Nelson Antonio Denis
Encyclopedia
Nelson Antonio Denis is a former New York politician who represented East Harlem in the New York State Assembly
.
. After graduating from Harvard College
and Yale Law School
, he was an attorney with the New York firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine
.
, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in New York City. While writing for El Diario, Denis published over 300 editorials and received the “Best Editorial Writing Award” from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
. In addition, Denis published feature articles, book and film reviews, and editorials in the Harvard Political Review
, Daily News, New York Newsday, and The New York Sun.
, where he served as a Democrat for two terms, from 1997 to 2001. He was also a New York State Democratic District Leader from 1995 to 2000.
In 1991 he ran unsuccessfully for the City Council, and made an unsuccessful bid for the state assembly in 1992.
In 1994 he ran unsuccessfully for the State Assembly with support of the Latin Kings youth gang, which the New York Times said "raised eyebrows." His opponent, incumbent Angelo Del Toro, made his use of the gang a campaign issue, saying "It's nasty -- they're gangsters and a threat." Denis said the Kings were misunderstood youths trying to overcome immense disadvantages.
In 1995, prior to election to the Assembly, Denis then deputy director of Yucahu Inc., an East Harlem community group, opposed the merger of Chemical Bank and Chase because of inadequate service to the community.
In 1996, Denis defeated the incumbent, Francisco Diaz Jr., in the 68th Assembly district. Diaz had had the support of Manhattan elected officials, including Rep. Charles Rangel. In the assembly, Denis worked to increase bank lending to the East Harlem community.
In his unsuccessful 1992 and 1994 campaign for the state assembly, and 2000 reelection campaign, Denis was endorsed by The New York Times
, which in 2000 called his effort to increase lending to East Harlem "admirable." The Times endorsed his opponent Francisco Diaz Jr. in a special election in 1995, and again in 1996. In a 2004 Senate race, the Times endorsed his opponent, Jose Serrano
.
In his bid for a third term in 2000, Denis was defeated by Adam Clayton Powell IV in the Democratic primary. Powell charged during the campaign that Denis had neglected the district. Denis had backed an attempt this year to overthrow the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver
, and Silver exacted revenge in the primary, refusing to give Denis financial and organizational support.
In 2004, Denis unsuccessfully ran for the state senate seat held by state Senator Olga A. Mendez
. During the campaign, supporters of his opponent in the Democratic primary contended that Denis made inappropriate use of campaign funds, which Denis denied.
In 2005, Denis ran for City Council and came in fourth in the Democratic primary.
, Ángel Salazar
, and Ricardo Barber and is based on Denis's own experiences.
Vote for Me! premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival
in 2003. It won the Best Picture Award at the 2009 SINY Film Festival
, and a Best Feature Film Award at the 2009 Orlando
Hispanic
Film Festival
.
The New York Times said that the film blurred "the line between reality and fiction to capture the spectacle of New York City politics. One character is a big-name Democratic Party candidate who bears a certain resemblance to Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, who defeated Denis in the 2000 Democratic primary. And a provocative black candidate in the film, although portrayed as a woman, may just remind New Yorkers of the Rev. Al Sharpton
."
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
.
Early life
Denis was born and raised in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. After graduating from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, he was an attorney with the New York firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine
Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine
Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine was a white-shoe New York law firm. It was founded in 1929 by General William "Wild Bill" Donovan, often called the Father of the CIA. The firm dissolved in 1998. Its notable antitrust cases include a series of lawsuits involving American Cyanamid in the 1960s...
.
Journalism
Prior to entering politics, Denis was an editorial writer for El Diario La PrensaEl Diario La Prensa
El Diario la Prensa is the largest and oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper in New York City, and the oldest Spanish-language daily in the United States. Published by ImpreMedia, the paper covers local, national and international news with an emphasis on Latin America, as well as human-interest...
, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in New York City. While writing for El Diario, Denis published over 300 editorials and received the “Best Editorial Writing Award” from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic journalists in the United States and Puerto Rico...
. In addition, Denis published feature articles, book and film reviews, and editorials in the Harvard Political Review
Harvard Political Review
The Harvard Political Review is a quarterly, nonpartisan American magazine and website on politics and public policy founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1969 at Harvard University. It is published by the Harvard Institute of Politics, an undergraduate student organization...
, Daily News, New York Newsday, and The New York Sun.
Public life
Denis was involved in New York State politics for fourteen years. In 1996 he won a seat in the New York State AssemblyNew York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, where he served as a Democrat for two terms, from 1997 to 2001. He was also a New York State Democratic District Leader from 1995 to 2000.
In 1991 he ran unsuccessfully for the City Council, and made an unsuccessful bid for the state assembly in 1992.
In 1994 he ran unsuccessfully for the State Assembly with support of the Latin Kings youth gang, which the New York Times said "raised eyebrows." His opponent, incumbent Angelo Del Toro, made his use of the gang a campaign issue, saying "It's nasty -- they're gangsters and a threat." Denis said the Kings were misunderstood youths trying to overcome immense disadvantages.
In 1995, prior to election to the Assembly, Denis then deputy director of Yucahu Inc., an East Harlem community group, opposed the merger of Chemical Bank and Chase because of inadequate service to the community.
In 1996, Denis defeated the incumbent, Francisco Diaz Jr., in the 68th Assembly district. Diaz had had the support of Manhattan elected officials, including Rep. Charles Rangel. In the assembly, Denis worked to increase bank lending to the East Harlem community.
In his unsuccessful 1992 and 1994 campaign for the state assembly, and 2000 reelection campaign, Denis was endorsed by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, which in 2000 called his effort to increase lending to East Harlem "admirable." The Times endorsed his opponent Francisco Diaz Jr. in a special election in 1995, and again in 1996. In a 2004 Senate race, the Times endorsed his opponent, Jose Serrano
José Serrano
José Enrique Serrano is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
.
In his bid for a third term in 2000, Denis was defeated by Adam Clayton Powell IV in the Democratic primary. Powell charged during the campaign that Denis had neglected the district. Denis had backed an attempt this year to overthrow the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver
Sheldon Silver
Sheldon "Shelly" Silver is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from New York. He has held the office of Speaker of the New York State Assembly since 1994.- Personal life :...
, and Silver exacted revenge in the primary, refusing to give Denis financial and organizational support.
In 2004, Denis unsuccessfully ran for the state senate seat held by state Senator Olga A. Mendez
Olga A. Méndez
Olga A. Méndez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a state legislature in the United States mainland.-Early years:...
. During the campaign, supporters of his opponent in the Democratic primary contended that Denis made inappropriate use of campaign funds, which Denis denied.
In 2005, Denis ran for City Council and came in fourth in the Democratic primary.
Vote For Me!
In 2001, Denis wrote and directed the feature film Vote for Me!, a political comedy about a 75-year old Puerto Rican superintendent who runs for U.S. Congress. The film stars Malik YobaMalik Yoba
Abdul-Malik Kashie Yoba , better known by his stage name Malik Yoba, is an American actor and occasional singer. He is perhaps best known for his starring role as NYPD Detective J.C. Williams on the FOX police drama series New York Undercover or as Yul Brenner in Cool Runnings...
, Ángel Salazar
Ángel Salazar
Ángel Salazar is a Cuban-American comedian and actor. He is internationally known for saying "Sheck it out" before, after, and during jokes...
, and Ricardo Barber and is based on Denis's own experiences.
Vote for Me! premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
in 2003. It won the Best Picture Award at the 2009 SINY Film Festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
, and a Best Feature Film Award at the 2009 Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
Film Festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
.
The New York Times said that the film blurred "the line between reality and fiction to capture the spectacle of New York City politics. One character is a big-name Democratic Party candidate who bears a certain resemblance to Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, who defeated Denis in the 2000 Democratic primary. And a provocative black candidate in the film, although portrayed as a woman, may just remind New Yorkers of the Rev. Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...
."
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- Donovan, Leisure, Newton & IrvineDonovan, Leisure, Newton & IrvineDonovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine was a white-shoe New York law firm. It was founded in 1929 by General William "Wild Bill" Donovan, often called the Father of the CIA. The firm dissolved in 1998. Its notable antitrust cases include a series of lawsuits involving American Cyanamid in the 1960s...
External links
- http://www.east-harlem.com/mt/archives/000076.html
- http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/d/nelson_antonio_denis/index.html
- http://www.voteforme-themovie.com/
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304912/fullcredits
- http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2005/01/28/segments/43233
- http://www.cinequestonline.org/theater/detail_view.php?m=84