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Patchogue Mayor Pontieri Heading to Marcelo Lucero’s Hometown in Ecuador

Posted June 24, 2010 by Ted Hesson
Categories: Suffolk

Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri embarked today on a four-day “goodwill” trip to Gualaceo, Ecuador, according to Newsday’s Bart Jones. Gualaceo was the hometown of slain immigrant Marcelo Lucero, who was stabbed and killed in a 2008 hate attack in Patchogue.

Although Pontieri was invited to Ecuador by Gualaceo’s mayor, Marcelo Lucero’s brother, Joselo—who lives in Patchogue—said that his mother and sister in Gualaceo would not meet with Pontieri.

A rift arose between Pontieri and Joselo Lucero after the former invited Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy to a memorial service for Marcelo last year. Joselo Lucero said that he felt “ambushed” by the presence of Levy, whose immigration policies have been blamed for fostering a “climate of fear” amongst Latino immigrants in Suffolk County.

From Newsday:

Pontieri acknowledged he has a strained relationship with the family but said he still hopes to meet with Rosario and Isabel Lucero in Gualaceo. “My hope is I can, but I’ll understand if the wound is still too deep and the memory is too raw,” he said.

The trip is to cost the village about $1,500 in airfare for Pontieri and his deputy mayor. Gualaceo officials will pay for a hotel and food, Pontieri said.

Tags : ecuador, gualaceo, marcelo lucero, patchogue, pontieri

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