Se jodio the Puerto Rican Day Parade if the “blue flu” hits town
There’s a buzz in municipal labor circles that as June 11 gets closer there’s going to be an outbreak of “blue flu” that will spread among the NYPD rank-and-file. The mass “sick day” among police officers would be a means of protesting the presence and designation of Oscar López Rivera as a National Freedom Hero by the National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s board of directors.
Bochincheros tell us that New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch – who’s very creative in finding ways to deal with people that the PBA opposes (just ask Mayor Bill de Blasio) – already has this in mind. “If the blue flu hits the rank-and-file, it could put the parade at risk of taking place,” said a bochinchero who is familiar with the operations of these big events. “The permit to march on Fifth Avenue could be revoked if security can’t be guaranteed.” I bet the board didn’t see this one coming.
RELATED: Is WABC souring on the Puerto Rican Day Parade?
Schneiderman being served an arroz con cu ...
Fed up with the mess that the National Puerto Rican Day Parade board of directors has created, there’s bochinche among well-known puertorriqueños that they want a meeting with state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “He (Eric) handpicked the leadership and let Melissa (Mark-Viverito) politicize the process. It’s time for him to step in,” said one of the bochincheros who’s not happy with the attorney general. B&B was told that Schneiderman “won’t get involved unless there’s some misappropriation of funds or some other administrative matter that affects the organization.” We hear that’s not going to sit well with folks that have lost faith in the current board leadership. Stay tuned.
Nicole gaining traction
The late entrant into the 2017 New York City mayoral race, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, is being viewed favorably among Republicans. One bochinchero said, “She's energetic and engaging.” There are others who feel that Malliotakis “beats Massey in the primary but loses in the November general.” There is consensus that the debates between Malliotakis and Massey will be fun to watch. What’s telling among Republicans that we’ve spoken to is that “Paul Massey is his own worst enemy.” Two bochincheros agreed, with one saying, “He’s a nice enough guy, probably makes a good neighbor, but he's low energy. The 2017 version of Jeb Bush.” One knowledgeable GOP bochinchero emphasized that Massey is “probably a good neighbor, but would make a shitty mayor.” I’m sure some of you are thinking, “We already have that at City Hall.”
RELATED: A Q&A with New York City mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis
Liu vs. Avella rematch
One Queens bochinchero – a lifelong Democrat and county insider – told B&B that there’s a groundswell of support among the regulars to convince former New York City Comptroller John Liu to primary state Sen. Tony Avella, a member of the Independent Democratic Conference. “He (Liu) was a little radioactive then (in 2014), but he’s going to have solid support now. Tony has very few friends in government.” That support from the county organization and “a good look at the numbers in their first race” should be enough to get Liu a victory in a primary, according to the bochinchero. Democrats in Queens are already buzzing about Assemblyman Francisco Moya taking on state Sen. José Peralta, another IDC member. However, if professor Liu decides that academia isn’t cutting it for him this could be a pelea to look forward to. Let us pray!
NEXT STORY: Winners & Losers 5/26/17