Green & Bloomberg Mayoral Face-off For Hispanics In NYC.

Democrat Mark Green and Republican Michael Bloomberg will face off Tuesday October 30th in the first mayoral debate of the general election season sponsored by el diario/LA PRENSA and two broadcast partners, WXTV Univision 41 and WADO 1280 radio.

The face-off, to be held at the New School University’s Tishman Auditorium, will be the first mayoral debate in the city’s history to be sponsored by Spanish-language media, and the first conducted in the Spanish language.

“This is a great testament to the importance and influence of Latino New Yorkers and speaks volumes about our coming of age in the electoral arena,” said Rossana Rosado, Publisher and CEO of el diario/LA PRENSA, also known as “el campeon de los hispanos.”

“No longer can political candidates ignore the presence and the power of our readers, viewers and listeners, Rosado said. “And no longer can political parties pigeonhole Latinos into discussing only `Latino issues.’ This message is in Spanish but is understood by all New Yorkers.”

This debate is the first of only two scheduled public debates between Bloomberg and Green before the Nov. 6 election. It will be moderated by Gerson Borrero, Editor-in-Chief of el diario / LA PRENSA. The questions will be posed by a panel of renowned Latino journalists including Rafael Pineda, News Anchor, WXTV Univision 41; Evelyn Hernández, Opinion Editor, el diario / LA PRENSA; and Luis Alfredo Collado, News Reporter, WADO 1280 AM Radio. The New School University’s Tishman Auditorium, is located at 66 W. 12th St. (between 5th and 6th Avenues).

The debate will be carried live by WADO 1280 Radio. WXTV Channel 41 will air segments during its 6 p.m. evening newscast. Simultaneous translations by professional interpreters in both languages, English & Spanish, will be provided to the news media and audience upon request. Only ticket-bearers will be admitted into the auditorium. All those attending must be at the Tishman Auditorium no later than 3:00 p.m. No one will be admitted into the auditorium after 3:45 p.m.

Questions will be placed to the candidates in Spanish, with a simultaneous translation into English fed into ear devices worn by the candidates. The candidates responses, expected to be in English, will be simultaneously translated in turn back into Spanish for the viewing audience at home and in the auditorium. Bilingual viewers will not need any translation assistance. Monolingual listeners will be able to follow the debate fully with no delay or disruption.