Fernando Mateo
Born1957 or 1958 (age 66)[1]
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, community activist
Political partyRepublican
SpouseStella Mateo
Children3
Websitemateothemayor.com

Fernando Mateo is a Dominican-American businessman, activist, and politician who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City in the 2021 mayoral election.[1][2]

Early life and career

Mateo was born in 1957 or 1958 in the Dominican Republic, the youngest in a family of ten children, and grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.[3][4] His father, Kristobal, worked as a taxi driver and later opened a bodega, while his mother, Carmen, was a stay-at-home mom.[5] He attended Seward Park High School, but dropped out at the age of 15.[3] Three years later, in 1976, he started a carpeting business which eventually grew into a multi-million dollar contracting firm.[3][4]

Community and political activism

In 1989, Mateo founded the Mateo Institute of Training, which worked to train non-violent, first-time offenders at Rikers Island in vocational trades such as plumbing and carpetlaying.[3] For these efforts, he received a Points of Light award from President George H. W. Bush in 1991.[6][7]

In 1993, amid a wave of gun violence sweeping New York City, Mateo started Toys for Guns, a program by which residents could voluntarily turn in guns to the NYPD in return for gift certificates to local toy stores.[3] By the time the program was shut down in 1995, it had removed an estimated 3,000 firearms from the city's streets.[5]

Civic advocacy

In September 1998, after a spate of murders perpetrated against taxicab drivers in Brooklyn and The Bronx, Mateo was appointed president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. As president, he successfully lobbied the New York City Council to install bulletproof partitions in the city's cabs.[5] He continues to hold the position as of 2021, frequently acting as a spokesman for the city's taxi drivers as well as for the employees of ridesharing companies such as Uber.[8][9][10]

Mateo is a spokesman for United Bodegas of America, an organization which advocates for the owners of bodegas (small, owner-operated convenience stores which are especially common in New York).[11] In 2010, Mateo helped run a campaign to encourage New York's bodega owners to buy handguns as a deterrent to robbery.[12]

Political activities

In the mid-2000s, Mateo emerged as a leading Republican activist and fundraiser. In 2002, he raised $400,000 for New York Governor George Pataki's re-election campaign. In 2003, he was a major fundraiser for President George W. Bush, who named him to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.[13] In 2004, he spoke at the Republican National Convention.[14] In 2005, Mateo served as Hispanic Director for the re-election campaign of then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.[15]

In 2012, Mateo supported Texas Governor Rick Perry's presidential campaign, organizing a fundraiser for Perry in Manhattan's Inwood neighborhood.[16]

Controversies

Illegal campaign donations

In June 2016, the New York Post claimed Mateo had admitted to illegally donating $18,800 to Mayor Bill de Blasio's re-election campaign.[17] The incident was part of a larger controversy around de Blasio's campaign fundraising activities; the same year, Mateo was questioned by the FBI about his role in introducing de Blasio associates Jona Rechnitz and Jeremy Reichberg to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino,[18] all of whom subsequently became embroiled in a corruption scandal.[19] While Mateo's stated motivation for donating to de Blasio was to help an acquaintance find a city job,[17] the Post would speculate that Mateo expected "a lot of access and influence with the [Mayor's] office" in exchange for the donations.[20] Mateo was not charged with a crime for these activities, and blames de Blasio for the scheme.[21]

La Marina controversy

In 2007, Mateo was part of a group that bid on a New York City Parks Department concession license to renovate and operate a marina and restaurant on parkland near Dyckman street in Upper Manhattan. The group proposed the name "La Marina" in their proposal.[22] After losing the bid, Mateo later bought a controlling interest in the winning operator in 2011, which was in the process of building a restaurant to be called "Costera".[23]

The restaurant was duly renamed La Marina and opened in 2012. The actual marina never opened as promised—its grounds were instead converted to a massive outdoor event space for concerts attended by thousands of people every summer weekend. As the concession license and agency approvals forbid concerts, amplified music past 10 pm and a capacity above 500 patrons the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods began to complain about the impacts and questioned why Mateo and his associates routinely violated the terms of the contract, including seizing multiple blocks of city land for unapproved "rogue" valet-parking services that drew enormous traffic and gridlocked the area.[24] Geoffrey Croft of the advocacy group NYC Park Advocates accused Mateo of using his political connections to prevent the contract from being enforced.[25]

The dock was built years behind schedule using a federal grant, but violated the terms of that grant by not offering the promised services and access to boaters, according to a report by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.[26] The grant terms were later modified for a marina of smaller size but even so never had a single paying overnight customer or seasonal mooring according to a New York City comptroller audit [27] The concession license had to eventually be cancelled and the marina taken over by NYC Parks to operate directly.[28]

In July 2018, responding to community complaints, the NYPD led a multi-agency raid on Mateo's restaurant and found a large number of sanitary violations.[20] In November of that year, an employee was arrested for selling illegal drugs on La Marina's premises, and the following month, the restaurant's liquor license was suspended. In February 2019, La Marina filed for bankruptcy,[25] and was bought out later that year by restaurateur Jimmy Goldman.[29]

Mateo himself later claimed that he had been "set up" and "assaulted by every city agency" and that most of the violations found in the 2018 raid had been based on false pretenses,[30] characterizing the raid as "retaliation against me personally" from "certain people at the NYPD".[20]

2021 New York City mayoral campaign

Mateo participating in the Staten Island Memorial Day Parade

On February 3, 2021, Mateo announced that he would be running for Mayor of New York City in the 2021 mayoral election.[31] Describing himself as an "urban Republican" who has "done most of [his] work for the Democratic community", he cited public safety, job creation, and affordable housing as his top priorities.[32]

Mateo's opponent in the Republican primary was talk radio host and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa.[33] Sara Tirschwell withdrew from the Republican primary case in April 2021 after Mateo allies challenged her petitions; Tirschwell subsequently endorsed Sliwa.[34] Once friends, the primary race turned Sliwa and Mateo into bitter rivals.[35] The Manhattan, Queens and Bronx Republican parties endorsed Mateo, while the Staten Island and Brooklyn Republican parties endorsed Sliwa.[35][36] Sliwa criticized Mateo for donating to the 2016 re-election campaign of Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, and Sliwa also accused Mateo of breaking the law; Mateo replied that Sliwa's accusations were bogus and shameful.[35][37]

During his campaign, Mateo and Sliwa clashed over loyalty to former president Donald Trump.[38][39] Mateo espoused the belief that Trump won the 2020 presidential election;[39] by contrast, Sliwa did not support Trump in either 2016 or 2020,[38][40] and does not support Trump's election claims.[39]

During the campaign, Mateo was criticized for the fact that he did not register to vote in New York City until October 2020, and that he mostly lives in suburban Westchester County. In response, he said, "I own an apartment in New York City. I live in that apartment in New York City whenever I want to."[37]

On the evening of June 22, the Associated Press announced that Mateo had lost the Republican nomination to Sliwa.[41]

Personal life

Mateo lives in Irvington, New York,[18] with his wife, Stella, and has three children. He also owns an apartment in Manhattan.[37][42] His two daughters work as a doctor and a writer, respectively. His son, Fernando Mateo Jr., works at the New York City Sanitation Department, and is also an actor.[43]

Business ventures

Mateo is involved in several different businesses. He is Vice President of San Mateo Construction and a partner at Penserra Securities. He also owns and operates Zona de Cuba, a Cuban restaurant in The Bronx.[42]

References

  1. 1 2 "Fernando Mateo, advocate for taxi drivers, bodega owners, launching bid for NYC mayor: report". 1010 Wins. February 4, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  2. ↑ Shanahan, Ed (June 22, 2021). "Curtis Sliwa wins the G.O.P. primary for mayor. He faces long odds in November". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kleinfield, N.R. (December 30, 1993). "The Carpet Man Fulfills a Promise; With Guns-for-Toys Program, Fernando Mateo Succeeds at Last". New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "40 under 40: Fernando Mateo, 33". Crain's New York Business. New York City: Crain Communications. 1992. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Tom Topousis (April 19, 2000). "Activist is Millionaire with Cause". New York Post. New York City: NYP Holdings. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  6. ↑ Dobnik, Verena (October 4, 1992). "Ex-Inmate Enjoys Success on Outside, Returns to Train Others for Jobs". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Meet Mateo". Mateo the Mayor. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Taxi federation rep: Uber driver took customer to Florida, was initially paid less than $200". News 12 Bronx. News 12. October 4, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Taxi drivers union calls for justice in beating of livery driver in Brooklyn". ABC 7 New York. ABC. July 23, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  10. ↑ Hu, Lydia (March 1, 2020). "Uber Driver Remains Hospitalized Weeks After Violent Attack". Spectrum News NY 1. Charter Communications. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Union Claims NYPD Has Abandoned Bodegas; Meeting Planned With Commissioner Shea". CBS New York. CBS Broadcasting. August 30, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  12. ↑ Zraick, Karen (October 28, 2010). "Killing Prompts Push for Bodega Owners to Get Gun Permits". New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  13. ↑ Bernstein, Andrea (August 25, 2003). "Bush's New Buddy Fernando Mateo Raises a Fortune". Observer. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Republican National Convention, Day 1 Morning". C-SPAN. National Cable Satellite Corporation.
  15. ↑ Seifman, David (August 11, 2005). "Bloomberg's Dominican-Do". New York Post. NYP Holdings. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  16. ↑ Smith, Ben; Haberman, Maggie (September 19, 2011). "'He's Tall and He's From Texas". Politico. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  17. 1 2 Rosario, Frank; Gartland, Michael; Golding, Bruce (June 28, 2016). "Advocate says he funneled de Blasio donations in pay-for-play scheme". New York Post. NYP Holdings. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Caset, Pat (July 26, 2016). "Westchester County Executive Subpoenaed in Corruption Probe". The Examiner. The Examiner News. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  19. ↑ Whitehouse, Kaja (October 26, 2017). "De Blasio donor's shocking testimony: $100K bought me the mayor". New York Post. NYP Holdings. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  20. 1 2 3 Gonen, Yoav; Golding, Bruce (July 18, 2018). "Restaurant owned by de Blasio donor faces closure over liquor law violations". New York Post. NYP Holdings. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  21. ↑ Campanile, Carl (February 2, 2021). "Taxi advocate Fernando Mateo launches bid for NYC mayor". New York Post. NYP Holdings. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  22. ↑ Request for Proposal for the Operation of the Dyckman Marina (PDF) (Report). NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. June 16, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  23. ↑ Joshua Rosen and Jerald Tenebaum v The Villano Family Limited Partnership Linda Villano and Christopher Villano, 1 (Supreme Court of the State of New York County of New York Commercial Division October 15, 2013).
  24. ↑ Whitehouse, Kaja (June 28, 2016). "FBI grills woman used as front for de Blasio donations". New York Post. NYP Holdings. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  25. 1 2 Calder, Rich (December 9, 2018). "Restaurant faces closure after owner is caught up in corruption case". New York Post. NYP Holdings. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  26. ↑ Ortiz (July 8, 2015). Trip Report and Progress Update Dyckman Landing Marina (PDF) (Report). FWS/Region 5/WSFR. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  27. ↑ Landa (June 28, 2017). Audit Report on the Compliance of Manhattan River Group, LLC with its License Agreements with the City (PDF) (Report). NYC Office of the Comptroller. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  28. ↑ Holliday Smith, Rachel (May 30, 2019). "La Marina Owners Lose Hold Over Dyckman Street Docks". The City. Nic Dawes. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  29. ↑ Krisel, Brendan (September 3, 2019). "The Hudson Opens In Inwood's Former La Marina Space". Patch. Patch Media. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  30. ↑ Toor, Faraz (February 10, 2021). "Republican Mayoral Candidate Fernando Mateo Vows to Protect Some NYC Landlords". Spectrum News NY 1. Charter Communications. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Republican Fernando Mateo Enters New York City Mayoral Race". CBS New York. CBS. February 3, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Fernando Mateo runs for New York City mayor as an 'urban Republican'". News 12 Bronx. News 12. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  33. ↑ Kim, Elizabeth (March 2, 2021). "Who Are The Republicans Running For NYC Mayor?". Gothamist. New York Public Radio. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  34. ↑ Basak, Sonali (April 15, 2021). "Tirschwell Exits NYC Mayor's Race, Calls City Politics 'Broken'". Bloomberg. Bloomberg News. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  35. 1 2 3 Emma G. Fitzsimmons, How the G.O.P. Primary for Mayor Turned 2 Friends Into Bitter Rivals, New York Times (May 25, 2021).
  36. ↑ Gartland, Michael (February 25, 2021). "NYC mayoral hopeful Fernando Mateo snags endorsements from Bronx and Queens Republicans". New York Daily News. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  37. 1 2 3 Benitez, Juan Manuel (February 9, 2021). "Meet the Republican Candidates for New York City Mayor". Spectrum News NY 1. Charter Communications. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  38. 1 2 Katie Honan, Republican Mayoral Candidates Tussle Over Trump, Party Loyalty, Wall Street Journal (May 26, 2021).
  39. 1 2 3 Dana Rubinstein, Jeffery C. Mays, Jazmine Hughes, Anne Barnard, Michael Gold and Mihir Zaveri, Wiley Wins the Progressives: 5 Takeaways From the N.Y.C. Mayor's Race, New York Times (June 7, 2021).
  40. ↑ Emma Seiwell, Race for Mayor: Republican Primary A Two-Candidate Race, Gotham Gazette (May 7, 2021).
  41. ↑ Matthews, Karen (June 22, 2021). "Voting ends, wait for results begins in NYC mayoral primary". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  42. 1 2 Pinsky, Seth. "Fernando Mateo, Mayoral Candidate in Conversation with Seth Pinsky". 97Y. 92nd Street Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  43. ↑ Mateo, Fernando (February 17, 2021). "Fernando Mateo On Running As An 'Urban Republican', NYPD Reform + Helping Small Business". YouTube (Interview). Interviewed by Ebro, Laura Stylez and Rosenberg. Hot 97. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
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