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Lawrence Mayor meets with
Hispanic Media |
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Alberto
Surís
albertosuris@rumbonews.com
On Wednesday, April 27, 2011, Lawrence Mayor William
Lantigua met with Hispanic local media at his office located
at City Hall for over one hour and a half. From a list of 27
representatives of talk radio shows, T.V. and newspapers, 13
attended.
Lantigua did not allow videotaping at the press conference.
Only audio and T.V. (Mass T.V.) and explained that he wanted
to follow the same format he did with the traditional media
(English-speaking media).
“The reason for this meeting is because in my opinion, the
Spanish-speaking population of Lawrence is not aware of what
is going on,” expressed the Mayor in his opening remarks.
Lantigua was referring to the numerous articles being
published for the past couple of weeks in the traditional
media in English about an investigation by federal and local
law enforcement for corruption within his administration.
“Everything those newspapers have been informing is totally
false,” stressed Lantigua.
His decision for calling this meeting was welcomed by the
majority of the attendees, especially because most of them
are not fluent in English. Ernesto Bautista, producer of
Mass TV expressed his personal gratitude to the mayor and
speaking for the group said that, “I’m tired of learning
from the English media what is going on in my city.”
“That is why I wanted to have this meeting with you without
the need of a translator,” said the Mayor and assured that
this kind of meetings won’t be the last.
Without mentioning the names of the newspapers, Lantigua was
referring to the reports that appeared first in The Boston
Globe.
“Federal and state authorities are investigating Mayor
William Lantigua of Lawrence on possible corruption and
other wrongdoing, intensifying controversy surrounding the
leader of one of the state’s most financially troubled
cities, according to law enforcement officials and one
person who was interviewed by the FBI,” said the Globe on
April 23, 2011 and continued:
“The FBI, the Essex district attorney, and other agencies
are looking into Lantigua’s dealings with companies that
work for the city and into his ongoing public battle with
the Lawrence Police Department, according to the officials,
who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the
investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officials are
particularly interested in the mayor’s control over which
companies get towing business with the city and who is
permitted to operate taxicabs.
One person who has been repeatedly interviewed by state and
federal investigators said the agents were very interested
in Lantigua’s financial connections, if any, to half a dozen
bars and nightclubs, some of which opened since he took
office in 2010.
Lantigua’s wife has served on the Licensing Commission that
controls which establishments can sell alcohol; police say
that Lantigua regularly frequents downtown clubs such as
Centro.
“They want to know about those places,’’ the person said,
speaking on condition of anonymity. “There are a lot of
questions,” ended The Globe.
“This information is totally false. My record has been more
than investigated. I don’t know what else I can explain.
Sometimes I think I’m wasting my time,” expressed Lantigua.
Lantigua responds, this time in Spanish, to the charges
printed by The Globe:
1- There is no control over which companies get towing
business from the city. The city has no contract with any of
the four companies that have been operating within the city
since the day of the former administration.
2- Which companies are permitted to operate taxicabs?
Lantigua said that he has not talked to any taxi cab
companies and no new company has been formed, except for the
merger of two companies to become one. He said that Melix
Bonilla has been in charge of organizing the taxi cabs long
before he was elected mayor. “Taxi cabs companies are
authorized by both, the Lawrence Police and the City Council
not the mayor,” said Lantigua.
3- “The Globe questions my financial connections with
establishments that sell alcohol as Centro Night Club, since
my wife serves on the Licensing Commission,” said Lantigua.
“When I ran for mayor, I said: If I have to change my life
style, don’t elect me! I like to dance to Bachata that is
why I go to night clubs and with respect to Mayra Lantigua,
she was appointed to that board by former Mayor Sullivan.
“I was elected to make fundamentals changes and I’m making
them. I have been accused of laundering money, trafficking
arms and drugs. Still, with the pressure of those false
charges I have not stopped moving our community forward,”
said the mayor.
During the press conference, Lantigua said that for
seventeen years he had not traveled to the Dominican
Republic, but since he was elected he has been there three
times, invited by Dominican authorities, where he has been
recognized for his accomplishments in this country. “I paid
for those trips with my own money, even when, if when
invited to represent the city, I could get reimbursed for
it.”
After checking his passport, Lantigua called Rumbo to
correct his last statement. “Actually, I have been there
four times. Three in official business and the most recent
one for my little sister’s wedding.”
Members of Hispanic Media who attended the press
conference.
Carmen Chalas, Micrófono Abierto
Rubén Ventura, Vacilón Informativo
Altagracia Mayí, Mirada de Mujer
Luis Ángel Colon (El Sencillo), Al Ritmo de la Noche
José Ayala, Impacto Noticias
Dalia Díaz, Rumbo
Alberto Suris, Rumbo
José Luis Rodrígez, Cotorreando
Ernesto Bautista, MassTV
José Gerónimo, Visión Sin Fronteras
Héctor Bretón, Siglo 21
Eduardo Herrera, Poder de la Noche
Daysi Gómez, Tu Revista Matinal
Members of Hispanic Media who were invited but did not
attended to the press conference.
Johnny Castillo, Vía Libre
Dionis Alcántara, Vacilón Informativo (representado por
Rubén Ventura)
Juan A. del Toro, Impacto Noticias (Representado por José
Ayala)
Beatriz Pérez, En Plural
Carlos Martínez, Actualidad Hispana
Persio Acevedo, El Podcast de Persio Acevedo
Luis Hiraldo, La Voz del Pueblo
Arnaldo José, Fiesta en el Barrio
Víctor Tolentino, Los Compadres
Antonio López, Plutis.com
Fifi García, Tu Revista Matinal (Representada por Daysi
Gómez
Julio García, La Alegría del Valle
Felicita Arroyo, Cotorreando (Representada por José Luis
Rodríguez)
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