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Lucero Family: Levy Used Us

Posted November 13, 2009 by Ted Hesson

At a memorial service last Sunday for his murdered brother, Marcelo, Joselo Lucero said he felt “ambushed” by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, who arrived unannounced at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Patchogue, publicly offering his condolences to the family for the first time since Marcelo’s death last year. Newsday covered the story here.
In a phone conversation after the incident, Joselo Lucero told me that he wasn’t notified that Levy would be there, and felt upset that the media had been allowed inside a memorial service that was meant to be solemn. “That’s a place of peace, but to get the media inside just because Steve Levy wants to get a picture with me, that’s not right,” Lucero said.
The family had not invited Levy to the service, but Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri said he told the county executive about it, and “didn’t even think” to let the Lucero family know that Levy would be attending.
This morning I received a statement about the incident from Fernando Mateo, a prominent activist who has been advising the family since Marcelo’s death. Here’s the statement:

On behalf of the Marcelo Lucero family, I am demanding an apology from Mr. Levy, for his intrusion into their personal spiritual time of mourning and remembrance on the anniversary of Marcelo’s murder. During these sacred moments, the Lucero family felt violated by Mr. Levy, who appears more interested in rehabilitating his public image, than in showing any degree of remorse or accepting some degree of responsibility for contributing to the racial tensions in Suffolk county. The Lucero family resents being used as props for Mr. Levy’s political purposes and photo ops.
Sincerely,
Fernando Mateo, spokesman for the Lucero family

I’m going to reach out to Levy’s office now, and will post an update later today.
UPDATE
11/13/09, 4:10pm
I got in touch with Levy spokesman Dan Aug, and forwarded him this post and Fernando Mateo’s contact info. I haven’t heard anything, although I stressed that it would be best to reply by noon to get Levy’s response out to blog readers.

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