The Manhattan Times

With 72nd Assembly District Candidate Nelson Denis looking on, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez complained to seniors at a recent rally that organizers shouldn't have used a candidate's truck for a sound system. Photo: Daniel P. Bader

It’s not the sound system two elected officials had a problem with at a recent rally, it was that the microphone was plugged into a huge advertisement for Nelson Denis.

Denis, a candidate for the 72^nd Assembly seat, loaned his campaign truck and sound system to the seniors who rallied against city budget cuts on Thu., June 17 on W. 175^th Street.

But the good turn, which came with the perk of having his mug in front of about 100 senior voters, left a sour taste in the mouths of local elected officials, who objected to Denis’ name and face being lent to the event.

“I have a lot of problems having a rally in front of this political affair,” Maria Luna, the 71^st Assembly District Leader, told the crowd, using Denis’ microphone. “This rally should not be in front of Denis’ truck.”

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, who had inquired with a police officer about removing the truck, also used the candidate’s own truck to protest its use.

“I’m disappointed that [Ft. Washington Senior Center Executive Director Fern Hertzberg] and others brought this guy with his picture on his truck,” Rodriguez said, adding that he supports former Council Member Guillermo Linares for the job as Assembly member.

To his credit, Denis tried to cover his name with a black cloth, but a strong wind kept blowing it free from the truck.

When it came time for them to speak, neither Denis nor Linares mentioned the truck, and stuck to addressing the voters in front of them.

“We borrowed the truck,” said organizer Siegfried Holzer. At first he asked the Parks Department for their stage and sound system, but the group couldn’t afford the $600 price tag for the hour-long rally.

Holzer said he ran into Denis on W. 132^nd Street with the truck and told him about the need for a public address system for the rally.

“At the time, he didn’t have his name on it,” Holzer said.

He’s unapologetic, however, about borrowing the truck.

“I didn’t do this as a campaign thing,” Holzer said. “My feeling is everyone should get involved. … We invited everyone because they’re the ones we’re going to have to approach after they’re elected.”