Ramirez For Gillibrand
January 28, 2009

NY1 Noticias is reporting that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is under fire from immigrant advocates and Hispanic lawmakers, has turned to lobbyist Roberto Ramirez's firm, The Mirram Group, for help.

Ramirez, a former assemblyman and ex-Bronx Democratic boss, met with Gillibrand last Saturday on the first day of her two-day downstate listening tour that was designed to introduce her to skeptical city residents and lawmakers.

The Mirram Group has a relationship with the polling and consulting firm used by both Gillibrand and Gov. David Paterson, Global Strategy Group, which played an instrumental role in Gillibrand's successful 2006 campaign against former GOP Rep. John Sweeney.

The two firms used to have a joint venture, Mirram Global, which ran into trouble with the now-defunct lobbying commission in 2003 and disbanded in 2006.

Ramirez and his Mirram partner, Luis Miranda, still work out of Global's offices. Check out the firm's client list, which includes a lot of heavyweight interests.

This is probably a smart hire by Gillibrand, although it remains to be seen how much Ramierz and Miranda will be able to do for her on the immigration issue, which could be very damaging in a Democratic primary where the bulk of the vote comes from the city.

Miranda told Noticias that he believes Gillibrand is going to "have a learning process" on the subject of immigration.

But so far, outlets like el Diario remain skeptical, as do Hispanic elected officials like Councilman Joel Rivera, who is organizing a City Hall steps rally tomorrow to urge Gillibrand to change her position on this issue.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailyp ... brand.html