The Yves Filius Campaign for City Council announced on Wednesday, May 26, that momentum is growing for the Bronx-based movement to elect Filius to City Council District 16, as he received the endorsement this week of District 14 City Councilman Fernando Cabrera. In return, Filius pledged his full support to Cabrera in the councilman’s bid to win the Bronx borough presidency, currently held by Ruben Díaz Jr.

 

Filius’s campaign said Cabrera, who represents the Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham, and Kingsbridge neighborhoods, has been a mentor to the young District 16 candidate, showcasing what a career in public service looks like and what it means to help communities thrive. According to Filius’s campaign, Cabrera should be proud of his professional legacy, which campaign officials described as one that Filius continues to follow, and plans to build his own professional legacy in a manner similar to how Cabrera has built his.

 

Campaign officials for Filius said the two candidates have been campaigning together this week in various Bronx neighborhoods, talking with neighbors and community leaders, as well as in other areas throughout New York City. They said they are joining together “to advocate for the marginalized, find working solutions in their communities and use government as a way to lift people up, especially in the vibrant and diverse communities which the Bronx is world famous for.”

 

Reacting to the councilman’s endorsement, Filius said he was proud to be endorsed by Cabrera, who he described as the top candidate for the position of Bronx borough president. “He is a candidate we know, he is a candidate of the community, and I am proud of the work I see him put in day-in and day-out to better serve the people of the Bronx,” he said.

 

He added, “All levels of government need impactful leadership right now, that can find the right answers to the problems of their communities and Council Member Cabrera would be exactly that in his role as borough president. This is why I am
pleased to offer my full endorsement of Council Member Cabrera for Bronx borough president.”

 

For his part, Cabrera said Filius had shown a precocious ability to find innovative and unique ways to impact and help his community since he first met him in 2013. “His ability to understand the needs of the community and connect with the diverse population of the Bronx, make him a true asset for the district,” said Cabrera.

 

“The success of the next phase of New York City, and its distinct boroughs, depends on smart and motivated New Yorkers like Yves to step up and rise to the challenge.” He added, “I know what it takes as a council member and Yves has it, and more. We can count on Yves, and I am enthusiastic to officially endorse him.”

 

Filius is the current male district leader in the 77th A.D. in the Southwest Bronx. According to a Bronx Democratic Party spokesperson, so-called male and female district leaders are “unpaid, volunteer, [Democratic] party officials, elected by voters from within the assembly district in the Democratic primary.” The spokesperson said that every two years, Democrats in each assembly district elect two district leaders: one male and one female. District leaders must reside within the district they represent.

 

 

Of his endorsement for Cabrera, Sierra said throughout the councilman’s career in government, he had been a fair and balanced legislator, bringing an abundance of resources to his district, and said he always listens more than he speaks. He added that these were two examples of why he was “very excited,” to support him.

 

Meanwhile, Estrada said the Bronx borough president’s race would come down to whoever had the best track record of getting things done. “Fernando Cabrera has the leadership ability to help the Bronx rise from the pandemic,” she said. Meanwhile, Pabon described Cabrera as a seasoned, empathetic and effective leader who will advocate for much needed resources. “I’m proud to support and assist him in becoming the next Borough President,” she said.

 

Cabrera said at the time he was excited to receive their endorsement. “As we continue to move forward building a better Bronx, I thank them for their leadership and support,” he said. Cabrera’s campaign team said he is running for the position of Bronx borough president to fight for bold and common-sense solutions to combat issues stemming from the borough’s COVID-19 crisis.

 

 

Cabrera’s campaign also said the councilman discussed his views on marriage equality in an op-ed some months ago in The Bronx Chronicle in which he said the executive director of Destination Tomorrow said Cabrera’s support had been “essential” to the lifesaving work of the center.

 

Meanwhile, in the referenced Bronx Chronicle op-ed, Cabrera said his values and beliefs were deeply rooted both in faith and love. He said as an elected leader, he has been humbled and inspired by countless lessons his fellow pastors, council members, and community members have taught him, and none was more important than the lesson to embrace change while staying true to oneself, one’s beliefs, and one’s values.

 

“I have taken these lessons to heart, especially as they relate to issues confronting my brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community,” he said. “For years, I’ve supported this community through coalition-driven effort, legislative action, and budget allocations to pro-LGBTQ community groups around the city.”

 

Cabrera added, “While acknowledging my work and track record in the community is important, I also acknowledge that my position on gay marriage has, at times, been questioned, so I wanted to set the record straight. I resoundingly support and respect the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage and respect the right of any New Yorker to marry whomever they love and choose to start a partnership with.”

 

He continued, “This issue is settled law of the land – period. Looking ahead I will continue to be a tireless advocate for all residents of the Bronx in my capacity as a pastor, elected official, and community leader. With the help of our community, I hope to raise the bar even higher for what we can do as a society by staying true to our beliefs, embracing change and fighting for social justice.” The full op-ed can be read here.

 

Cabrera has also received the recent backing of former New York State Gov. David Paterson. In his endorsement, Paterson, a Democrat, cited what he described as Cabrera’s focus on affordability, safety, and opportunity. “Fernando Cabrera has an ‘affordability agenda’ that is meeting the crisis that is most critical to Bronxites, who are being priced out of where they live,” said Paterson, a former state senator, lieutenant governor and governor from 2008-2010.

 

 

As reported previously by the Norwood News, the councilman also previously received the backing, amid some controversy, of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association.

 

Other candidates in the Bronx borough presidential race, in addition to Fernández, Cabrera and Gibson, include retired NYPD Detective Sammy Ravelo, and State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda. Meanwhile, other candidates running in City Council District 16, which is made up of Claremont, Concourse, Concourse Village, Highbridge, Morris Heights, Mount Eden, and Morrisania, include Althea Stevens, Ahmadou Diallo, Eric Stevenson, and Abdourahamane Diallo.

 

The Democratic primary election will take place on Tuesday, June 22, and early voting will take place from June 12 to June 20. For a full list of upcoming deadlines in respect of the primary election, as well as information about the new voting system (ranked choice voting) see here. For a full list of all candidates running in the Bronx, and in the Citywide races, see here.