Jose Rivera (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jose Rivera is a member of the New York State Assembly, representing the Fordham, New York section of the Bronx. A prominent New York Democrat, Mr. Rivera was elected to the Assembly in 2000, and is the head of the Democratic Party in the Bronx. This is Mr. Rivera's second stint in the State Assembly; prior to his current stint, Mr. Rivera was from 1987 to 2000 a member of the New York City Council, and from 1983 to 1987 a member of the State Assembly. Prior to his election to the Assembly in 1982, Mr. Rivera gained prominence as a labor advocate and organizer of construction workers and "gypsy" taxicab drivers.

Mr. Rivera was a vocal advocate for the withdrawal of the U.S. Navy from its bombing range on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, and was arrested in 2001, together with Al Sharpton and other political figures, for trespassing onto the Navy's Vieques facility. The Navy subsequently agreed to withdraw from the Vieques facility.

Mr. Rivera was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1936. Two of his children, Joel Rivera and Naomi Rivera, are also elected officials in the Bronx, members of the New York City Council and New York State Assembly, respectively.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Armando Montano
New York State Assembly, 77th District
1983–1987
Succeeded by
Israel Martinez
Preceded by
Fernando Ferrer
New York City Council, 13th District
1987–1991
Succeeded by
Michael DiMarco
Preceded by
Walter Ward
New York City Council, 15th District
1992–2000
Succeeded by
Joel Rivera
Preceded by
Roberto Ramirez
New York State Assembly, 78th District
2001–present
Incumbent