Politics

UPDATE Elections 2022: Rivera Draws on Tenant Support in Senate District 33  

By SÍLE MOLONEY
This story was originally published on Aug. 20, 2022, before the August 2022 Democratic primary election in S.D. 33. State Sen. Gustavo Rivera has since been elected the Democratic nominee for S.D. 33 and is now running in the general election on Nov. 8.  Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) is drawing on the support of longtime tenant activists in Norwood and beyond, ahead of next week’s Democratic primary in his bid to win the senate seat in redrawn Senate District 33, which will


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Elections 2022: Miguelina Camilo on Education, Small Business Support & Criminal Justice

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   The daughter of a small business owner, a lawyer, and a former commissioner at NYC Board of Elections, Miguelina Camilo, initially threw her hat in the ring on Feb. 25, as the Democratic candidate to represent Senate District 34, the district currently represented by State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, who announced earlier this year she was running for Congress.   As reported, the Democratic-controlled State legislature redrew and voted on the various electoral districts in New York State in February 2022, following the redistricting


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Inspector General Publishes Investigative Report & Makes Public Letters Sent to Govt. Agencies & Officials

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The Offices of the NYS Inspector General published its latest investigative report on Friday, Aug. 19, as well as 21 previously non-public letters arising from investigations undertaken by the office. The letters, which were sent to public officials and agencies regarding allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing, provide information on the ultimate investigative findings by the inspector general.   According to the office, the published documents constitute the remainder of such investigative letters issued in 2013, and continues what was described by the offices as the inspector general’s commitment to providing all such historical letters on a year-by-year basis.   “Today’s


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UPDATE Elections 2022: Rezoning, Development Take Center Stage during Senate District 34 BronxNet Debate

By EMILY SAWAKED & SÍLE MOLONEY
Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   Hosted by BronxNet’s Gary Axelbank, the three candidates in the Democratic primary race who are aiming to fill the seat in redrawn Senate District 34, participated in a debate aired on BronxNet on Aug. 8 to discuss the issues affecting residents in the district, the candidates’ respective policy positions, and if elected, their goals for the district. Zoning and development took center stage.   Christian Amato served as a board member and as a co-chair of the transportation committee on Bronx Community Board 11, and


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Elections 2022: Senate District 34 Candidates Debate Climate, Crime, Budgeting & More

By EMILY SAWAKED & SÍLE MOLONEY
Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   Voters still undecided about who to back in the 34th senatorial district Democratic primary were given the opportunity to gain more insight into the three candidates’ policies, when they took on issues ranging from climate to crime, and from budgeting to job development during a recent debate hosted by Schneps media. On Tuesday, July 26, Christian Amato, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez (A.D. 80), and John Perez answered questions posed both by the two moderators, Jane Hanson and Stephen Witt, and by each other in preparation for


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UPDATE Elections 2022: Dinowitz Alleges Gustavo Rivera Does Not Live in S.D. 33 in Newsletter to Constituents

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   In the latest twist in the upcoming Democratic primary race for State Senate District 33, just two days before early voting kicked off on Aug. 13, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) alleged that State Sen. Gustavo Rivera does not live in State Senate District 33, the district which the senator currently represents, and for which he is currently campaigning to represent as redrawn Senate District 33.   All redrawn districts will become effective on Jan. 1, 2023.   In his weekly newsletter, “Dinowitz


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Public Advocate Stalls Property Tax Collection as City Education Budget Remains in Doubt

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams sent a letter to Mayor Eric Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Preston Niblack, commissioner of the Department of Finance, on Saturday, Aug. 13, indicating that, in accordance with Section 1518 of the City Charter and in light of the ongoing court battle over the Department of Education (DOE) budget, he will not be signing the FY202 property tax warrant at this time.   According to a press release dated Friday, Aug. 12, the public advocate wrote that according to the recent State Supreme court ruling in Williams v. The City of New


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Elections 2022: Christian Amato on Education, the Environment and Quality-of-Life

By EMILY SAWAKED
  Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   The son of Italian immigrants and former theatre professional, Christian Amato is a candidate for State Senate District 34, covering parts of both the East Bronx and Westchester county, in this year’s Democratic primary. He began his campaign in February and said he is eager to continue to serve the people of The Bronx.   Amato’s political career first started with organizing in response to Trump’s election. “I got my start organizing, connecting immigrant Bronxites to DACA initiatives,” he said. “As the son


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Elections 2022: John Perez on Family, Training & the Environment

By EMILY SAWAKED
Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   A U.S. army veteran, single father, and Democratic candidate for Senate District 34, which covers parts of The Bronx and Westchester counties, John Perez has run unsuccessfully for elected office in the past. He is one of three candidates in the race to succeed State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi who is running for Congress in District 17. Having lived a long and experienced life, Perez said he is eager to serve his district and the rest of the State.   His motivation to begin another


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