At least, he appears relaxed and confident.
Earlier today, I had lunch with Rivera and two of his volunteers at New Capital Restaurent, a diner on West Kingsbrige Road.
Rivera was in good spirits. “Love it! Love it!” he chuckled, pointed at a large, red Pedro Espada poster, in the restuarant window, as he walked through the front door. (Rivera, we’re assuming most people know by now, is running against Espada, in what is one of the most watched races in the state. Tomorrow is Primary Day.)
a little after 2 p.m., I joined Gustavo Rivera and two of his volunteers
Called the call: “One more example of how this man has been disrespectful” trying to confuse voters.
How he’s continuing to deliver this message” “People recognize me and they’re engergized.”
Saw Espada’s poster: “Love it!” “Love it!” ha has.
“The only thing I can do as a candidate is save money and talk to voters.”
He seems both amused and horrified (mainly horrified) by some of the fliers he’s seen, including one of his head seemingly on fire.
“Figuring out where mailings come from is not going to win us an election.”
As for the phone calls, if they are from Espada’s campaign “a blatant attempt at misinforming the public and suppressing the vote.”
“We’re talking about tactics that are right out of the playbook of southern states… trying disenfranchise the voters.” 21st Century.
How he called the precincts, because during the campaign “my staff have been threatened”
Say when Rivera and Espada are voting.
Massive get out the vote drive tomorrow.
Brushed off talk of being called an… “As someone who has been around campaigns, people get called all kinds of things.”
A chicken, mushroom, and cheese concoction.
“very very honored to not only receive their support but their active support.”
Tomorrow, he said, you will see that the people who are working on his campaign, the volunteers, etc. – huge get out the vote effort. You will see that they’re not outsiders, but “these are people who live and work in this community, that know that [he] has failed them and want someone who works for them.”
“The turnout is not going to be humongous” but might be quite high bc of the interest surrouning this race, and the fact that there are other competative races in the Bronx.
Called True Blood: “Underwhelming.”
From Chris Malone:
They’re not sending federal election monitors. They don’t give a reason but Malone said he spoke with a lawyer at the Department of Justice, and they said they wouldn’ say why. Malone suspects it because it may be more of a state issue.
Trying to get into Tracey Towers all day but management locked them out. Espada, on the other hand, has been allowed in. Chris Malone: “It’s a clear double standard.”
The best counteract to this kind of this, Malone said, is “the eyes and ears of the community.” Said it’s a positive sign for Rivera’s campaign that people are coming out and talking about these things.
Tomorrow: “It’s probably get worse.”
RY Management. Revine??
Election will be decided not by robocalls but by people on the block rejecting Espada.
Management at Tracy has locked out Gustavo’s people today, but
