Bronx Press
December 16-22, 2004

100 Dems Group Revived - Fusco Passes Baton
by John DeSIO

Local community leaders are breathing life into an old political club.

The past week the Committee of 100 Democrats, the political club anchored by attorney Dominick Fusco, announced that it was making its grand return to the Bronx political scene.

As part of this, Fusco will step down as chairman of the committee in January 2005, and Ricardo Martinez will act as chairman until a meeting is called next month.

Martinez said there was no greater honor than helping Fusco move the club forward.

”This time, we will be stronger,” said Martinez. "We will outreach, we will fundraise, we will organize all the North Bronx Communities, and we will meet and support future leaders."  Martinez added, "Like the proposed water plant in Norwood, we will reject all Bronx Democratic leaders who say they are working in our interest when in reality they are working for their own banker’s interest."

Martinez has been active in Bronx politics for a number of years. Most recently, he opposed then Assemblyman Jeffrey Klein in the 2002 Democratic primary for the 80^th Assembly District seat.

Prior to that, Martinez had assisted in the campaigns of former State Senator and City Councilman Israel Ruiz, Jr., Willie Colon, and Manhattan Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell. He is also a former member of Community Board #7.

Martinez felt that now was a good time as any to revitalize the Committee of 100 Democrats, since The Bronx was in dire need of political opposition.

"This club was dying, and we decided to wake it up again,"  said Martinez.
"We are community based people who feel we have been neglected." Though its officers so far are based in the North Bronx, Martinez said that this club would have a borough wide focus, and could potentially work on issues affecting the entire City.

Additionally, Martinez said that even though Fusco was stepping down, he would still be leaned on for advice from club officers.

"He”s a great man," Martinez said of Fusco. "We can learn a lot from him."

As for the future, Martinez said the club plans to be extremely active, and would be critical of any elected officials who they felt was not representing their community properly.

"We have plans to be very active," said Martinez. "We’re going to analyze candidates. We’re going to ask, ‘Are they doing the right thing for their community?'”
 
Among the things Martinez said offended him and other club members was the treatment of  an elected position as part-time by some politicians as well as the willingness by others to fly off to other countries and territories to observe their problems while the borough has problems of its own.

"We have a lot of issues in The Bronx. We have to sit down and bring them up with our elected officials," said Martinez. Martinez added. "The 100 Democrats are going to come strong, and do a lot for the community. We’re against anyone who stands against the best interest of the community."