Bronx Dynasties

In the Bronx, like other places, the Democratic political machine comprises of long-time political hacks and, in some cases, family dynasties such as the Arroyo (Carmen and María del Carmen), Díaz (Rubén and Rubén, Jr.), Espada (Pedro, Pedro Gautier, and José), Rivera (José, Joel, and Naomi), and Serrano (José and Nelson) families.

In the last decades, several Bronx elected officials have had to resign from their posts. Former New York State Assemblyman Pedro Espada Jr. was indicted on six federal counts in December, 2010 and stripped of his position. Likewise, Assemblyman Efraín González was sentenced to seven years in prison, completing his sentence in 2016. The man who González replaced in the Assembly, Israel Ruíz, Jr., was sentenced to six months in jail due in 1989. However, previously convicted politicians can always return. Ex-convict Michael Grimm ran and lost at last night’s primaries, losing to Dan Donovan. Hence, even the formerly incarcerated can run for office.

The community has had enough of stale politicians who do not want to retire, continue to make false promises, get all sorts of kickbacks, and continue to hurt the communities they were elected to serve. Communities all around are realizing that the people who they elected have lost sight. Ocasio-Cortez’s victory has provided people with hope.