The following is an extended version of a story that was recently published in our print edition.

Two of the newest assembly members representing the Bronx have endorsed Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández in her bid for the Bronx borough presidency. Chantel Jackson and Kenny Burgos were both elected to the State Assembly last November, and on Wednesday, Jan. 27, all three assembly members showed up at Starlight Park, close to Crotona Park East, to make the endorsement public.

 

“I’ve known the assemblywoman for a few years now,” Burgos said. “I’ve worked with her in different capacities. I know she’s one, not only qualified and incredibly intelligent and competent for this position, but also [is able to] inspire not only our elected leaders, but our community here.”

 

Burgos, who represents the Bronx’s 85th Assembly District, went on to describe Fernández’s candidacy for borough president as “a historic campaign.” Indeed, if elected as borough president, she would become the first woman to hold that position. “Historically, the Bronx has been [represented] by men only,” he said. “We do know women have led this borough for a very long time. As someone who was raised by a strong, ambitious, and intelligent Latina woman here in the Bronx, I really am proud to endorse Nathalia Fernández.”

 

Bronx borough president candidate endorsements are coming at a time when the race is still reeling from some recent jarring news. On Jan. 22, Councilman Rafael Salamanca, who represents the 17th City Council District and has chaired the City Council Land Use committee, abruptly withdrew his candidacy, having only announced his run in November 2020, saying that as the city begins to reemerge from the pandemic, he feels he can better serve the community, right now, by seeking re-election to the Council.

Councilman Rafael Salamanca enters Bronx borough president race https://t.co/DSWRt4WyOp

— Shant Shahrigian (@ShantRS) November 30, 2020

 

Ten days prior, State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda, who represents the State’s 32nd senatorial district, and who is also a candidate in the BP race, was arrested and charged on Jan. 12 for allegedly attempting to choke his wife. Sepúlveda is estranged from his wife and filed a report counter-alleging that it was she who assaulted him. He is due back in court on Feb. 24.

 

On the day of the senator’s arrest, Fernández, who represents the 80^th Assembly District, issued a press release providing a comment on the alleged incident, which took place the previous Saturday. She condemned Sepúlveda’s alleged conduct, saying, “We need leadership that empowers women. I’m calling for the senator to submit his resignation.”

 

To date, the senator has not done so, maintains his innocence, and his lawyer Marvin Ray Raskin, was quoted on Jan. 12, saying, “The senator is committed to, and will proactively provide, full transparency [regarding the domestic incident] as the matter is resolved.” The senator has, in the meantime, been stripped of his committee chair duties at the New York State Senate.

 

Meanwhile, at the Jan. 27th media event at Starlight Park, Jackson described her endorsement of Fernández as an “honor.” Although the Democratic primary is still more than five months away, the recently elected assemblywoman, representing the 79^th Assembly District, didn’t need any more time to decide who she believes is best qualified to lead the borough.

 

Referring to Fernández, Jackson told the Norwood News after the formal announcement, “She’s shown over the years that she’s about the work, and that’s what I care about.” She added, “I feel that Nathalia comes with this good energy, and she wants the better for the people.”

 

In December, as reported by the Norwood News, former assembly member, Michael Blake, also endorsed Fernández in the race. Last year, we also reported how Blake co-sponsored Fernández’s Andrew Kearse Act, which requires police officers to attend to the medical and mental health needs of people in their custody. Blake’s former assembly district is now represented by Jackson.

 

Meanwhile, on Jan. 25, the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) endorsed another Bronx borough president candidate, Councilman Fernando Cabrera, who represents the 14^th City Council District. On Jan. 28, Fernández retweeted a post by the SBA which included the SBA’s letter of endorsement of Cabrera, adding, “@FCabreraNY is looking to foster a ‘healthy relationship’ with the SBA — who has called @RitchieTorres a ‘first class whore’ and defended the confederacy — and their racist, QAnon, conspiracy-believing president, Ed Mullins.”

.@FCabreraNY is looking to foster a "healthy relationship" with the SBA — who has called @RitchieTorres a "first class whore" and defended the confederacy — and their racist, QAnon conspiracy believing President, Ed Mullins. Click for the worst of their history 👇 https://t.co/Ju4PjGpoCj

— Nathalia Fernández (@Fernandez4NY) January 29, 2021

That incident was widely reported on in September 2020 by NBC News and other news outlets. The offensive slur was directed at Congressman Ritchie Torres who represents the 15th congressional district in the Bronx. The slur was widely condemned by a number of elected officials. Following the incident, the New York Post also reported that Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said he was “disappointed” with the use of language. “I don’t think anyone should be using language of that type, whether it’s at a press conference, whether it’s — quite frankly — in person or whether it’s on social media,” he said.

 

The insult had followed remarks made by Torres last September, reported by the Norwood News [in collaboration with WFUV and BronxNet], during which the then-councilman had questioned if the prevailing preponderance of high crime across New York City had been linked to a potential NYPD slowdown.

 

“The summertime surge in shootings has all but doubled in NYC. Fewer gun arrests, fewer gun cases solved, slower response times to gun violence: are these signs of an @NYPDNews slowdown? @BkBoroHall and I are calling for an independent investigation,” Torres tweeted on Sept. 4, tagging Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, who is a candidate for NewYork City mayor.

 

Torres also called for Mullins to resign, following his insult of the freshman congressman. Mullins refused, issuing a response on Twitter in which he said the insult, which has since been removed from Twitter, “had nothing to do with his [Torres] race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. My comments had everything to do with his dangerous policies and worldview,” the SBA president said. “The City is burning and Councilman Torres wants to blame the police.” Torres defended his comments, saying as an elected official, it was his job to raise pertinent questions about such matters.

 

Separately, on July 17, CNN reported that Mullins had appeared on a Fox News show with a QAnon mug visible in the background of the screen. As reported by The New York Times, one of the central conspiracy theories behind QAnon is the belief in a group of Satan-worshiping elites who run a child sex ring and are trying to control politics and media. It has been widely reported that QAnon supporters were involved in the recent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

 

The CNN report included a tweet from HuffPost reporter, Christopher Mathias, that said that Mullins told him that the mug wasn’t his. Norwood News reached out to both the SBA and to Cabrera for a comment on Fernández’s Jan. 28 tweet regarding Cabrera’s endorsement by the SBA. We did not receive an immediate response.

 

On the topic of the NYPD, on Feb. 4, Cabrera issued a press release where he referenced upcoming hearings on a package of bills aimed at further reforming the police agency. Intro 2118, sponsored by Manhattan Councilman Keith Powers, is scheduled to be heard in the City Council Committee on Government Operations, which is chaired by Cabrera. The two-page bill moves the process by which news reporters get press credentials, away from the NYPD and gives the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) sole authority to issue, suspend and revoke press credentials.

 

In the press release, Cabrera wrote how one of the responsibilities of DCAS is the acquiring, selling, and leasing of City property and added that DCAS was the agency that was marred in scandal over the city-owned Rivington House [nursing home] sale to a private developer in 2014, after the agency lifted a deed restriction that normally accompanies city-held real estate.

 

Cabrera wrote that it was alleged that, on behalf of a donor to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first campaign for mayor, City Hall, at the time, interfered with DCAS’ operations and normal process for the lifting of deed restrictions. “If the Council finds it necessary to take this tremendous responsibility [press credential issuance] out of the NYPD, then we should take this opportunity to place the entire process outside the authority of the Mayor,” Cabrera wrote. “Press credentialing must be insulated from potential corrupt influences in order to ensure that our press remains free and open.”

 

He continued, “The job of the press is to shine a light on government abuse and hold the government accountable, and we cannot give the authority to revoke a reporter’s press badge to an agency that is controlled by the Mayor and, as history shows in the case of Rivington House, an agency that is susceptible to allegations of corrupt interference by City Hall.”

 

Cabrera said that if the aim was to fix the problem [of which agency should issue press credentials] elected officials should be informed by history and should make sure it is done right. “That is why I propose we move this important responsibility to the City Clerk’s office; an entity completely independent from City Hall and one that already issues specialized licenses in the form of marriage licenses,” Cabrera said.

 

The City Clerk is appointed by the City Council to a six-year term. The fixed term serves to guarantee greater insulation from political influence, especially from the executive branch of government, which is responsible for administering services and enforcing the laws. Intro 2118 is scheduled for a hearing, Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the Government Operations Committee where both DCAS and the NYPD are scheduled to appear to testify. After the committee hearing, the bill may be modified before it is voted on. If it passes, the bill would advance to the full City Council for consideration and vote.

 

The Norwood News reached out to the Mayor’s office for comment on the allegations referenced by Cabrera regarding the Rivington House sale. We did not receive an immediate response.

 

Meanwhile, in terms of her campaign platform, Fernández’s focus is on criminal justice, reducing gun violence, improving public health and housing, protection and empowerment of women, and defending LGBTQIA rights. On Feb. 5, she recently received kudos from NYC Drivers Unite for agreeing to sign a petition to reform the City’s Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC).

DRIVERS WANT TO THANK ASSEMBLYWOMAN NATHALIA FERNANDEZ FOR MEETING WITH THE DRIVERS & FOR AGREEING TO SIGN THE PETITION TO REFORM THE TLC. THANK U THANK U THANK U @Fernandez4NY @FCabreraNY @Salamancajr80 @Vanessalgibson @nyctaxi @ydanis @NYCMayor @NycThereal pic.twitter.com/wecJM6nEju

— NYC Drivers Unite! (@NYCDriversunite) February 6, 2021

 

Financially, the Fernández campaign has received $48,781 in contributions as of Jan. 15, according to the latest statement filed with the New York City Campaign Finance Board. Just two other candidates have received more contributions: Cabrera, with $155,535 and Councilmember for the 16^th District, Vanessa L. Gibson, with $89,526.

 

Meanwhile, Sepúlveda trails Fernández with $48,560, and rounding out the remaining six candidates in the race, NYPD veteran, Sammy Ravelo, who was recently profiled by the Norwood News, follows with $15,583 along with community activist, Victor H. Hernandez, with $1,147.

 

Fernández, 32, is the youngest candidate to aspire to the borough presidency and sees her latest endorsements as indicative of a new chapter in Bronx politics. “I am very honored to have these two endorsements,” Fernández told the Norwood News. “I feel it’s symbolic to show that the Bronx is ready for new and different leadership. Together, we have the ideas and the passion to really make sure that the Bronx is moving forward in the direction it needs to.”

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.