Raucous Immigration Forum Highlights Deep Divisions

February 26, 2009

By Paul Leonard / Queens Chronicle

Though Councilwoman-elect Julissa Ferreras netted the win on election night, last Thursday's immigrant forum undoubtedly belonged to businessman-turned-longshot candidate Eduardo Giraldo.

Around 170 people packed the Elmhurst headquarters of immigrant rights advocates Make the Road New York, with Giraldo supporters cheering and applauding loudly at what organizers hoped would be a laid-back question-and-answer session focused on issues plaguing newcomers to this country, legal and illegal.

Instead, the forum revealed pervasive ethnic, racial and political divisions not likely to be solved by one City Council campaign.

"His only interest is to look after the well-being of the Latino community," candidate George Dixon said of Giraldo. "It is clear that he is not interested in representing the rest of the community."

Dixon, who is black, accused Giraldo of taking advantage of long-simmering resentment between African-American residents and Latinos.

Following the debate, Giraldo fired back, accusing Dixon of sour grapes over the former Queens Hispanic Chamber of Commerce leader's inroads in East Elmhurst — considered to be Dixon's base of support.

"Obviously this district is very big so there is little communication between different groups of people," Giraldo said. "But if I'm elected, I will do my best to bring everyone together."

Meanwhile, Tuesday night's victor Ferreras tried to stay out of the fray.

Several people in the crowd asked Ferreras about her involvement in the alleged involvement in the mismanagement of funds at nonprofit LIBRE.

Others aired their grievances about Ferreras' former boss, state Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-East Elmhurst).

One of Ferreras' chief rivals for the seat, Francisco Moya, did not appear at last week's event, citing scheduling conflicts.

Lost in much of the mudslinging were many of the legislative goals of forum co-sponsors Make the Road, the New Immigrant Community Empowerment and South-Asian immigrant advocates Chhaya.

"Really this event was about educating the candidates on the issues that our members care about," said Javier Valdes, deputy director of Make the Road.

On the agenda were several measures before the City Council, ranging from the establishment of a school holiday for the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha to a bill calling for safe and equal access to prescription medications.

"If would be unfortunate if what was remembered from that night wasn't the issues, but all the personal accusations flying around," Valdes said.