While Fernando Tirado went the traditional route of holding a press conference to announce his candidacy, Gustavo Rivera kicked off his campaign for the 33rd District Senate seat mostly on the internet.
Last week, Rivera, whose most recent gig was in the office of New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand as an outreach director, went viral, launching a website — www.gustavoforstatesenate.com — posting videos on a Vimeo account (the youtube.com rival) and starting a Flickr photostream.
He’s the fourth person challenging embattled State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. Also in the running are Community Board 7 District Manager Tirado, lawyer and Community Board 8 member Daniel Padernacht, and community activist Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter.
Born in Puerto Rico, Rivera has lived in New York since 1998 and said he currently resides in Kingsbridge Heights. It was a commitment to public service that prompted his decision to run, he said.
“What we’re talking about is accountability, transparency,” Rivera said in a phone interview. “However long Mr. Espada has been in government, he has not been as committed to public service as he needs to be. It’s about restoring trust in government. It’s about making sure we can have somebody in government who is going to be responsive to the needs of the citizens.”
Rivera recently wrapped up his job at Gillibrand’s office, where he’d worked since last May, to focus on his campaign, he said.
In the past, Rivera (no relation to the Rivera Bronx political clan of Jose, Joel and Naomi) campaigned for a number of other politicians, including Bronx politicians such Assemblyman Jose M. Serrano, Council member Melissa Mark-Viverito and former borough president Freddy Ferrer. He also worked for now-President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign in Illinois.
In a statement, Mark-Viverito said she was getting behind Rivera: “Gustavo has a proven track record of electing progressive candidates, forging coalitions to ensure accountability in law making, and most importantly is in touch with the voters throughout the Bronx, especially in the 33rd District.”
He’s also garnered support from Council Members Annabel Palma (Bronx) and Jumaane D. Williams (Brooklyn), according to a press release.
admin
Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.