The Making of a Liberal Politician, Part III: Senator Makes Health a Priority

Gustavo Rivera, a state senator for all of nine months, is comfortably in his element. Sitting at the head of a table in a cramped, windowless room deep inside the belly of The Family Health Center on East 193rd Street and Decatur Avenue, Rivera is asking questions and cracking jokes.

Comptroller Report Finds Millions for Bronx Project Sat Idle

The Economic Development Corporation left millions of dollars intended for public projects — including $8.9 million for the restoration of a waterfront site in the South Bronx — sitting unused for decades, an audit from the Comptroller’s office found last week.

Council Pushes 9/11 Health Bill to Cover Cancer

The New York City Council passed a resolution last week urging a closer examination of cancer cases in Ground Zero first responders and asking that those who suffer from the disease be considered for health care coverage under the Zadroga Act — the bill that provides medical funds for people suffering from 9/11-related health problems.

The Making of a Liberal Politician: Part II

It was early spring, 2010, when Gustavo Rivera became a political candidate by default and a dash of desperation. At the time, two other Democrats had declared their intention to run against the incumbent in the 33rd Senate District, Pedro Espada, Jr., who, less than a year earlier, had brought the New York state senate to its knees by offering his party allegiance to the highest bidder.

Engel Backs Obama’s Call For ‘Millionaire’s Tax’

U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel, who represents portions of the north Bronx, is praising President Barack Obama’s plan to raise the base tax rates on the wealthiest Americans to raise revenue and reduce the country’s budget deficit.

The Making of a Liberal Politician: Part I

Just 10 months into his new job as a state senator representing the northwest Bronx, Gustavo Rivera is a relative newcomer to elected office. But Rivera, a Puerto Rican native who moved to the Bronx 13 years ago, is not new to his party’s liberal ideology. He grew into it through years of study and an unexpected discovery during his early years in New York City.

Cabrera Crusades for Prayer in 9/11 Memorial Service

Bronx City Councilman Fernando Cabrera is petitioning Mayor Bloomberg to include prayer in next week’s ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks — joining a chorus of the city’s religious leaders criticizing the mayor for excluding them from the memorial service.

Investment in Infrastructure Will Bring Jobs, Engel Says

As President Barack Obama prepares to deliver his much-hyped “jobs” speech this Thursday night, Bronx Congressman Eliot Engel says that investing in transportation construction is the key to creating more jobs.

Espada’s Health Clinics, Banned from Medicaid Program, Likely to Close

On Aug. 10, the State Department of Health terminated the network of health care clinics run by former Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. and his son from the state’s Medicaid program–a move that will essentially mean closure for the five medical centers of the Soundview Network, which operate almost entirely on reimbursement funds from Medicaid patients.