NiLP Members React to

EVERYTHING You Wanted to Know About the National Puerto Rican Day Parade

The NiLP Report

Here are two reactions to our recent postings on the National Puerto Rican Day Parade:

Mickey Melendez (mglmdez@aol.com):

This article (based on the Parade's news release) has some major faults and suffers from political amnesia . . . To honor Ramon Velez after the theft of millions of dollars from the Puerto Rican Day Parade is a poor attempt to rewrite history. The omission of not recognizing Ramon Jimenez who led the fight to investigate the NPRDP by NYSAG that eventually resulted in the reorganization of the executive board that, unfortunately, has become complacent and apologetic. And no recognition for the late civil rights attorneyRamon Jimenz?

Have the fines levied against Carlos Velasquez, the Parade's disragced former agent, been collected and placed into a scholarship fund? Or is the present board looking the other way?

Are the six points below recommended the late Ramon Jimenez too honest and transparent for implementation?

"1. We would like an independent board that holds the President of the Parade and any person who makes decisions affecting the parade accountable to the Board;

2. We would like a Parade more inclusive of New York City Puerto Rican organizations, more accessible to ordinary folks from the community, and less captive to Corporations, their floats, their slogans and their advertisements; we understand the need for Corporate sponsorship's, but not at the expense of National identity and pride, e.g. we do not want our flag on a beer can.

3. We do not want a community group or organization priced out of the parade because they couldn't afford a corporate float;

4. We would like transparency so that the contracts and sponsorship's with the Parade Board and Executives would be available for public review and examination;

5. We would like the scholarship money to be accounted for and put into a fund for public inspection immediately after the parade;

6. We would like a parade that celebrates the history and heritage of Puerto Ricans and New York, first and foremost."

The 2011 tax filings also show the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. had a deficit of more than $880,000 at the end of that year, despite having raised more than $2.4 million in support from 2007 through 2011?

Lastly and most insulting . . . Why hasn't Eddie Palmieri (today 80 years young), winner of the first two Latino Music Grammy's and, to date, awarded 10 Grammys, never been asked to preform nor to be Grand Marshall? What an insult to one our of our cultural icons.

To the present Board . . . You should be Despicable Me 4.

Alfred Placeres (abogadoplaceres@gmail.com):

Angelo: I read your article, "Everything You Wanted to Know About the PR Parade." It moved me to share with you my Parade recollections. As I remember it, the PR Parade had a similar coup d-etat to the one in 2015 in 1980. As in 2015, the 1980 coup also resulted in a forced changing of the guard, which was led by the then New York State Attorney General, Robert Abrams. The AG's office was intent on ousting the Parade President & Founder, Ramon Velez. I'm not sure why, but a new New York PR Parade was formed. See the Parade incorporation information below. At the time, I was working as a Business Analyst for the Bronx Venture Corporation and Ramon was the Chairman of our Board. I kept informed of Parade developments. Over time, Ramon regained control of the Parade Board and, subsequenly,t the AG left him alone.

I bring this up because the commercialization of the PR Parade was one of the issues that led to Ramon's ouster and it remains a problem, not just with the PR Parade but also with the Dominican and Mexican parades. Historically, parades have been billed as cultural/community events. However, corporate charitable contributions for parades has gone the way of the typewriter. So where do they get their sponsorship if cultural events don't cut it?

If you follow the money or, more precisely, the budgets of corporate sponsors of parades, you will see that these funds come primarily from marketing dollars: beer, soda, health plans, etc. Unlike charitable cultural and educational contribution funding, marketing dollars come from corporate departments that expect a real bang for their buck. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but the fact of the matter is that today ethnic parades need these marketing dollars to survive. Let's face it, Cinco de Mayo festivals and parades have become more a national beerfest promotion than a celebration of Mexican culture. "No Corona, No Party or Parade, for that matter!."

---Alfred

Selected Entity Name: NEW YORK PUERTO RICAN PARADE, INC.