It began at the top.

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who’s helmed the borough presidency for 10 years, announced in late January that he will no longer seek the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor, dashing the hopes of many that Diaz would be the first Latino mayor in city history.

Just over a month later, as many political observers were still processing the Diaz news, one of his closest allies and power player, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, who happens to be the Bronx Democratic Party boss, announced he’ll be done with public life, opening his seat for the Democratic primary in June.

The news coincides with impending changes to the New York City Council, where four of the eight Council seats representing the Bronx are up for grabs. The news has also directly caused politicos to shift their plans.

Yes, there are tremors in the Bronx political landscape. And lawmakers or would-be lawmakers are looking to fill some seats.

Ischia Bravo vs. Oswald Feliz
Locally, the news hasn’t quite impacted Ischia Bravo, district manager for Community Board 7, who announced she’ll be running for the Democratic nomination to replace Councilman Ritchie Torres, the term-limited council member for the 15th Council District.

For Bravo, who’s grown up in the district and currently serves as CB7’s district manager for two years (before then Bravo worked on all levels of government), the desire to run stemmed largely from ongoing problems she’s witnessed growing up coupled with a greater understanding of city government, given her role.

“It seems like a natural transition to the City Council,” said Bravo, speaking to the Norwood News from House Pizza on March 3.

Bravo, 35, who grew up and works in Bedford Park, has a litany of proposals that look to revamp city policies that, at the moment, are often rammed down communities in the area. That includes over-development, a constant worry for constituents. She’s now proposing the city conduct an environmental impact review on any state- or city-subsidized development arriving to the district. For Bravo, that proposal would serve Bedford Park well given the arrival of massive residential buildings that, while within the zoning context, are tightly packed in the neighborhood.

“I think that when our tax dollars are invested we should know what impact that will have ultimately in our communities, whether that’s our schools, that’s our lighting, our air, all those things matter,” said Bravo.

Other issues Bravo looks to give greater to include greater assistance to beleaguered small businesses, and more funding for schools.

It might seem unusual, or even a conflict of interest, for Bravo to run in her current role. But she was quick to point out that past district managers, including former New York City Councilman James Vacca and current City Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr., ran for office (and won) while serving as district manager.

Bravo isn’t the only candidate who’s declared. Running for the Council seat is Oswald Feliz, the State Committeeman for the 78th Assembly District, which covers Bedford Park. Feliz, a part-time instructor at Hostos Community College and an attorney specializing in housing, is also president of the newly formed Northwest Bronx Democrats for Change, a political club closely aligned with Congressman Adriano Espaillat.

Feliz looks to undo the premise that a zip code determines outcomes. “The zip code should not determine the air you breathe, it shouldn’t determine whether you will have an equal opportunity at achieving whatever your dreams are,” said Feliz, who looks to also focus on improved employment opportunities and better public education resources.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of parents and I’m always saddened to hear that some parents have stated that they actually have to travel at least an hour every single morning to take their children to another neighborhood only because the local school is failing or does not properly prepare their students, or their child, to succeed,” said Feliz, calling that arrangement unfair.

But even before he runs for the Council, Feliz will be defending his position as state committeeman in the June primary against Emmanuel Martinez, who happens to be chair of Community Board 7, working alongside Bravo. Feliz has learned that greater participation in the local democratic process should be prioritized. Ditto for Martinez.

“I want to be a part of the process,” said Martinez, 31. “I’m very eager to learn. I’ve been in the trenches, learning how things operate on a basic level in the community board. And now with the experience that I’ve gained I feel our conversation can go a bit further.”

Martinez, a member of the newly formed Louella Hatch Democratic Club, points out that committeeman positions, while limited in power, can serve help jumpstart policy discussions.

His political path, however, seems to be a mere means to an end. Ultimately, Martinez hopes his civic participation will serve him well when he applies for a position at the New York City Marshal’s Office.

Still, Feliz’s eye sounds like it remains on the Council. “As a Council Member I will have more power to actually implement solutions to the many problems that we have,” said Feliz.

Crespo Bows Out
A month after Diaz Jr. announced his impending retirement from politics, Crespo, who wielded power both in Albany and as Bronx Democratic Party boss, announced he won’t be running for re-election. Instead, he’ll be finishing out his term at the end of the year, opening the door for a vacant Assembly seat.

In a long statement, Crespo called his time as Assemblyman for the 85th Assembly District, representing the southeast neighborhoods of Soundview, Harding Park, and Castle Hill, an “honor of my life.” “I have decided not to seek re-election, but instead pursue opportunities outside of government that will allow me to continue to serve my community, be closer to my daughters and family, and also acknowledge and support a new generation of leadership that must continue the work that remains ahead,” said Crespo in a statement.

He vaguely mentioned that he will be in the district for a “short time” once the legislative session finishes out in June. Crespo did not return calls seeking comment.

“This all boils down to money and family,” said one Bronx political source familiar with Crespo’s decision.

George Artz, a political consultant who’s advised Crespo before, had gotten a sense something was coming down the pike when Crespo privately told him at a recent fundraiser that he is no longer seeking to become borough president, a longstanding plan for Crespo.

“He told me that he wasn’t running for borough president, and I thought, ‘Wow,’” recalled Artz. “These decisions don’t come up suddenly.”

The news comes as a surprise for many in the Bronx political landscape who believed Crespo–who began as an aide to then state senator and now Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr.–to have succeeded Diaz Jr., who also announced his retirement from public office. Like Diaz, Crespo had built a resume that appeared as though he was ready to mount a run for borough president.

Among his latest achievements as Assemblyman was seeing the passage of the Green Light Bill, which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. He also helped usher in mega projects, including the transformation of the Sheridan Expressway, which runs through his district. Crespo also went on numerous trips to the island of Puerto Rico, following Hurricane Maria and the recent earthquake that ravaged the island.

“It’s a surprise, but also an opportunity,” said Camille Rivera, a partner at New Deal Strategies, of Crespo’s announcement. “There’s a real opportunity for stakeholders, for community organizations, and labor organizations to work towards coalescing around a progressive candidate and, considering the issues of the Bronx, a woman candidate and I think that’s the most important thing right now.”

Rivera argues that with more than half the Bronx comprised of women, it would seem a more logical choice to have greater female representation. Over the course of five years, more female legislators have stepped up to run and win office, including Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, Assemblywoman Karines Reyes, state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Diaz Sr. told the Norwood News that his budget director, Kenneth Burgos, is now seeking to replace Crespo. He estimates with the seat effectively vacant, a slew of candidates will be vying for it.

With Crespo no longer in the running for borough president, this clears a lane for others to now become the front-runner. Council Members Vanessa Gibson and Andrew Cohen have both expressed interest in running. But a source told the Norwood News that Crespo is looking to back Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr., whose Council district overlaps with Crespo’s assembly district. Missing in his statement, however, was whether he’ll continue as Bronx Democratic Party chair, a position he was elected to close to five years ago.

Though there are no indications of whether he’ll remain party boss, a source close to the Bronx Democratic Party said told the Norwood News that Reyes, and Assemblyman Victor Pichardo have expressed interest.

Cabrera Drops Out
While the borough presidency remains up in the air, the news of Crespo’s departure has once again brought a familiar name back in the running.

Councilman Fernando Cabrera, the socially conservative Democrat, announced he won’t be running for the congressional seat currently held by Ocasio-Cortez, five months after announcing he will run for the seat. He instead is running for borough president, a move he initially told the Norwood News he would not pursue.

Cabrera, who represents the 14th Council District covering Kingsbridge Heights, looks to clear the moderate Democrat lane so another moderate Democrat, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (no relation), can run against the democratic socialist.

In a statement sent out to the press, the Councilman justified his self-removal from the race as it “would likely split the moderate vote allowing Congresswoman [Ocasio-]Cortez to win.”

“The effort to unite the moderate majority will, I believe, allow the residents of the 14th Congressional to elected [sic] someone who will truly represent their interest and values,” wrote Cabrera in his statement, referring to the bifurcated 14th Congressional District that covers the Bronx and Queens.

As long been suspected, Cabrera is now running for borough president. When Cabrera announced he’ll run for Congress he told Norwood News that he won’t be running for borough president.

“I look forward to continuing and expanding the Bronx’s forward progress as Borough President,” said Cabrera.

For months, Cabrera has asserted himself more on Ocasio-Cortez’s district, which included the drafting of a bill that would have created a harbor patrol unit around the Bronx. This came at the request of a civic group in City Island, which is covered by the 14th Congressional District.

Caruso-Cabrera, a former anchor for CNBC, is now urging other Democrats to unite behind one candidate to defeat Ocasio-Cortez to “allow the voice of the moderate majority to be fully represented.”

The Future
The Bronx has never been impervious to the cycles of change across the political sphere, but when the changes come, they can be surprising. In 2018, for instance, Ocasio-Cortez and Biaggi stunned the establishment when they respectively defeated two political heavyweights in Congressman Joe Crowley and state Sen. Jeff Klein. The majority of voters, it seems, saw their time in office had expired.

Bravo, who once served as executive director for the Bronx Democratic Party, sees changes in the political landscape as positive.

“It’s not a bad thing that there are transitions in this borough,” said Bravo. “Given our history in this borough it may be a good thing to have a fresh lens.”