A host of local elected officials joined former tenant lawyer and Hostos Community College adjunct professor, Oswald Feliz, as he was sworn in as city councilman of the 15th Council District, following his win in the March 23^rd special election. Feliz assumes the seat left vacant for a few months following the resignation of the former councilman, now Congressman Ritchie Torres, after the latter won the 15^th congressional race in November 2020.

 

The swearing in ceremony for Feliz was held on Sunday, May 2, at the Serviam Gardens, located at 2848 Bainbridge Avenue in Bedford Park. Officials in attendance included heavyweights, U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, local congressman for the 13^th congressional district, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, city comptroller candidate and New York City Council Speaker, Corey Johnson, as well as Torres.

 

Espaillat had been a staunch supporter of Feliz throughout his campaign, which received strong support from both the Puerto Rican and Dominican communities. Both Espaillat and Feliz recently announced their endorsement of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for mayor, providing a major boost to Adam’s campaign, with speculation that he is now somewhat assured of having the backing of much of the coveted African American and Latinx vote.

 

Also, in attendance were Bronx borough president candidate and District 14 Councilman Fernando Cabrera, Manhattan City Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez, and embattled State Sen. and fellow Bronx borough president candidate, Luis Sepúlveda. The latter voluntarily turned himself in to police in January in the context of alleged assault charges, following a domestic incident involving his estranged wife.

 

The senator denies the charges and the case is ongoing. Sepúlveda was stripped of his chairmanship duties on the senate committee on crimes, crime victims and corrections following the alleged incident. He made a brief appearance at the ceremony before the formal proceedings kicked off. Rachel Bradshaw, president of the Northwest Bronx Democrats for Change was the emcee on the day.

Feliz had previously led the Northwest Bronx Democrats for Change, a political group established in recent years, and after the establishment of another political group, the Northwest Bronx Democrats, which had been founded in 2003 by Anthony Rivieccio. Sheila Sanchez is the current president of Northwest Bronx Democrats. Rivieccio told the Norwood News his organization recently issued a cease-and-desist notice regarding the use of the name “Northwest Bronx Democrats for Change” by the other group.

 

Joined by his wife and family on the day, Feliz was sworn in as councilman by Bronx Supreme Court Judge Kim Adair Wilson, who was also elected to her role last November. Since his election win, Feliz announced on April 22 that he had been selected to join both the City Council’s education committee and public housing committee.

 

“This was an extremely competitive race, probably one of the most competitive in the entire city,” said Feliz at the ceremony. “I want to thank the voters of the 15th Council District for believing in me, for supporting me, and also electing me, thank you. For the next few months, I’m going to be working with all of the elected officials here including our great city council speaker, my good friend, Corey Johnson, and we’re going to be working around the clock to build that better Bronx that I promised to the people of the 15th council district.”

Moments before being sworn in, Feliz vowed to secure money to fix Bronx parks, schools and playgrounds, as well as provide additional funding for NYCHA housing. He will be defending his seat, once again, in the upcoming June 22 primary election having won in the special election with 56.4 percent (1,766) of the 3,128 eligible votes, beating his nearest rival, Bronx Community Board 7 District Manager, Ischia Bravo.

 

Bravo, who is also running in the primary, among others, secured 43.54 percent (1,362) of eligible votes in a special election which had a 4.26 percent voter turnout, which was not considered surprising. Greater voter turnout is expected, however, in the upcoming primary given it coincides with other Bronx and citywide races.