Some of the journalists at El Diario were also uncomfortable with the confrontational tenor of Borrero's radio show. "That type of verbal violence was not good for the image of the paper and the supposed objectivity we're supposed to have in the newsroom," said Josue Rivas, a former editor, adding that Borrero's abrasiveness often extended to the paper's office. Borrero once accused Rivas of being anti-Puerto Rican, he said, because they disagreed about a front page. On the other hand, employees also said that despite his temper Borrero is an exceptionally fair boss in a business that remains in many ways an old boy's club. And the adage "There's no such thing as bad publicity" is certainly not lost on Rosado, the publisher. "He has brought a lot of visibility to the paper," she says. Roberto Ramirez, the Bronx Democratic Party chairman, who has known Borrero for years, sums him up this way: "He's very, very proficient on praise when he thinks it's merited, and he's lethal when he thinks someone has conducted himself below the standard he has set for the world."
Whether people like Borrero or not they tend to regard him with respect. This is true even among people who've endured repeated bashings from him. "He hasn't singled anyone out -- he's pretty much insulted us all," says Herman Badillo, a former congressman from the Bronx, whom Borrero once referred to as an "ex-Puerto Rican." (For that particular insult, Borrero's wife stopped speaking to him for a week.)
After Borrero's abrupt dismissal from WADO, Badillo was among the first to protest and offer him his support. A few years ago, Borrero was a guest on a journalists' roundtable on the local television news network NY1. Apparently, one of the panelists said something during the show that enraged Borrero, and he stormed off the set on the air, shouting, "This is bullshit!" Heated words were exchanged afterwards between the show's host, Andrew Kirtzman, and Borrero who, according to some who were watching, challenged him to a fight. Borrero was not invited back. But recently Kirtzman said," I was sorry to see him go. He was good on television, he was outspoken and he represented his point of view really well." Even those who think Borrero is wrong about most things give him credit for this. "Few people know the Hispanic community, especially in New York, like Gerson does," says Jose Arango, a Republican Party leader from New Jersey who disagrees with "maybe 90 percent" of what Borrero says. "Some people say he's dividing the community, but you know what? He's putting the issues on the air."
Borrero says he'll stay on as the editor of El Diario until someone in the corporate office decides to kick him out. "I appreciate the run, I really do. I know it's not easy having a person who's controversial, but I think I sell papers too." In the meantime, his radio show has obviously been missed. "I have seen people come up to him in supermarkets and want to talk about Pinochet," says Rosado. "You have to remember, this is a sector of the community for whom there is no 'Crossfire.'" Many, though, predict it is only a matter of time before Borrero is back on the radio, or perhaps even on TV, arguing bitterly with his guests or his co-host about capital punishment or election fraud, shouting passionately, calling them names. And when it's over, they'll shake hands and go have a drink.
This story has been corrected.
About the writer
Rachel Scheier is a staff writer at the New York Daily News.
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