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Bronx Pols Slam Council Candidate Over Racially Charged Tweet

By Shant Shahrigian | June 4, 2017 9:41pm
 City Council candidate Alex Gomez (left) inferred that Assemblyman Marcos Crespo is only
City Council candidate Alex Gomez (left) inferred that Assemblyman Marcos Crespo is only "Latino on the outside" in a two tweets he posted.
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BRONX — A pair of Bronx assemblymen are slamming City Council hopeful Alex Gomez over recent tweets in which he used a racial slur to describe an opponent.

Gomez on Tuesday sent out two tweets criticizing Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, the chair of the Bronx Democratic party, for supporting fellow Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, using the hashag "oreo."

"@MarcosCrespo85 is this the type of person you endorse & want representing the Bronx & 13th Council District? #oreo #corrupt #bronxdems," the tweets read.

Gomez included links to two stories about Gjonaj in his missives.

Merriam-Webster defines “oreo” as “a stereotype created by blacks for other blacks who are ‘black on the outside, white on the inside.’”

Gomez, 39, who is Latino, said in a Thursday phone interview that he used the slur to convey that Crespo is only Latino “on the outside.”

“I believe he wants to be part of the white establishment and he wants to appease to them. Every other elected official in that community is white,” he added.

Crespo blasted Gomez for the remarks.

“For anybody, particularly somebody of color, who claims to be concerned about lack of respect to certain communities, I just think it’s inappropriate and demeaning to the campaign,” said Crespo, 36. “It’s not the kind of politics that the community deserves and the people of the Bronx deserve. He should apologize for it,” Crespo added.

Crespo and Gomez met earlier in the spring, when Gomez asked for the Bronx Democratic County Committee’s endorsement for the City Council seat being vacated by James Vacca.

That district covers neighborhoods including Allerton, Pelham Bay and Throggs Neck. The party ended up endorsing Gjonaj, who has represented the east Bronx in the state Assembly since 2013.

“I guess he didn’t appreciate that he didn’t get our endorsement,” Crespo said. “To use that racial slur is just so out of line.”

The tweets smacked of desperation to Gjonaj, whose campaign had raised $352,200.10 as of Thursday, according to city records. Gomez had garnered just $5,477.51.

“They’re going to use whatever methods to promote themselves,” Gjonaj, 48, said of Gomez. “Unfortunately, this is the climate not only at the local level, but throughout the state and country.”

“There should be no room for it in my race or any other race.”

While the assemblymen took pains to emphasize the election is not about race, Gomez returned to the theme again and again.

“I totally disagree with Marcos and think he has sold out on his own people,” Gomez said. “I think it’s his responsibility as a Latino leader to engage the Latino community if they are not engaged.”

Asked about Crespo’s demand for an apology, Gomez said he wouldn’t make one.

“I think he needs to apologize to me and to the other candidate for saying what he said to us in private,” Gomez said, referencing the meeting in which he discussed the Bronx Democratic party’s endorsement with Crespo. Gomez did not specify who “the other candidate” was.

Candidates for the 13th District seat are expected to debate on July 25 at the City Island Civic Association.

Asked if he would confront Gomez about his tweets the next time he sees him, Gjonaj said, "I will certainly have a comment or two for my friend Mr. Gomez."