Bronx Political Buzz: At Year’s End

Mayor de Blasio Gets Sworn-in Ahead of Time

On Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio will be officially sworn in for his second term as the 109th Mayor of New York City. City Clerk Michael McSweeney will do the honors. At noon Monday, former Hillary Clinton rival US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will administer the oath of office at the public ceremony in front of City Hall. Back in 2013, the honor went to ex-president Bill Clinton.

Sepulveda Seeks To Persuade SD 32 County Committee 

Assemblyman Sepulveda recently announced his intention to run for the state Senate in the 32nd district. Governor Cuomo has not yet called a special election.

Assemblyman Sepulveda’s Happy Holiday card sent to 32 SD county committee members.

Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda sent Happy Holiday cards to 32 SD county committee members. Sepulveda, who recently announced his intention to run for the state Senate in the 32nd district, mailed the cards in anticipation of a special election to fill the vacancy created by Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. election to the City Council’s 18th District last month. Governor Cuomo has not yet called a special election. A mid-March date is considered the earliest time when Cuomo could call a special election, if he chooses.

State Senate Democrats will be down two members when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2018. State Senator George Latimer was elected Westchester County Executive in November. Cuomo is under great political pressure to call special elections to fill those vacancies so the Democrats can reunify in an attempt to usurp leadership from the Senate Republicans who gained a 1-vote majority when Brooklyn Dem Simcha Felder decided to conference with them. Currently, the 8-member Independent Democratic Conference, led by Bronx/W’chester Sen. Jeff Klein, is apart of the Chamber’s governing coalition.

Sepulveda told the Bronx Chronicle that he expects to have Mayor de Blasio’s support. “Over the last 4 years, beginning with UPK, I have worked with the Mayor to push for progressive policies in the Bronx and throughout the City. Therefore, I strongly believe that he will endorse me,” he said.

Regarding criticism of his ties to the IDC, Sepulveda dismissed his critics. “Although I have working relationships with several members of the IDC, including Sen. Klein with whom I share several electoral districts and Sen. Alcantara who has been a friend for over 15 years, I have made it known that I will not be joining the IDC,” he asserted.

Where In The World Is Michael Blake

This week, Assemblyman Blake followed his beloved Nortwestern football team to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville, TN.

The Week’s Top Tweets


Earlier this year, BP Diaz honored one of the borough’s Arab American activists.

Where The Pols Are, December 31-January 1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31
10:00 AM — Governor Cuomo makes an announcement regarding the uocoming State of the State address. West Side YMCA, 10 West 64th Street, New York, NY

11:45 AM — Governor Cuomo makes an announcement. IBEW Local 25 Union Hall, 370 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY

4:00 PM — Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady McCray will attend a pre-Inaugural reception at Gracie Mansion.

4:00 PM — Attends Mayor Bill de Blasio Pre-Inauguration Reception
Gracie Mansion, 88th Street and East End Avenue

11:59 PM – Mayor de Blasio and activist Tarana Burke will push the button at the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. Times Square, Manhattan.

Monday, January 1

Governor Cuomo is in Nassau County and Albany.

12:00 PM Governor Cuomo Swears in Laura Curran at Nassau County Executive Inauguration, Nassau County Executive Bldg, 1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, NY 

12:00 PM – Mayor de Blasio and First Lady McCray attend the 2018 Inaugural Ceremony, where the Mayor will be sworn in for his second term as the 109th Mayor of New York City by Senator Bernie Sanders. City Hall, New York.

12:00 PM — Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and Public Advocate Letitia James attend 2018 Inaugural Ceremony. City Hall, Manhattan.

Later, the Mayor, First Lady and others attend an Inaugural Reception at Tweed Courthouse. Manhattan.

Approximately 7:00 PM – Mayor de Blasio appears live on NY1’s Road to City Hall with Errol Louis.Road to City Hall airs on NY1 at 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

— Compiled by Michael Benjamin

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