Eso lo que se llama tumbar polvo y Bloomberg es un experto en eso...

Dominicans are very important to the economy of NYC. We own and operate a lot of small businesses in our communities which contributes to the vitalization of the economy in NYC.

I understant the importance of our community, really, who cares what Bloomberg has to say about us; our hard work speaks for itself.

It is important to be recognize... facts must be stated

Before Dominicans arrived in New York; New Yorkers were in dire need of help. We just didn't know how to function.

That's right Bloomie we are the gas so don't be lighting no matches around us!!!

Although it is nice to be recognized, let us not forget and lose sight of the fact that Michael Bloomberg is Jewish, a politician, a NY business man and as such is profit motivated.

Now don't anybody tell me he gave up a profitable career in the private sector to earn $1 dollar as mayor of NYC because of benevolence. I am just not going to swallows that. Anybody who believes that is delusional and probably believes in the good fairy and still thinks Santa Clause is real. So let us put our two feet on the ground and lets get real and folks please take anything that Mikey might says with a grain of salt. I hate to sound cynical but you never know what is behind all this brown nosing with the Dominican community. "Cum grano salis," This is Latin phrase for care, intelligence and personal judgment needed when people start with flattery.

Yeah let's not gas ourselves up too much. We are indeed an important part of the city but we need to continue to evolve and further entrench ourselves into the fabric of the city. We need to continue to gain political power. It's nice having a lot of bodegas and small-business of that nature but as we've already been seeing bodegas are getting phased out of a lot of neighborhoods because of gentrification or we are being outhustled by newer hungrier immigrants (i.e. Africans, Mexicans, etc). I also believe lack of unity and organization is hurting the Dominican community from progressing even further. Keep the eyes on the prize, never settle.

This is a nice, ego-inflating gesture.

Yes, we are important part of the community, in all respects. We are laborers, nurses, technicians, engineers, bankers, doctors and lawyers, etc. Yes, we contribute. Question is how much, and are we worthy of this title conferred upon us by the mayor?

NYC's budget is >$50 B, nearly 3X DR's GNP. We represent about 7% of population, so assuming we contribute proportionally to representation, we contribute ~$3.5B, which is very signifcant but clearly not meritorious of conferred title.

Personally, I never want an award or title I didn't earn or deseve; ditto for promotions. In my opinion, we haven't earned this one yet. So let's say thanks but no thanks, and let's wait until we have earned it before accepting it.

Mayor Bloomberg is a politician, and it shows. Maybe he is just a tad better than those we are accustomed to back at home.

MJEV.

well put glaxo..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well put GLOMAX, I agree 100%.............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes and no doubt we are important group and have made significant strides in the community but not meritorious enough to deserve an all encompassing recognition from the Mayor of New York.

Particularly if we are compared to Cuban exiles, side-by-side they leave us in the dust. Thanks to their strong unity and organized cohesiveness, the Cuban community in a relatively few decades, have developed a political and economic powerhouse, unparalled among US hispanics. Neither the Puerto Ricans who came here with a foot in the door nor the Mexicans in spite of their large numbers and the longest time in the states can compare to Cuban achievements.

Guillermone,

Thanks for feedback above.

I can't believe I didn't allude to Cuban experience and influence and substantive accomplishments. I am part of both communities, in addition to PR. One grandma was born in Havana.

Yes, Cuban more than any other Hispanic community has had very palpable and substantive accomplishments in US. They've had senators an important mayors and everything in between.

They reign supreme amongst Hispanics when it comes to integration and wealth. They are very industrious and smart and hard-working; also, very well educated. Perhaps it also helps a little bit that they, many being Caucasian, don't experience as much discrimination as darker people.

They have stranglehold on conservatives, and have held all Republican and conservative US administrations hostage for at least last half century.

Anyway, Dominicans would do good to emulate Cubans a little bit.

MJEV.

Cuban achievements?

@Lovingit,

How about several US Senators and representatives. Also, US government cabinet posts.

Great wealth in south Florida.

Former Chairman of Coca Cola; present chairman of Eastman Kodak.

Arts and entertainment-several!

Etc.

MJEV.

I agee totally. However, I don't want to give them all the credit, but thanks to their industrious and other personal qualities, they arrived with advantages other groups did not have. First, it was not a peasant stock that came but rather a middle to upper middle class, better educated already successful group of professionals and business people. They simply transfered their knowledge, connections and skills to the new country. With the battle half won, the recovery was remarkable.

Additionally, no other group of immigrants had received the same amount of support and aide from the US gov't like the Cubans. No one else knew how to take advantage of that to help themselves quickly advance and take a large leap forward. And yes the vast majority were white European and because of that did not experience the same barriers of discrimination darker skin immigrants received. They had a much easier time to access opportunities and were thereby allowed to succeed in American society

Cubans had some advantages though. Not really fair to compare them to other immigrant groups. Many of the first wave who came escaping Castro were fairly well educated, that along with many being of lighter skin helped them assimilate very quickly and establish themselves.

@ Gloma- On the topic of Cuban Achievements in America Please lets not forget The Cuban Adjustment Act which was passed before the Civil Right Act of 1965. Most Cubans don't like to talk about that, they like to make it seems they achieved what they have done in America on their own merrit .They are mainly Republican because they never forgave the Democrats since JFK did not back the Bay Of Pigs invasion. If you wish to know what the average Cuban with two shilings in his pocket is like The Housewives of Miami on the Bravo Network is a good primer for you( Obnoxiously arrogant, Very Shallow with a superiority complex beyond comprehension, They do not seems to understand the difference between commending respect and demanding it)

@Gloma

"How about several US Senators and representatives. Also, US government cabinet posts."

Most of these are simply anglonized Cubans of early age arrivals or second generation or later that have lost touch with their roots and don't do much at all for their own communities. These are some of the first politicians to attack immigrants. There are some good ones out there, but for most I would say they are embarrassed to be "Latino"

"Great wealth in south Florida."

Leave the entertainers and their impressive possessions out this, but even some of them are not immune to the financial woes in Florida. But wealth? I guess thats why Florida has maintained one of the highest foreclosure rates in the U.S.

10/2010
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/1....uth-florida-foreclosure-rate.html

Recent 2011
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/1....uth-florida-foreclosure-rate.html

@Gloma ... cont

Oh and let's not forget that Florida has the highest unemployment rate of any state in the U.S. (see the rates on the right-bar)
http://www.bls.gov/lau/

"Former Chairman of Coca Cola; present chairman of Eastman Kodak."

Nice Personal achievement, but there is also Juan Figuereo, EVP and CFO of Newell Rubbermaid. Dominican, and probably next in line for CEO when the current CEO retires.

"Arts and entertainment-several!"

The Estefans built an empire, they took the opportunity when it knocked in the 80s and kept capitalizing on that. But overall, in this day we live, Dominican entertainers are more well known and successful that Cuban entertainers worldwide.

@Gloma ... cont

You know what would be consider a Cuban Achievement?

If after all of these years Cubans were able to gain the political and social power required to overthrow the Castro regiment that has kept them banished from their land and held their brothers in a failed social system.

I am not taking credit away from Cubans, but Gloma, you are idolizing without proper facts.

Also, keep in mind Cubans began to migrate in masses on the 60s. Dominicans didn't seriously migrate in mass until the 80s, so it should be normal for the descendants of these Cubans to perform better in American society than not only Dominicans, but most of the new age immigrants.

@Lovingit,

OK, so you dislike Cubans-your prerogative.

Look, if you go back to my commentary above, all I am saying is that we need to achieve more, perhaps at least as much as the Cubans. No matter how you slice it, they have achieved what I indicated above and more, as I cannot enumerate everything.

BTW, the arts go beyond music and comprehends many disciplines. I was on a cruise ship this past fall in Europe, where there were many valuable paintings costing thousands, and the premier artist was Cuban. There is also Desi Arnaz, Mr. Lucy, from television. Etc.

I am not here to campaign for the Cubans, but rather for Dominicans. If you did not understand nature of my commentary, then please go back and review. If we still differ, Ok, we have this difference.

Look, I could have chosen an entirely different race instead, such as Indians from India. They arrived here later than Dominicans, non-white, and many of them are pretty accomplished.

MJEV.

To compare Dominicans and Cubans in achievements is extremely unfair. You have to give Dominicans at least 2 more generations to equally compare the two. Also, lets not forget the the clear advantages that Cubans had over Dominican immigrants. i.e., wet foot, dry foot act. That policy grants Cubans "legal permanent residency" status and U.S. citizenship, opening plenty of opportunities for prosperity. A Dominican in a similar situation will be jailed and later deported. Or they would be forced to work low paying jobs because of their illegal status in the country. (like many Dominicans currently in Puerto Rico and those who stayed in the U.S. on tourist and temporary visas. Totally unfair in comparison if you ask me.

Pat Diamond observes about the Cubans in Florida

( Obnoxiously arrogant, Very Shallow with a superiority complex beyond comprehension, They do not seems to understand the difference between commending respect and demanding it)

yes, Pat. we have at least one spectacular example of that disposition posting moronic comments here every now and then. he knows who he is, and so do we .

The character and personality thing about Cubans is a whole other issue and has nothing to do with what they have done nor should allow us to discredit their achievements. Besides Cubans in the northern regions of the US, recent arrivals and the younger, new generation are more humble and not as arrogant as their predecesors.

While yes it may not be fair to compare Dominicans to Cubans, because of the unfair advantage, then what can we say about Puerto Ricans?

As holders of US citizenship, they did not arrive to the states with just a foot in the door, rather they were already "INSIDE" the door. Puerto Ricans had a far greater advantage then the Cubans, and although they have had remarkable attainments, it is still not comparable to what the Cubans have achieved thus far

@Gloma,

I have no problems with Cubans at all.. I actually have plenty of Cuban friends and get along with them pretty well.

I just think that the Cuban achievements that you mention are simply expected from a group that has been in the U.S. longer and have open door policies as Cubans do, and despite all that, I don't think Dominicans are too far behind with the exception of Politics.

@Lovingit,

Hate to say it, but your above comments on Cuban friends makes you sound like many US politicians and entertainment people whom, after being caught making inadvertent [or intended] remark with racial overtones retreat with similar comments: "i know a lot of ------people and I have many----friends". I don't know if it applies, but it certainly has similar ring to it.

BTW, you'll find good answers to your other questions and commentary on who got here first, who came by yola and who got preferential treatment. Well PRicans had all the advantages [see @Guilermone above], and I am not so sure their accomplishments measure up to that of Cubans. And, please, note that PRicans, in general, are very light skinned-certainly, more so than Dominicans. Well, I suppose this sort of torpedoed your theory.

Question is, who are we closer to: Cubans or Dominicans.? I, myself have family hailing from both places, in addition to DR and Venezuela.

MJEV.

@Gloma,

I think you may be mixing my comments with others. I never took back what I originally said, but at the same time I did not denigrate Cubans, and that is including the fact that I am not taking back what I said about anglonized Cuban politicians (for which I said some not all)... that anglonized Cuban part is perhaps the only thing that may be considered "grey" from what I had said.

Now, you say my theory got torpedoed after you talked about skin color for Cubans, PRicans & Dominicans, but, I never even touched the skin color topic in any of my comments, which is why I believe you may be mixing my comments with some other posters.

@Lovingit,

I stand corrected on skin color issue and sincerely apologize for that.

My initial commentary had nothing to do with Cubans and it didn't become issue until someone else suggested [please go back and read thread evolution]. It strictly dealt with my Dominican citizen opinion that the honorable mayor's comment was gratuitous and inflated and undeserved, based on our real contribution, and that we must clearly wait diligently and purposefully to lay claim to said title until such time as we are clearly worthy of it. I stand by that.

MJEV.

Puertoricans have done better outside of nyc. So many going to nyc set them back quite a bit honestly. If you look at stats and studies nuyoricans on average are in much worse shape than other puertoricans. Also if your gonna talk about cubans here in the usa you should point out many of the immigrants after the first few waves have not fared as well on average and compare a lot to other latino immigrants. Also someone made a point about dominicans not being represented well in other artforms besides music. Have you heard of Junot Diaz? Or are you living under a rock? I could also mention other people...

@Chico,

Got out from under rock, looked up Junot and confirmed he is a writer and professor, not an artist.

Perhaps your rock is darker than mine.

MJEV.

Glomax since when is literature not considered an artform? Are you that ignorant?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/_/dict.aspx?word=artist

@ElChico,

Per your perspective everything is an art form and there is no distinction, including ready ability to insult one's intellignence- which should elevate some in this forum to artists of distinct notoriety.

Doctors, bricklayers, etc, etc would be artist according to this loose definition, one likely deeply resented by true artists. My daughter is a performing actress on Broadway; my great aunt was an opera singer at the Metropolitan Opera house. Three immediate relatives graduated from Cooper Union College of arts and earn their living as painters in Miami and New York. I do know a bit about art, you see.

For eons, people have referred to "Arts and Literature", and many authors wish to separate themselves from sculptors and painters and performers, as they view their contribution as being of more substantive value to society at large.

Please check this link: ""Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States: Literature and art - Google Books Result""

MJEV