Anthony DeFillipo is mad as hell and he’s most definitely not going to take it!

As soon as the “AFSME People” mailer referring to him as Tony “Soprano” hit North Miami Beach mailboxes, he took no prisoners.

Tony’s lawyer, Michael Pizzi, told the Miami Herald, “This is a hate crime. This is an ethnic slur. This is no different than if any other ethnicity was attacked.”

Ya think?

The mailer’s disclaimer claimed to be “Paid for by AFSCME PEOPLE,” the political committee of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.  Union representative Jacqui Carmona claimed that its name was illegally used and that “the union did not create or pay for the ad,” according to the article.  Carmona also told the Herald, “We denounce these defamatory and offensive attacks against these candidates.”

As we reported last week, the Political Director of AFSCME sent Tony a press release disavowing any connection to the flier sent out in its name.

In addition, the Herald reported that the union also sent “cease and desist letters to Roos, his company Thor Media, and G Print, the printer. The union also filed a police report, and a request for a legal injunction against what it said was the unauthorized and illegal use of its name on the flier.”

Nevertheless, Michael Pizzi filed a lawsuit on behalf of his client against the union since its name its name was on the mailer, and explaining, “My view is their name is on it. I know they’ve endorsed his opponent in the election. They’ve never apologized to him. They’ve never offered any well wishes to his family as a result of this horrible attack on his family.”

By inferring that Tony is a member of the Mafia, this hit piece is a direct attack on his heritage as an Italian American.  Make no mistake, this was clearly an ethnic slur and a hate crime.

The employees’ union is also taking legal action.  The Herald article noted, “It is illegal to misrepresent the interests behind a campaign ad. Last week, prior to DeFillipo’s lawsuit, the union sent cease and desist letters to Roos, his company Thor Media, and G Print, the printer. The union also filed a police report, and a request for a legal injunction against what it said was the unauthorized and illegal use of its name on the flier.”

AFSCME investigators traced the mailer to a Hialeah printing company, G Print, Inc., which is owned and operated by Gilbert Gutierrez.  They then discovered that the campaign ad was allegedly commissioned and paid for by Thor Media, LLC, which is owned and operated by political consultant Hector Roos.  Roos denied all responsibility and called the allegations “nuts.”  Although Gutierrez initially admitted that Thor Media paid for the ad, he then backtracked claiming he read about it in the news.

Considering there is a police investigation under way, as well as two lawsuits in the pipeline, the truth will eventually come out.  The financial and phone records of both G Print and Thor Media will be subpoenaed and scrutinized.  The person who bankrolled this defamatory political ad won’t be able to hide for long.

Meanwhile, North Miami Beach voters should be asking themselves who has the most to gain by trying to discredit Tony.

He has two opponents in the mayoral race, Raymond Marin and Robert Dempster.

Anyone wanna guess which one of them is the bigot?

And, yes, we have our own suspicions.

Sooner or later, the perpetrator behind this hate crime will be unmasked.  Hopefully, he won’t be sitting in the Mayor’s seat when it all hits the fan.

NMB voters, please say NO to bigotry and VOTE RESPONSIBLY!

Stephanie