of them.

I also personally object to using women who have turned to prostitution as a means to survive (another product of hard times) as an insult. I found it distasteful and unbecoming of the man.

Thoreau said: “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.”

I propose to strike at the root.

Dave Narby

http://www.Dave4Assembly.com

Apparently so.Although they're using one stereotype to battle another.

Mr. “City Guy”,

I am glad we can agree that the most basic of the underlying issues (ie, bigger, more pressing problems) is unemployment, to say nothing of the other near-catastrophic strain this is causing on the New York economy and budget.

It is no coincidence that the violent crime rate, both biased and “unbiased,” has soared citywide this year along with unemployment. It seems it's the only thing the government’s been able to stimulate with any real effect.

From the August 11 New York magazine online:

“There are no jobs,” said Vernon Williams, an anti-violence activist and Harlem street pastor who spends much of his time talking to gang members. “There are no programs to educate people. Heck, even the drug trade is suffering. When the drug dealers are having a problem and the nine-to-fivers are having a problem, that says the economy is real bad…”

From an Ohio State study:

“Public officials can put more cops on the beat, pass tougher sentencing laws, and take other steps to reduce crime, but there are limits to how much these can do,” he said. “We found that a bad labor market has a profound impact on the crime rates.” http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive//crimwage.htm

Happily, you and I can also agree that a multi-pronged solution is necessary to deal with the problem. There’s no argument public denouncement plays an initial part in that strategy. But that’s not what Mr. Titone was doing in this case, and if we’re being honest here, I think we can both agree on that, too.

The Assemblyman offered up personal attacks and political theater over practical solutions. For reasons that are clear to the majority of New Yorkers, the animosity toward Mr. Diaz, however justified in your mind, was inappropriate in this situation. If our leadership cannot find common, civil ground on behalf of the community, there is little hope that the thugs in our midst will be moved to do so.

Personally, I have always found Mr. Titone to be a decent person, exactly why this entire episode seems out of character – I frankly suspect it was not his idea. But if someone put him up to it, they did a disservice not only to Mr. Titone, but also to the victims and families of this recent spate of attacks.

It was not activism, but rather an act of indifference. Furthermore, discriminatory sexist props and derogatory name-calling are not solutions.

In addition to addressing the root cause (unemployment), perhaps we could also start here:

- Recruit more police auxiliary in the poor sections (where assaults of *all types* are more frequent)
- Find out from the Guardian Angels what it would take to form a chapter here, and if feasible, do so
- See what help the local neighborhood watch needs, and if it doesn't exist, create one
- Have the NYPD to provide some free seminars on staying safe in affected neighborhoods
- Contact local self-defense instructors who might be interested in giving a couple of free classes to people from the neighborhoods in return for some free publicity

Talk without action is dangerous – because it gives the illusion of something being done, while allowing the problem to grow like cancer.

Strike the root, sir.

Dave Narby

http://www.Dave4Assembly.com