Here is a profile of Councilman Fernando Cabrera from the Bronx News Network. Cabrera, who was elected in 2009. defeated Maria Baez by less than 100 votes. As some readers may recall, she was regarded as one of the worst members of the Council (and that is hard to do). Here is an interesting quote from the article, "Unlike Baez, who had the worst attendance record in the Council for years, Cabrera shows up to work. He has perfect attendance at “stated” Council meetings (when the whole body convenes) and says he’s made 89 percent of his committee meetings." No where to go but up!
Imagine that … just showing up for work is the standard of excellence …The rest of us do that every day!
ReplyDeleteFor a politician with good attendance, Councilman Cabrerra never seems to say anything worth quoting and he seems invisible in the citywide press. From what can tell so far, he’s just a mediocre legislator from a lackluster Bronx delegation.
Look at the audience behind him!! Two people are about to go to sleep, two are using their BlackBerries, and the rest look terribly bored. I guess whatever Cabrerra is saying is none too exciting.
ReplyDeleteSo they are complimenting him in comparison to an absentee Council member?
ReplyDeleteWhile the Bronx has plenty of horrible councilmembers (think Joel Rivera, Oliver Koppell & Larry Seabrook), there is only one Bronx councilmember who has proven himself to be a great local legislator: JAMES VACCA of the 13th District.
ReplyDeleteAs for Mr. Cabrera, only time will tell where he belongs in the rankings. I hope that Mr. Cabrera decides to follow Mr. Vacca's fine example.
So when does 'saying something worth quoting' or getting your mug in citywide press make you a good legislator?
ReplyDeleteHow about sponsoring good legislation. How about ensuring your constituency receives its fair share of city services. How about working for the disenfranchised or under represented.
Here's a a good one: How about being honest, acting with integrity and showing the proper respect to the institution you serve in and the members you serve with.
Cabrera that Faulkner is the best chief of staff in the world!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of crap! Faulkner is the product of a community board, which makes him suspect from the get-go. Faulkner doesn't seem to be able to string together a coherent thought without first loading it up with equivocation. I can't see how having him as chief of staff helps the Cabrera navigate the machinery of the City Council.
At the second Anonymous post, that's the pic from the BP's public hearing on the Kingsbridge Armory at Lehman College. Then-candidate Cabrera was testifying his support for the living wage requirement for the project.
ReplyDeleteSo Cabrera helped kill a great project. Shame on him.
ReplyDeleteProduct of the community board? Hmm, lets think about this. Volunteers his time, free of charge, to help make his community a better place. generally a thankless gig that opens him up to criticism and little reward - you're right, those are not the kind of people we want involved in politics. Lets get more products of the machine or better yet, more nepotism!
ReplyDeleteSo far, my impression is that either Faulkner never actually means what he says or he cannot say what he means.
ReplyDeleteWhy would they write anything about him? He seems nice but dull.
ReplyDeleteFor all the Cabrera critics:
ReplyDeletehttp://boogiedowner.blogspot.com/2011/02/nyc-council-member-fernando-cabrera-to.html
http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/134062/proposed-law-would-have-landlords-post-tenants--bill-of-rights
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2011/02/16/2011-02-16_doing_right_by_tenants_pol_wants_to_protect_renters.html#community
http://councilmancabrera.com/?cat=4
http://www.news12.com/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=273598&position=1&news_type=news
http://www.news12.com/archive/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=253533&position=1&news_type=news
http://www.news12.com/archive/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=245406&position=1&news_type=news
http://www.news12.com/archive/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=242204&position=1&news_type=news