Sen. Ted Cruz Bashes The Bronx; NYC Officials Fire Back
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Bronx officials fired back Sunday after Sen. Ted Cruz took a swipe at the borough during a speech to a conservative group.
Cruz, a Texas Republican, drew the ire of many New York politicians after bashing the Bronx during a speech at the Americans For Prosperity's 8th Annual "Defending the American Dream Summit" in Dallas Saturday night, CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco reported.
Cruz said he felt he has been lectured by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on border security, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported.
"I understand that Manhattan is very concerned with their security with the Bronx," Cruz said to laughter. "But it's a little bit different on 2,000 miles of the Rio Grande."
Sen. Ted Cruz Bashes The Bronx; NYC Officials Fire Back
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who represents voters in Manhattan and the Bronx, called Cruz's remarks outdated, invoking the the borough's high-crime past, with what's happening in the Bronx.
"It's unfortunate that we have elected officials in high-ranking positions that continue to pander lies and misinformation as a way of trying to peddle their ideas," Mark-Viverito told Smith.
She said the crime rate in the Bronx is lower than in many cities in Texas.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said the borough has seen unprecedented, positive growth. His response to Cruz: "Grow up."
In a statement, Diaz said "Ted Cruz's willingness to traffic in the outdated stereotypes of past decades is disgusting, and totally devoid of the truth. The Bronx has seen unprecedented positive growth in recent years."
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer tweeted: "Ignorant remarks by Ted Cruz tonight about the Bronx. NYC is one city, no room for those remarks here."
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