Talk Bronx New York

 Ruben Diaz Jr. swears in as Bronx borough president today at Lehman College

Hard hit by a recession that has pushed Bronx jobless numbers into the double digits and painful budget cuts to city services and his own staff, Ruben Diaz Jr. was formally sworn in Thursday as 13th Bronx borough president.

In an inaugural speech at Lehman College, Diaz, 36, pledged to “work tirelessly and without compromise … for our seniors, our children and our hardworking families.”

Gov. Paterson, Mayor Bloomberg and other elected state and city officials were on hand to extend their well-wishes.

Addressing a 10.5% local unemployment rate - the highest in the city - Diaz told the audience the most important goal on his agenda would be economic development - “and we will tackle the issue head-on.”

In particular, he cited developing training programs for “green” jobs - “building green roofs, retrofitting boilers and making our existing building stock more energy-efficient.”

He also cited the continuing need for improving local schools, including partnering “with community and faith-based organizations to develop after-school and arts programs in every neighborhood.”

With health care the borough’s single largest employer, Diaz said he would encourage the growth of new medical fields, such as bio-pharmaceuticals.

Proclaiming a theme of “One Bronx,” the new borough president said he also will charge local business improvement groups with developing a strategic plan to “ensure the strength of all our business districts.”

Diaz said that he will reach out to citywide leaders on issues “from business and labor to education and the environment.” Read more..

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Bronx Trivia: ‘Fort Apache, the Bronx,’ starring the late Paul Newman, was not filmed at the real Fort Apache in Longwood, but at the 42nd Precinct stationhouse on Washington Ave. in Morrisania.

Nelson Castro took political heat over having a criminal record and for having nine people listing his one-bedroom apartment as their addresses on their voter registrations.

But he triumphed in the Democratic Primary for state assemblyman in the west Bronx.

Now, Richard Soto of the Rising Voices Coalition, whose brother Mike ran against Nelson, told us he has filed a complaint with Bronx District Attorney Rob Johnson, alleging that Nelson committed perjury over that voter thing, since Nelson supposedly testified under oath in a civil court hearing that he didn’t know those voters.

Soto said the DA has pictures of Nelson posing with them at various affairs.

The DA’s office, as usual, had no comment, and after we spoke twice with Nelson, he’s yet to respond to the allegation.

Hector Ramirez, 86th A.D. district leader, probably wouldn’t mind seeing Nelson in hot water. Hector was Assemblyman Luis Diaz’s choice to succeed him after Luis went to work for Gov. Paterson. But Party Boss Jose Rivera backed Nelson instead, and Hector joined the rebels challenging Jose.

Neutral surf

We guess San Juan will be declared neutral surf, er, turf for warring Bronx political camps when the Somos El Futuro (We Are the Future) Winter Conference is held Nov. 6-11 at the San Juan Intercontinental.

Whatever the result of an Oct. 27 court date to try to settle who’s the legal Bronx Democratic boss, San Juan could be the place to mend fences over piña coladas.

Put together by the Assembly’s Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, the confab features daily workshops - for those who can manage to break away from conducting serious business poolside and at the bar. Read more..

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 Bronx Dems Raise Money For Senate Takeover

Bronx Democratic Chairman Jose Rivera is hosting a “Take Back the Senate” fundraiser next Friday at the Seashore Restaurant, a $400-a-head event at which both Gov. David Paterson and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith will be “distinguished guests.”

I believe this is the first such event that Paterson will attend since his March 17 swearing in.

Given the tenuousness of the situation at the Capitol (budget deadlines, scandals etc.) the new governor has studiously avoided discussing whether he will pursue a Democratic majority in the Senate as aggressively as his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer.

The budget should be done by next Friday, but the legislative session won’t be over. Nevertheless, Paterson evidently feels it should be safe by then to attend an event that might upset the delicate balance of his relationship with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

Spitzer, of course, made ousting the Senate Republicans from power a priority in 2006 when he campaigned on behalf of Democratic candidates, and then continued that quest once he took office (7th and 48th SD special elections, Troopergate etc.) at the expense of his legislative and reform agendas.

When questioned on this topic, Paterson has repeatedly noted that during his tenure as minority leader he took four seats from the Republicans - three in one year (2004) - and brought the Democrats within spitting distance of taking over the chamber, while also maintaining his cordial relationship with Bruno.

SOURCE: NYDailyNews.com

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