Proposed 33rd Senate District, Gustavo Rivera

Here is LATFOR's redistricting of the 33rd state Senate District, occupied by Gustavo Rivera.

The biggest change is that he loses Jerome Park Reservoir and a significant portion of land all directly below Van Cortlandt Park. That area been taken by state Sen. Jeff Klein, who was pushed farther into the Bronx to give the soon-to-be vacated 37th District seat a better chance to win for Republicans.

Rivera's new district would run much farther south, now having a solid chunk below the Cross Bronx Expressway.

And here is what Rivera's district looks like now:

Could the Bronx get chopped up even more?

Unfortunately, that's not a clever pun for a story about Fresh Direct, the Hunts Point produce market or any other food related issue in the Bronx. It's the thought of another New York State senator getting a small piece of the Bronx, while the majority of his district remains outside the borough, causing the Bronx to get the short end of the stick, again.

This, from City and State's daily 'Heard Around Town':

Meanwhile, controversial Councilman Dan Halloran apparently formed a state fundraising committee yesterday that could lay the groundwork for a long-rumored challenge to Democratic Sen. Tony Avella. There is talk about extending the district into more conservative Bronx neighborhoods, and Bronx Republican Chairman Jay Savino is said to be on board with the idea.

Could Tony Avella's Queens district enter the Bronx?

This is the first we've heard about it, but checking with some of our Bronx insiders, the possibility that Avella's district goes to the east Bronx is highly unlikely. The only area Queens Republicans could want of the Bronx would be places like Throggs Neck, Country Club and maybe places like Morris Park and Westchester.

However, this would mean they would have to start messing with Sen. Jeff Klein's district.

"Klein has lived in Morris Park his whole life and has had a very good working relationship with the Republicans this last year as he formed his Independent Democratic Conference," a source in the state Senate said. "I doubt very seriously that this is being seriously considered."

If this is being considered, it would be a slap in the face to Bronxites. Only two state senate districts are in the Bronx 100 percent: Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Gustavo Rivera. Four other districts go into another county at some point, which has angered constituents and even some elected officials. At the LATFOR (the government committee charged with redistricting) Bronx public hearing last year, some spoke about creating districts that better represent the Bronx and don't go off into other counties.

If Republicans did chip away at Klein's district, it would only make it more difficult for them to win there when/if Klein decides to run for Congress. The district was first gerrymandered for Guy Velella, a republican, and includes highly conservative areas of Westchester County. It's much more likely that if the Republicans would take away an area of Klein's district to better their chances of beating a Democrat, it would be in the north. This would give them a better shot at stealing a seat from the Democrats if they can win soon-to-be-retired Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer's Westchester seat.

Rivera raked in $83K over last six months

Rivera has had a successful fundraising period.

Bronx State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, elected to office in 2010 after defeating the embattled Pedro Espada Jr. in the 33rd District, has raised a solid $83,121.60 in the last six months, according to the most recent campaign filings with the New York State Board of Elections.

Looking at this handy spreadsheet, put together by Bill Mahoney of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), Rivera is only outpaced in the Bronx by fundraising heavyweight state Sen. Jeff Klein and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who is toying with the idea of running for a citywide office. Diaz raised $90,880.13 and Klein raked in over $300,000.

We took a minute to chat with Rivera, who said the successful fundraising has been another reminder that he works for the people.

"I think that’s definitely very humbling," he said. Rivera added that this success is reminiscent of the election, when a larger-than-expected amount of people came out to support him.

"This is a very big show of support that im very appreciative of. It reminds me of all the people I'm working for--the folks in my district."

Rivera did spend just over $39,000 this period, giving him a total balance of $64,964.24 when including funds he already had.

He said he hasn't heard any rumblings of a challenger for the Democratic primary, but did say that "I want to make sure I have the strongest filing possible so I can continue to represent the Bronx."

As for the primary itself: "We don’t even know when the primary will be. We have to figure that out up here [in Albany]."

We put the spreadsheet below the jump. It was slowing down the whole blog.

Bronx pols rejoice after new livery bill is signed

The illegal, yet mostly ignored, practice of hailing livery cabs on the street has finally been legalized, after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that will increase outer borough service and also bring more handicapped-accessible taxis to the city.

It also calls for the city to sell 2,000 yellow cab medallions, which is expected to generate more $1 billion in new revenue, the New York Daily News reports:

The deal requires that the first 20% of 6,000 new street-hail livery licenses be made available in the first year to drivers with wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Another 6,000 licenses will be made available in each of the next two years, with determinations to be made about the percentages that will be assigned to drivers with wheelchair-accessible rides.

In addition, all 2,000 new yellow cab medallions must be for wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Cuomo has ready to veto the bill if he did not get promises from the state Legislature that they would amend it to increase service to the physically disabled.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will be authorized to issue up to 18,000 of these new licenses (livery street hails) and will be required to provide grants of up to $15,000 to retrofit vehicles to accommodate the disabled or to purchase accessible vehicles.

"By working together and finding common ground, I am pleased that we have been able to reach a deal that will extend taxi and livery service to the outer boroughs and upper Manhattan, while ensuring full access for the disabled," Cuomo said. "The bill as originally passed failed to address the needs of individuals with disabilities and did not provide any incentive for the livery industry to ensure disabled New Yorkers had full access to the taxicab system."

For Bronx leaders, this bill was long overdue.

“I am pleased that after months of negotiations over the details of this legislation, an agreement has been reached that will improve the quality of life of my constituents in the Northwest Bronx and will provide livery cab drivers, so many of whom live in the 33rd Senate District, with the much-needed ability to pick up legal street hails,” said state Senator Gustavo Rivera. “This plan is a victory for Bronxites and for all New Yorkers in the outer boroughs and upper Manhattan. I would like to congratulate the livery cab drivers for their relentless advocacy that played a critical role in ensuring that this legislation was passed and that it will be signed into law as well as Governor Cuomo for negotiating an agreement that all New Yorkers should consider a victory.”

“I am pleased that, following months of negotiation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature have reached an agreement on a plan that will increase outer borough livery service in our City while also bringing more handicapped-accessible taxis to our City’s streets," Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said.

“This plan will raise much-needed new revenue for our City through the sale of new yellow taxi medallions while also bringing livery cab drivers out of the shadows, offering them considerable legal protection," Diaz added. "At the same time, Bronxites and residents in all of the outer boroughs will have the ability to hail a legal livery cab, while our disabled community will see their travel options increase significantly.

“This plan is a victory for commuters, and I congratulate both Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature for making it a reality. I also thank Mayor Bloomberg and his administration for their efforts on this important issue."

Rivera, Bronx CAN host healthy holiday party

Rivera speaks to children as they anxiously wait for toys.

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera and his Bronx CAN Health Initiative partners hosted a healthy holiday party and toy-giveaway sponsored by Montefiore Medical Center and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, Dec. 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center. The gifts included athletic-related gifts such as basketballs, to continue to promote health through physical fitness and sports as part of Rivera’s on-going health initiative.

“On Sunday, I was able to thank many of the wonderful Bronx CAN Health Initiative partners that I have been working with over the past six months to promote healthy lifestyle choices in the Bronx,” Rivera said. “I was able to speak to hundreds of Bronxites about their commitment to staying healthy, and more importantly, to more than 100 kids who attended the holiday party, ate some healthy snacks and received toys that were donated by Montefiore Medical Center and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.”

Rivera was joined by Dr. Peter Selwyn from Montefiore Medical Center to hand out gifts to the kids who attended Sunday’s Bronx CAN Health Initiative holiday party.

A short photo essay of my night yesterday

For those of who have noticed a slight decline in posts the past week or so, it's been because our other reporter, Miawling, has been on vacation in her homeland of Australia (It's summertime there, by the way). Anyways, it's caused me to pick up the other half of the newspaper, leaving me less time to blog.

Here's some of what I was up to yesterday afternoon.

5 p.m.: Driving down Riverdale Ave, I ran into these two cars near W. 238th St.,
which ran into each other. No one was injured.

6:45 p.m.: On my way to the 50th Precinct for a Community Board 8
public safety committee meeting, I hit two of the most decorated houses
in the Riverdale Kingsbridge area, right behind the Riverdale Diner.
If you've decked your house out, email us a photo!

To cap off the night, I dropped by the Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club's
holiday party. Among the guests were Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.,
Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz,
and state Sens. Gustavo Rivera and Jeff Klein.

Officials, agencies react to Cuomo's tax plan

City Comptroller John Liu, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, the MTA and the Alliance for Quality Education have all released statements complimenting Governor Andrew Cuomo on his leadership in tax reform. More statements will flow in, so I'll post them all below the jump.

Here's part of Cuomo's press release from today. Read the whole thing here.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced that they have reached a proposed three-way agreement on legislative and executive proposals to create jobs and cut taxes for middle class New Yorkers. The agreement includes support for a comprehensive New York Works Agenda that will create thousands of jobs with new investments in New York's infrastructure, passing a fair tax reform plan that achieves the first major restructuring of the tax code in decades resulting in a tax cut for 4.4 million middle class New Yorkers taxpayers, approving $50 million in additional relief for areas devastated by recent floods, and reducing the MTA payroll tax to provide relief for small businesses. The leaders will now present the agreement to their members for approval.

"Our state government has come together in a bipartisan manner to create jobs, grow our economy and, at the same time enact a fair tax plan that cuts taxes for the middle class," Governor Cuomo said. "We are investing in projects that will restore our state's infrastructure and put thousands of people to work. We are cutting taxes on middle class New Yorkers and small businesses, which will inject nearly $1 billion into our economy. We are targeting new tax credits to hire inner city youth and reduce unemployment in some of the poorest areas of our state, as well as providing direct aid to communities struggling to recover in the wake of this year's severe storms. This would be lowest tax rate for middle class families in 58 years. This job-creating economic plan defies the political gridlock that has paralyzed Washington and shows that we can make government work for the people of this State once again."

Jump below for the statements.

Diaz, Rivera, 50th Precinct kick off annual coat drive

On Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and state senator Gustavo Rivera joined the volunteer organization New York Cares and Health Plus to kick off the 2011 “Keep The Bronx Warm Month” annual coat drive. Diaz kicked off the coat drive at the 50th Precinct in the Kingsbridge.

The goal is to collect 100,000 coats this year.

During the month of December, individuals can donate coats at Diaz’s office in the Bronx County Courthouse, local police precincts, and other public locations.

The 50th Precinct collected the most coats last year, and Commanding Officer Captain Kevin Burke said he hopes they can defend their title and collect the most again.

Check out next week's Riverdale Review or Bronx Press for the full story.

Classes to be taught by state Senator Rivera

A story from this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh

A popular series of civics classes is coming to the Kingsbridge Library this month. 

Rivera teaches civics classes
throughout the 33rd Senate district.

Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m., state Senator Gustavo Rivera will be teaching classes on civics, citizenship and local government. 

“I’ve always believed that people need to know how their government works,” Rivera said. “As a political science professor for 11 years, it’s something I do all the time.” 

Rivera is teaming up with local resident Irving Ladimer for the second of the three classes. He heard Ladimer had taught similar classes in the past and wanted to team up with him for this round of classes. 

“We sat down and had a long conversation and he had the same concerns I did about citizenship and civic involvement,” Rivera said. 

Last month, the rookie senator held four one-hour classes at the Bronx Library Center that netted about 75 people each time. 

“It was overwhelmingly positive,” Rivera said, adding that he had “folks of all ages and all ethnicities” attend the classes from every corner of his district, including some from out of his 33rd state Senate district. 

He says the benefit of classes like this, and one that’s taught by an elected official, gives the public an opportunity to ask questions that they normally wouldn’t be able to ask. 

The first class—each one is on a Wednesday night—will focus on the constitution and civil rights and liberties. The second, taught by Ladimer, will be on citizenship. The final class is on voting and elections. 

Ladimer, the law, rules and ethics chairman of Community Board 8. 

Rivera recommends that people attend all three, but it is not required. The classes will end on Dec. 14 with a graduation ceremony to celebrate the completion of the course.

Dinowitz feeds the needy then fights Verizon

A pair of photos popped into my inbox yesterday. Looks like Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has been busy fighting the injustice in the world.

Dinowitz collected donations from P.S. 81 students for the purchase of Thanksgiving turkeys for needy families. Here, he is pictured with members of the P.S. 81 Student Government and Student Government Advisors Steve Ozer and Shari Galligan after collecting their donations.

Also, Dinowitz joined with Verizon workers today in their ongoing contract battle against Verizon's efforts to reduce their health and pension benefits.

(L-R) State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Dinowitz,
Council Member Fernando Cabrera, and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto.

Bronx pols honor Veterans Day

If you're hankering to celebrate veterans in the Bronx, you can find information here for an event Sunday in Van Cortlandt Park.

Other than that, I wanted to pass along messages from the local elected officials.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera issued the following statement today in honor of Veterans Day and announced that he is introducing legislation that will do a better job of matching veterans with services that they are entitled to.

Rep. Eliot Engel highlighted multiple bills he has sponsored, including one that streamlines the ability for veterans to get compensation for disabled vets.

Jump below for the statements. More coming when/if I receive them.

Bronx elected officials searching for a way to stop gun violence

After more senseless shooting in the Bronx, elected leaders and community activists are again trying to figure out how to stop it from happening. 

City Councilman Fernando Cabrera, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and community activists got together earlier this week in an effort to find ways to fight and prevent gang and gun violence. The meeting was held in response to the shooting Tuesday night that left 4-year-old Cincer Balthazar fighting for his life and another shooting in Bronx Lebanon Hospital.

Jump below for statements from Cabrera, state Sen. Gustavo Rivera and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Electeds meet their constituents in West Bronx town meeting

Here's a story from this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

Engel courts future voters at the town hall meeting Sunday.

Stray cats, street repairs, the millionaires’ tax and much more were brought up in during a ‘meet and greet’ with local elected officials last week at Vladek Hall.

In the first of four town hall meetings, residents were able to spend some one-on-one time with their local elected officials, a change from the typical town halls where residents fire off questions publicly and the officials respond in an open forum.

Rep. Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Senator Gustavo Rivera and City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell spoke with their constituents on a variety of issues Sunday afternoon in one of the Amalgamated Houses.

“People brought up a lot of local issues,” Dinowitz said after the gathering. “Some people talk to us about more national issues. They’re very pro-Democrat and want Obama to be stronger in his fight to get bills passed, his fight with Republicans. We got a lot of that: Obama needs to be tougher with Republicans.”

Jump below for the full post.

Rivera's health initiative headed to schools and families

Here's a story that didn't make this week's Riverdale Review.

By Brendan McHugh 

Is Diaz enjoying this a little too much?
Rivera has lost 16 lbs. since June.

As the first Bronx CAN Health Initiative winds down, state Senator Gustavo Rivera and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. spent Monday kicking off the new family-oriented initiative in Bronx schools.

Standing for ‘Changing Attitudes Now,’ the CAN initiative encourages Bronxites to eat healthier and work out more. Rivera has joined with Diaz, Montefiore Medical Center and various community groups throughout the Bronx, encouraging children and adults alike to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

"For the last few months, the Bronx CAN Health Initiative has inspired Bronxites to take responsibility over their own health and make changes to their habits in order to lead longer and healthier lives," Rivera said.

Rivera and Diaz attended a celebration of National Food Day on Monday, Oct. 24 at the Academy of Mount St. Ursula, one of several schools in the Bronx that have adopted the Bronx CAN Family Health Challenge.

Jump below for the full story, including a picture of Rivera from June and information about a campaign the NYC health department started today.

Diaz Sr. congratulating Hispanic colleagues in Skelos boycott

State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. has congratulated the members of the state legislature who joined him in boycotting Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos' Unidad Latina Legislative Conference last week. We've got the full backstory here and here.

The GOP called the conference a success, citing the fact that two current Hispanic members of the Assembly attended. Diaz ponders why they did attend, but ultimately is pleased that most of the Hispanic members of government did not attend. Diaz said in an earlier letter that he was boycotting the conference because Republicans hurt Hispanics in the state budget this year, and the conference was nothing more than a publicity stunt.

Jump below for the full statement.

From Diaz to the members of the Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus:

This memo is to congratulate my Senate colleagues who serve as Members of the New York State Senate Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus: Senator Adriano Espaillat, Chair; Senator Gustavo Rivera, Vice-Chair; and Caucus Members Senator José Peralta, Senator Martin-Malavé Dilan, and Senator José M. Serrano.  I congratulate all of you for showing real unity on behalf of our Caucus and our community by not attending the so-called Legislative Hispanic Unity Conference that was organized by our Senate Majority (Republican) Leader Dean Skelos.

Most importantly, I have to admire our Caucus Chairman, Senator Adriano Espaillat for his leadership.
I have to admire our Caucus Vice-Chair Gustavo Rivera for being forthright in the media last week by stating: “I will not be attending the conference. If the majority leader and the Senate Republicans were serious about addressing the issues affecting Latinos, they would have asked their Latino counterparts in the Senate to help them organize a conference that reflects the issues that are impacting Latinos throughout the state such as immigrants’ rights issues as well as the need to extend the millionaire’s tax so that New York State is able to continue funding important services like education, housing, and healthcare that are so critical to our communities.”

Bronx State legislators calling on Quinn to support living wage

There will be a full story in this week's Bronx Press and Riverdale Review on the living wage, but check this out anyways.

Letter to Speaker Quinn from Bronx State Legislators

Dinowitz applauds another grade, this time a passing one

Coming off a failing grade from the Conservative Party, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz is again delighted at a grade he received--though this time it's a passing one.

He has been awarded a score of 105, tied for the highest score in the Assembly, by EPL/Environmental Advocates in their 2011 Voters’ Guide (PDF--jump below if you don't want to download it). Dinowitz voted for or co-sponsored every bill EPL/Environmental Advocates supported.

Among the bills on which EPL/Environmental Advocates agreed with Dinowitz were his votes in favor of a hydraulic fracturing moratorium, closing the fracking waste loophole, the Water Resources Protection Act, a global warming pollution cap, the Solar Industry Development & Jobs Act, wetlands protection, encouraging “complete street” designs that promote walking, biking and public transit, and mandating recycling of certain materials.

“I am very gratified to have received the highest score from EPL/Environmental Advocates. I have long been an advocate for protecting our environment, and I will continue to fight for this vital cause,” Dinowitz said in a statement.

Jump below for the scores of every Bronx state legislator and the full report.

Rivera teaching free civic classes

Rivera's speech earlier this year apparently wasn't
exciting enough for Mayor Bloomberg, who appears to be
dozing off. Hopefully Rivera's teaching style will keep
students interested.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera is launching a series of civic classes at the Bronx Library Center (310 East Kingsbridge Rd.) that he is teaching beginning Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 at 6:00 pm. This course is free to the public and is open to all ages.

The class will focus on learning about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the different levels of government, as well as how government and elections work. Rivera’s civics course will start on Oct 13 and will continue every Thursday until Nov. 3 with a graduation ceremony to celebrate the completion of the course.

This isn't Rivera's first foray into teaching. He is currently a Political Science professor at Pace and previously, he taught at Hunter.

Four town hall meetings coming to the northwest Bronx

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Rep. Eliot Engel, City Councilman Oliver Koppell, state Senators Gustavo Rivera, Jeffrey Klein and Adriano Espaillat are hosting several town hall meetings to answer constituents’ questions and hear their concerns.

The first is a lighthearted meet and great, and will be the only one that Engel attends. The third, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, will be focused around environmental issues, including Indian Point and hydrofracking. The other two, I assume, are free for alls.

Sunday, October 23 • 1:30pm	Monday, October 24 • 7:30pm
Vladeck Hall	St. Barnabas High School
74 Van Cortlandt Park South	425 East 240th Street
Meet and Greet Your Elected Officials	Town Hall Meeting
Sponsored by the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative	Sponsored by the Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers and Community Association
With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Congressman Eliot Engel, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera	With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Jeffrey Klein
Tuesday, October 25 • 7:30pm	Wednesday, November 2 • 7:30pm
Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale	Mosholu Montefiore Community Center
475 W. 250 St. (on Henry Hudson Pkwy. E.)	3450 Dekalb Avenue
Special Forum on Environmental Issues	Town Hall Meeting
With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Adriano Espaillat	Sponsored by the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center
	With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera

Rivera's chief of staff leaves for Central Labor Council

Bronx state Sen. Gustavo Rivera's chief of staff, Marco Carrion, is leaving his position to begin working as the legislative/political director for the NYC Central Labor Council.

Capitol Tonight reported the departure, and we spoke to Rivera's communications director Conchita Cruz and confirmed it. Cruz, in fact, is replacing Carrion as chief of staff.

Carrion had great things to say about both Rivera and Cruz:

“The Senator and I have been close friends for many years – this change is in no way an end to our partnership and collaborations. I am confident that I am leaving Senator Rivera in good hands – Conchita’s national political experience and wide networks will enhance Senator Rivera’s already rising national and statewide profile as a Latino leader.”

He was Rivera's campaign manager during the 2010 election, when Rivera easily took down the embattled Pedro Espada, Jr. This isn’t Carrion’s first stint with organized labor: prior to working with Rivera, he worked for the UFT and also for the AFL-CIO – both in New York and at the national level. 

Jump below for more.