Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Gillibrand Trying to Wave In Her New Ethnic Constituencies
By
Billy Parker
Published Feb 2, 2009
Modified Feb 2, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Billy Parker
Published Feb 2, 2009
Modified Feb 2, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Before marching in yesterday's Chinatown parade, new Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stopped by the Brooklyn offices of El Diario, the newspaper that recently featured her picture on the cover along with the headline "ANTI INMIGRANTE." The new senator has been trying to find common ground with state Democrats who are taking issue with some of her more conservative votes as a first term congresswoman in a district that previously had elected Republicans for the 25 years prior. After the meeting at El Diario with Hispanic lawmakers, Gillibrand told the press, "I think on some issues my positions will change. ... Others will become simply broader."
She revealed yesterday that part of her "evolution" (dubbed by colleague Chuck Schumer) will involve helping to repeal a federal bill that discourages states from allowing illegal aliens to pay low in-state tuition fees. She also no longer supported cracking down on so-called sanctuary cities like New York that fail to enforce all immigration laws. She did however reaffirm her stance on an official language for the US saying, "English can be such a unifying language."
The officials who met with Gillibrand seemed to give a tepid response to the meeting. City Councilman Joel Rivera, who last week publicly called Gillibrand a "xenophobe" said, "We cannot afford to stand with someone who will make no commitment [to us]. We have been given a lot of rhetoric over the years. We need action."
Elsewhere over the weekend, Gillibrand posted her responses to the 28-page form Governor Paterson gave to all potential Senate candidates. The Times-Union points out that she "filled the form out longhand—which in general is a no-no for a job applicant in these digital days." And in case Paterson needed any more enemies as a result of his selection process, the News reports that he may have stepped into hot water with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, now that Gillibrand's House seat may flip to the GOP with Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco throwing his hat into the ring for it.
Tagged
el diario
governor paterson
immigration
joel rivera
kirsten gillibrand
Billy Parker
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD hate crime unit investigates smashed windows, ‘Pal Action’ graffiti at UES Capital One
The bank previously faced protests over a $90 million loan to an Israeli drone company.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 8:35 a.m. ET
A reliably Republican part of NJ, until ICE came to town
The Trump administration’s plan to convert a warehouse in Roxbury into an ICE detention center has upended local politics ahead of the midterm elections.
By
Mike Hayes
News
A reliably Republican part of NJ, until ICE came to town
The Trump administration’s plan to convert a warehouse in Roxbury into an ICE detention center has upended local politics ahead of the midterm elections.
By
Mike Hayes
NYC school integration debate exposes tensions between Black parents and Mamdani
By
Elizabeth Kim
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
By
Giulia Heyward
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .