Check out this brand new special section on the Bronx, published by the Legislative Gazette, that was produced jointly by the Office of the Borough President and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation. This special section will be mailed to all 17,000 subscribers of the Legislative Gazette. In addition, the BP's office will receive 5,000 hard copies to distribute.
The section recaps 2011 in the Bronx, from a March groundbreaking in Hunts Point for a new Jetro facility to October's education summit.
Yesterday, Liz Benjamin at the Daily News wrote a piece that cast a bit of shadow on the presumably inevitable campaign of City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera in the upcoming special election.
Benjamin asked Assemblyman Jose Rivera, the councilman's father, about his son's presumed campaign, and later if he might run himself. In both cases, Assemblyman Rivera offered some cryptic responses, and confirmed nothing.
I have also heard from a number of sources that Councilman Rivera may not run for borough president. But I've also heard directly from the councilman that he would run. Until I hear otherwise, I'll take the councilman's word for it.
In related news, the loudest rumor of the day is that another City Councilman, Larry Seabrook, is seriously considering a run in the special election. I haven't heard from Seabrook's camp yet to firm this up or shoot it down.
"As far as I know, that is only a rumor," said Seabrook spokesperson Alison Crouch, who said she would get back to me with more info if she had it.
Israel Ruiz is sending clear signals that he intends to move forward with his exploration in regards to the upcoming special election for Bronx borough president.
Ruiz issued a press release Sunday night to a variety of media outlets. Included was a copy of his resume, as well as a reminder that he was, indeed, considering a run, if not for borough president then at least for City Council in September.
...both Assemblyman Ruben Diaz and City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera confirmed that they will be running in the special election, though that should come as no surprise.
As seen on the Village Voice, here is a link to my video of State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz discussing just what he's looking for in a borough presidential candidate.
One thing we’ve been doing around the office is tracking down the wide array of different potential candidates who have mentioned, at one time or another, that they might consider pursuing the borough presidency (with two confirmed, of course).
One such candidate is former State Senator and City Councilman Israel Ruiz, who told me on Friday that he was also interested in jumping into the special election.
“I’m exploring,” said Ruiz, who recently sent out a mailing looking for campaign contributions to former contributors.
Ruiz said that nothing is final, and that he is also considering a run for borough president or for City Council in the 14th District against incumbent Maria Baez.
Ruiz held that council seat until 1997, when he ran for borough president against Fernando Ferrer.
(Though, to be fair, Ruiz did not seek out a Ferrer contest. When Ruiz announced for borough president, Ferrer was planning a run for mayor against Rudy Giuliani. When Ferrer opted out of the mayoral race, Ruiz stayed in the beep race rather than finagle his way back to the City Council. Obviously, Ferrer won, and Ruiz’s former seat was filled by Adolfo Carrion.)
Ruiz was unsuccessful in 2001 and 2003 races against Baez for the seat. Ruiz also ran for his former State Senate seat in 2006 against Efrain Gonzalez Jr, a seat he had held until 1989, when he was convicted of lying on a loan application. Upon his release from jail, Ruiz was victorious in the City Council race.
Ruiz said he’s spoken about his potential return to a number of people, and all the response he has gotten is positive.
“People are saying they’d like to have a discussion about who should be the next borough president, and they want me to be a part of that discussion,” said Ruiz. “The Bronx is really hurting, and we have to come up with solutions.”
