On September 16, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC-NY) hosted Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. on its Community Relations Corner, a weekly virtual series discussing concerns to the Jewish community. Diaz is the highest ranking Latino elected official in New York City and New York State.
Michael Miller, JCRC’s executive VP and CEO explained, “On each episode, we are joined by a guest representing political, religious, economic and diverse community leadership in New York, many of whom I have had the honor and pleasure of getting to know over the course of my tenure at JCRC. Together, we explore topics impacting the Jewish community and our neighbors, our state, our city, our country and the world.” The Community Relations Corner is sponsored by the Free Synagogue of Flushing, Queens.
Miller’s opening question was about COVID. Diaz began, “Personally, my family and I are safe and healthy. A lot of personal friends have passed on and have been sick… Since March, we have experienced about 5,000 deaths. I don’t know if there has been a point in history, in our borough, if you take all types of deaths together (natural causes, homicides), that 5,000 Bronxites died within four months.
Diaz noted that all industries in the Bronx have been hit, from retail to restaurants. “I had pride with our economic development. We went from 14% unemployment to a pre-pandemic 4.6%, the lowest in the history of the Bronx.” Diaz added there has also been an economic toll. After this event, he was heading to a Bronx soup kitchen.
Miller then asked, “Who is Ruben Diaz, Jr?”
“I am a Bronx boy who has been blessed with the opportunity to have the best job on the planet. I am the president of my home town, the boogie-down Bronx,” said Diaz.
Born to Puerto Rican parents who met in the garment district, he is the youngest of three children. At PS 5, he was identified as a gifted and talented student. Describing his senior year in high school, “I was chasing after a young lady. Thirty-one years later, Hila is still my girlfriend.” Diaz decided to get into politics at a young age “because I couldn’t be a rap star, or the shooting guard for the Knicks. At the age of 21, I ran for district leader and won. At the age of 22, I ran for the state assembly and lost a special election.”
Soon after, he became the youngest member of the state legislature. In 2009, Diaz became the Bronx borough president, after 12 ½ years in Albany, when former Borough President Adolfo Carrion joined the Obama administration. He is currently serving in his third term.
When asked about his relationship with the Jewish community, Diaz responded, “I was born in Jewish Memorial Hospital. I was raised in a religious Pentecostal family. The Jewish people are the chosen ones. My support for Israel and the Jewish people has never been political. It’s the way we were raised.”
Miller asked for Diaz’s reaction to the Democratic Socialists of America asking city council candidates not to travel to Israel, targeting JCRC directly, and to be supportive of BDS. “I don’t know what the goal of that is. Even if you have issues with JCRC, even if you have issues with the relationship between Israel and Palestinians, how does it help staying away?” Diaz asked. “If you are like me, a young Puerto Rican kid from the Bronx, traveling to Israel was an eye opener. You learn so much about the people, the history, the economy, the scientific advancements and religion. The trip did something to me spiritually.”
Diaz described his second trip, when he met with Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin. “That will be a chapter in my memoirs one day, for me to sit with the president of Israel at the head of the room, the fact that we connected so well that the following week, he gave a speech here at the United Nations. Afterwards he changed his schedule and came to the Bronx. That was historic. I went to Israel twice, and I look toward the third time to be invited.”
What’s next for Diaz? “I am retiring from elected office, but I am not retiring forever. I have ’til December 2021, concentrating on doing all I can for my borough.” Diaz added, “I do look forward to the next chapter and where that is. I would be lying to you if I told you I have a definitive place I am going to go. Stay tuned.”
By Judy Berger
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