It's official: Boycotter leader just another politician

Another story from this week's Riverdale Review.

By Brendan McHugh 

Stanton is running for City Council.

Cliff Stanton, a Van Cortlandt Village resident who is involved in the boycott of the Riverdale Review, has opened a campaign committee with the Board of Elections to run for City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell’s seat in 2013. 

Koppell is term limited, forcing him to vacate the seat. 

Stanton also runs United Snacks, which has a relationship with the Nuts4Nuts street vendors. Locally, he is involved with the parents associations of P.S. 24 and Bronx High School of Science and is the treasurer of the Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation. 

During a brief phone interview, Stanton said he is not inclined to speak with this newspaper. 

"This is not the best time to have the conversation. Frankly, I'm not going to have a whole lot to say," he said. 

When asked if he would continue to boycott our newspaper, he would not say. "Listen, we have nothing to say to each other. I have nothing against you personally, OK?" he replied. 

And when pressed further, he stuck to his guns. "I have nothing to say to you." 

After trying to change topics, asking what he would bring to office, he abruptly hung up. 

Stanton did speak with the Observer, blaming the Bronx Democratic Party for spreading political cynicism. “I’m certain that it is responsible. I’m not opposing individuals here, but I’m opposing this culture, and I’m holding them responsible for perpetuating this culture,” he said. 

Video: Dinowitz, Press, Speak On Behalf Of Diaz

Here is some video of this evening's meeting of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club. First, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz speaks in support of Assemblyman Ruben Diaz's campaign for borough president.

Something worth noting: At about 0:40 in the video City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell states that his colleague, Larry Seabrook, has told him he is "likely" to run himself.



Next, Robert Press, vice chairman of the Committee of 100 Democrats, does the same.



--John DeSio

Committee of 100 Backs Diaz

The Committee of 100 Democrats, a political club based in Assemblyman Jose Rivera’s 78th Assembly District, just announced their endorsement of Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. over the ousted Bronx Democratic County chairman’s son, City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera.

“While we have spoken to other candidates there appears to be no serious competition for Ruben Diaz Jr.,” said Vice Chairman Robert Press.

The resurrected northwest Bronx political club of the late Dominick Fusco, whose membership has been aligned with Rainbow Rebellion leaders in the still ongoing county chair fray, made the endorsement following a special executive committee meeting convened this past weekend.

“We feel Ruben Diaz Jr. has been a voice of the people and has fought for concerns of the people of the Bronx during his time in elected office,” Press added.

The Committee’s president, Ricky Martinez, is also rumored to be eyeing Assemblyman Rivera’s seat for a run.

--Candice M. Giove