Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr. 75th Assembly District (Part of Bronx County)
Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr., Democrat, represents the 75th Assembly District of Bronx County, including the neighborhoods of Bronx River, Harding Park, Clason Point, Hunts Point and Soundview. This is an area of the South Bronx that is rich in culture, history and diversity, and determined to become a focal point of economic revitalization.
Mr. Diaz, a lifelong resident of the Bronx, was born on April 26, 1973 to Ms. Didionilda Vega and the Reverend Doctor Ruben Diaz. He is a graduate of the City University of New York, having matriculated from La Guardia Community College.
Mr. Diaz, who at the relatively young age of 25 has been overwhelmingly reelected to a second term in the New York State Assembly, is a man who has been passionate about community service and empowerment all his life. He brings to the New York State Assembly a lifetime record of community service, a genuine commitment to improving the lives of all of the people of his District, the Bronx, and New York State, and an outstanding legislative and constituency services record in his first two year term.
Mr. Diaz began his community service career at an early age, working diligently as community activist, striving for nearly a decade to enhance the quality of life of the Bronx's diverse residents, families and businesses and to improve and uplift the borough's many neighborhoods. At age 15, he was devoting weekends and holidays to delivering meals to homebound seniors and visiting residents of senior centers. In his late teens, he joined Christian Community in Action, a home attendant service organization, to assist in bringing services to disabled senior citizens. During that entire period of time, he focused, refined and sharpened the grassroots advocating skills he continues to use to this day, with specialization in the areas of education, economic development, civil rights, housing, the environment, the disabled, youth and the elderly.
Mr. Diaz began his public service career in 1992, when he brought his skills to the New York City Council as a central staff supervisor, gaining in the process invaluable hands-on government policy experience. He was hired in 1994 by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission for the sensitive post of Equal Employment Opportunities Counselor and was responsible for hearing grievances and settling complaints. In addition, he was responsible for administering the standard setting and performance enhancing programs and exams for current and prospective taxi drivers and to advance the ability of the drivers to communicate effectively with taxi passengers. When he ran for Male Democratic District Leader of the 75th Assembly District in 1994; he won by an overwhelming margin of 73% defeating a 23-year incumbent. That same year, in his role as the District Leader, he applied his years of experience to actively assist the current Chair of the Bronx Democratic County Committee, Assemblyman Roberto Ramirez, secure that Democratic Party post. Mr. Diaz, a Member of Bronx Young Democrats, received their Bronx Young Democrat of the Year Award for 1996.
Assemblyman Diaz was first elected to the NYS Assembly in November 1996. In that key electoral season, Assemblyman Diaz gave his unwavering support that year to Bronx County's candidates and its winning platform based on the creation of equitable partnerships between citizens and government.
In the years that he has been in the Assembly, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. has been a strong advocate for the South Bronx's poor, middle class, and working families. The district's business community has been able to count on him to push for economic development through small business and high tech start-up incentive programs.
Assemblyman Diaz has crafted, sponsored and passed innovative legislation into law specifically designed to address the consequences of the intolerable levels of asthma in the South Bronx. He has worked for more than a decade on issues of concern to youth, the next generation of Bronxites, and is fighting for, among other things, an accessible CUNY system.
Within weeks of his first term in office in 1996, Assemblyman Diaz put together a strong staff comprised of individuals with both the skills and the desire to bring substantive constituency services to the 75th Assembly District. Today, his District Office, located at 1163 Manor Avenue, has become a magnet for 40 to 50 individuals a day who come from all over the South Bronx. Here, they are sure to find tireless advocacy, service delivery and, most importantly, an Assembly representative who both listens and responds to the concerns of his constituents.
Assemblyman Diaz, an advocate of citizen participation in deciding the course of community projects, has a Legislative Advisory Board. The Board, comprised of a wide spectrum of community representatives, has worked with him as he has held several Town Hall Meetings. Most recently, as a direct result of his Hunts Point Waste Transfer Town Hall Meeting, the AMR waste transfer proposal was put on hold; it may be dismissed altogether.
Assemblyman Diaz is a strong proponent and funder of neighborhood-based self-help groups such as tenant associations, parent associations, community centers and arts initiatives. He believes these groups play an important role in the economic and cultural life of a vibrant New York City. He has consistently advocated for increases in funding for community based development programs statewide.
Assemblyman Diaz entered his second term in the New York State Assembly after overwhelming his 1998 Democratic Primary opponent by 72% and by winning that year's General Election by 96% in a four-way race. Diaz also played a central role, as the Democratic incumbent in the 75th AD, both by actively assisting Assemblyman Roberto Ramirez, Chair of the Bronx Democratic County Committee, to maintain Democratic Party unity in Bronx County, and by also giving solid support to Bronx County's candidates and its platform.
Assemblyman Diaz is a member of the New York State Assembly's Standing Committees on Children and Families, Cities, Corrections, Education, Governmental Operations, and Housing. He is also a member of the New York State Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force.
Assemblyman Diaz has served as the Chair of the Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force's Seniors Awareness Day, which offers seniors from around New York State the opportunity to be both connected with, and knowledgeable about, their benefits and entitlements.
Assemblyman Diaz and his wife Hilda Gerena Diaz share their South Bronx home with their two sons, Ruben Diaz III and Ryan Isaiah Diaz.
Standing Committee Assignments 1999: Children and Families; Cities; Correction; Education; Governmental Operations; Housing.
