Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. gave his tenth “State of the Borough” speech on Thursday taking credit for nearly a decade of crime reduction and increased economic investment, while acknowledging the borough’s housing and transit challenges. He also indirectly addressed comments made recently by his father, that caused a greater political divide between the two.

“The Bronx is thriving,” Diaz Jr. said. “Almost ten years ago, I gave my first ever State of the Borough address. I spoke about the need for better paying jobs, to fight crime in our streets, encouraging new development of all types, and the need to unite as one Bronx.”

Diaz Jr., in front of a packed audience of supporters and elected officials, laid out his argument for how he has fulfilled those original promises, citing five straight years of homicides under 100 in the borough, an unemployment rate slashed in half, and large-scale projects like the East Bronx Metro-North access and ongoing revitalization of Orchard Beach. Still, with ongoing crises like the opioid epidemic, the mismanagement of NYCHA and a floundering MTA, Diaz Jr. said there is still much work to be done.

“Any money collected through congestion pricing – if that were to happen Mr. Speaker (referring to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, in attendance) – must be earmarked for New York City Transit,” Diaz Jr. said, jumping into the ongoing debate in Albany. The borough president took it a step further. “Our city should have control of its own transit system… It’s not such a crazy idea. We did have control of the subways before 1966, when a feud between a governor and mayor – that sounds familiar – created the unaccountable mess we have today.”

The feud Diaz Jr. referred to was between then-Governor Nelson Rockefeller and then-Mayor John Lindsay who spent much of their tenure fighting over New York City transportation after the MTA’s predecessor was founded in 1965. It’s currently being carried out by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Criminal Justice Reform
Diaz Jr. jumped into the middle of another Albany debate that has major implications for the borough: criminal justice reform. The borough president affirmed his support for ending cash bail and said that the legalization of marijuana must be accompanied by restorative justice polices.

“If we are going to legalize marijuana, the state must pardon and expunge marijuana convictions,” Diaz Jr. said. “And [the state must] ensure that marginalized communities have a chance to profit from a new cannabis market.”

The speech was held at H.O.P.E. high school, an early college and career high school in Mott Haven. There students can obtain an associate’s degree in nursing or community health while also pursuing their high school diploma. Four blocks south of the school is where the city plans to build a new jail as the transition to closing Rikers plays out over the next few years. The community came out in strong opposition of the plan and Diaz Jr. sided with them. On Thursday, he reiterated his support for an alternative proposal: build a new jail adjacent to Bronx Family Court.

“Criminal justice reform experts all over say jails should be located next to court houses for a myriad humane reasons in the interest of justice,” Diaz Jr. said. “Nothing is set in stone. If they can make changes to their plans in Manhattan, why can’t they make changes in the Bronx?”

In November, the city backed out of a plan to build a jail atop an existing government building in Lower Manhattan after pushback from existing tenants.

“Funding is one element of what makes the Census so important for New York.
Without full participation in the 2020 Census our city and state will not see the political and budgetary representation we deserve.” BP @rubendiazjr #SOTBX19 pic.twitter.com/lYOT5AIdjb

— BronxNetTV (@BronxnetTV) February 21, 2019

“This administration’s priorities are entirely misguided,” Diaz Jr. said, taking a shot at de Blasio. “How can we spend millions of dollars to build a new jail in this neighborhood, when the schools in this building don’t have the resources they need to succeed?”

Camp Junior
Most, if not all, members of the Bronx delegation to Albany were in attendance, including Heastie, who represents parts of the Northeast Bronx. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark – who is up for re-election this year – sat in the front row with Heastie, Bronx Democratic County Committee leader and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, and Leandra Feliz, the mother of Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz.

In honor of Junior Guzman-Feliz, the 15-year-old killed outside a Belmont bodega by Trinitario gang members last June, Diaz Jr. announced the creation of “Camp Junior,” a summer camp in the Hudson Valley that will bring hundreds of kids upstate each year for educational and recreational events. The camp will be run by the Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit that facilitates get-away experiences for thousands of New York City children each summer. Funding for the camp will come from the Fund, Diaz Jr.’s office and the New York State Department of Parks.

“Junior was everything we want our children to be,” Diaz Jr. said. “He was a good student and a member of the NYPD Explorers. He was kind to his parents and his neighbors. His candle was dimmed too soon, but he can be a shining light for generations.”

The State of the Bronx is strong.

I was proud to stand with @RubenDiazJr for his State of the Bronx speech, and I’ve always been proud to stand alongside him and fight for the people of the Bronx.#SOTBX19 pic.twitter.com/4w9SysgvQZ

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 21, 2019

Father and Son at Odds
Noticeably absent was Diaz Jr.’s father, City Councilman Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr., who lost his City Council committee chairmanship post after saying the homosexual community controlled city politics. Diaz Sr. still refuses to apologize despite calls for him to resign. When the controversy emerged at the beginning of the month, Diaz Jr. did not go as far as to call on his father to resign, instead saying Diaz Sr. should apologize.

“NYC is a place where we celebrate our diversity and inclusivity,” Diaz Jr. tweeted at the time. “The LGBTQ community is unequivocally an essential voice in our City. [Ruben Diaz Sr.’s] sentiments are antagonistic, quarrelsome and wholly unnecessary. He should apologize.”

According to attendees of past State of the Borough speeches, Diaz Jr. would take a moment to praise his mother and father. This year, he only name-checked his mother and sister, retired NYPD Sergeant Damaris Diaz. Diaz Jr. did not address his father’s comments directly, but made sure to mention the LGBTQ community minutes into his speech.

“We are a colorful kaleidoscope of men, women, mothers and fathers, families, gay and straight, people who have spent their entire lives here and new immigrants alike who are looking to build a better life,” Diaz Jr. said.

While views on LGBTQ rights, immigration and reproductive health have always divided the father and son, Diaz Sr.’s latest comments – and refusal to apologize – have furthered the divide between the two, at least politicaly. With the son’s eye on Gracie Mansion in 2021, it is an open question how the relationship between the two will be handled, particularly as the elder Diaz continues to insist he will run for re-election that same year.

Bodega Boys Back Bronx Boss
Desus Nice and Joel Martinez, known as The Kid Mero, are two Bronx-based comedians who have leveraged their popular podcast, Bodega Boys, into multiple TV shows. Their most recent venture, a late-night talk show on the premium cable channel Showtime, debuts Thursday night. Nice grew up in Wakefield and attended Lehman High School. Mero is an alumnus of Dewitt Clinton High School.

The duo is friendly with Diaz Jr. and released a promotional video featuring the borough president on Wednesday. On Thursday, before Diaz Jr. took the stage, the video was air in its entirety for the audience. In it, the comedians suggest Diaz Jr. might be interested in pursuing a run for President.

“No, but I would like to go to another house perhaps in the East Side of New York City, called Gracie Mansion,” Diaz Jr. said