A Democratic candidate for Nassau County executive is under fire for a political ad.
Adam Haber is running for the Democratic nomination for Nassau County executive against Tom Suozzi. Critics say his TV ad is offensive to Italian Americans.
In the ad, which is set in an Italian restaurant, actors discuss Suozzi. "Tom Suozzi: Good for hacks, bad for Nassau," a voiceover says.
Pat Nicolosi, of Elmont, says the ad stereotypes Italians as mobsters.
Members of the Order Sons of Italy, located in Bellmore, say they've been working for years to crush stereotypes of Italian Americans. They say the ad sets them back. Joseph Rondinelli, New York state president of the Order Sons of Italy, says he wants Haber to apologize and terminate the ad.
Haber says he won't stop playing the ad because it was not meant to offend anyone. He says he believes he's being attacked by his own party.