Borough President Race: The Bronx

Borough President Race: The Bronx

Photo by Gryffindor

 

Borough Presidents handle a small percentage of the city budget and though they have no real legislative power, they advocate for and introduce bills to the City Council. They are often referred to as cheerleaders and play a largely emblematic role for each of their boroughs. 

This year, four out of the five boroughs are holding Borough President elections, as Queens already voted in a special election last year, swearing in Donovan Richards, the first black man to hold the position. 

Here are the current contenders for Borough President in the Bronx:

Fernando Cabrera

Since 2010 Cabrera has served as a representative in the Bronx’s 14th District in the New York City Council. He is also a senior pastor at New Life Outreach International in the Bronx.

During his campaign, he advocated for an expansion of the Cure Violence programs, of which he oversaw the implementation as Co-Chair of the NYC Council Gun Violence Task Force. Cabrera also seeks to expand affordable housing plans, vowing to “fight to have the federal government to fully fund NYCHA and increase rental subsidies for those struggling to pay rent.” 

Among other things, he is also an advocate for criminal justice reform, free drug treatment programs, and an increase in senior centers.

While registered as a democrat Cabrera is one of the most conservative candidates in the race. Last year he ran against Alexia Ocasio-Cortez in the Democratic Primary for New York’s 14th congressional district, bashing her for her socialist views.

 

Nathalia Fernandez

Fernandez has been a representative of the 80th Assembly District since 2018. 

She is a big advocate for criminal justice reform, opposing cash bail for nonviolent crimes and leading a fight forprohibiting racial profiling, limiting the use of solitary confinement,  increasing grand jury transparency, ensuring speedy trials and fixing our broken bail system.”

She supports substance abuse prevention programs, helped pass the New York State Health Act, and has been a spokesman for investing in projects for cleaner water and air in her community. 

She has voiced her support for women and LGBTQIA+ issues and helped pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act in 2019. 

 

Vanessa Gibson

Gibson represents Bronx’s 16th Council District. She is an advocate for affordable housing and expanding funding for NYCHA and investing in Community Land Trusts, vowing towork with the new federal administration and HUD officials to recognize the real cost of living adjustments.”

In her campaign to improve access to quality education in the Bronx, she plans to work in initiatives that would allow for better access to technology, from new cafeterias to iPads. 

 

Samuel Ravelo

Ravelo is a retired NYPD lieutenant and a veteran. He has avidly spoken against the Defund the Police movement and has advocated for an increase in funding for NYPD, stating that “defunding the Police without a proper vision and planning is hurting the most vulnerable communities”

He wants to increase investment in public housing, advocates for accessible-to-all high-speed internet, wants to increase access to healthcare, and speaks of the importance of trade school and increasing the high school graduation rates in the borough.

 

 

The date of the Democratic Primaries for Borough President is on June 22, 2021, and election day for all boroughs is on November 2, 2021. The website to register to vote is here.

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