City Council candidate faces criticism over anti-semitic email about landlords

Thomas Lopez-Pierre is challenging Mark Levine in 2017 race

From left: Thomas Lopez-Pierre and Mark Levine
From left: Thomas Lopez-Pierre and Mark Levine

Harlem City Council candidate Thomas Lopez-Pierre is under fire for anti-semitic comments.

The controversial politician recently sent a fundraising email with the subject “SAVE HARLEM from Greedy Jewish Landlords.” The email went on to call his opponent, Council member Mark Levine, “the only Jewish person in the race” and alleged that he is conspiring with landlords “to push Black and Hispanic tenants out of Harlem!”

In response to the email, a group including Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Letitia James sent an open letter to Lopez-Pierre requesting an apology.

“Such rhetoric has no place in our society, and certainly does not belong in a political campaign,” the letter read.

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Lopez-Pierre has faced heat over his emails in the past. When he ran for City Council in 2013, he sent an email to Democratic fundraiser Brian Benjamin insulting him with racial and sexual slurs.

Also in 2013, state Assembly member Linda Rosenthal accused Lopez-Pierre of groping her, which he denied, calling her a “$20 political slut.”

He is widely considered a long shot to win the City Council race. [NYDN] — Konrad Putzier