Ruben Diaz

"Old-School Three Times Over": Meet Afrika Bambaataa, Cornell Professor

Afrika Bambaataa has been an unofficial professor of hip-hop for so long, it makes perfect sense that Cornell University would appoint the pioneering Bronx-born DJ and founder of the Universal Zulu Nation to a three-year term as a visiting scholar. "Wherever I go on the planet, I'm always teachin' ... More >>

NYPD: Black People Rarely Get Robbed, Frequently Get Shot

The NYPD released new crime statistics earlier this week, and here's what we've learned: blacks and Latinos are shot more frequently than any other ethnic groups, blacks and Latinos shoot people at higher rates than any other ethnic group, and black people rarely get robbed.According to a new report ... More >>

It's the First Anniversary of the Marriage Equality Act Passing and the Weather is Perfect: Happy Pride Sunday!

One year ago today, we had the chance to travel to Albany for our first and only day of reporting there. As days of political reporting go, it did not disappoint. On arrival, the halls were filled with passionate protesters: those demanding that gay and lesbian people not be allowed to "sully" the ... More >>

Bloomberg and Diaz Jr. Write Op-Ed In Favor of Fresh Direct's Move To The Bronx

​Mayor Bloomberg and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. weighed in on the Fresh Direct controversy stewing in the Bronx in a New York Daily News op-ed Sunday. Writing in favor of Fresh Direct's move to the South Bronx the two politicians tried to assuage critics' fears over the damage the ... More >>

21 Voice Stories from 2011 That Melted Even This Grizzled Journalist's Heart to Report

James Worrell​Looking back, 2011 has been quite a year, especially on the gay rights front, one of our major beats. Like the cardiac organ caught in a bear trap accompanying Jen Doll's "Plight of the Single Lady," there were times when, objective reporter or not, the stories we were reporting ... More >>

Ruben Diaz, Sr.: "I Praise the Lord" for Ability to Support Republican Bob Turner in NY -9

C.S. Muncy​"Senator Reverend" Ruben Diaz, Sr., the sole Democratic Senator to vote against the Marriage Equality Act, has just announced that he's supporting Republican Bob Turner in tomorrow's special election in NY-9, which will fill the seat vacated by Anthony Weiner. Gee, we wonder...wha ... More >>

Lawsuit Challenges Gay Marriage in New York

​A day after gay couples across the state were married under the Marriage Equality Act that was passed June 24, a lawsuit has emerged that aims to kill the law and render gay marriages null in New York. The complaint, filed by the (Jerry Falwell affiliated) Liberty Counsel on behalf of New Yo ... More >>

New Yorkers Celebrate Passage of Gay Marriage Bill; Did You Know Another Bill Was Passed Yesterday?

via TPM Crowds gather outside the Stonewall Inn.​We're proud to be New Yorkers today after the state senate passed same-sex marriage last night! And so are the crowds who flooded the West Village to celebrate; revelers gathered outside the Stonewall Inn last night to mark the historic moment. Talk ... More >>

Rubén Díaz Sr. Chats with The Village Voice

C.S. Muncy​In this week's Voice feature story, we took a look at Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz, Sr., the only Democrat in the State Senate still against same-sex marriage, and the main face of its opposition in Albany right now. Given our history with each other, we were quite surprised when ... More >>

Carl Kruger, Two Other Dems Now Reportedly Support Gay Marriage

Three more votes have reportedly been secured for gay marriage legislation working its way through the New York Senate, including Brooklyn Democrat Carl Kruger, who was formerly staunchly anti-gay but was recently outed. Three Democratic senators who voted "no" last time — Joseph Addabbo Jr. ... More >>

Senator Diane Savino: More Votes Needed for NY Gay Marriage

Staten Island State Senator Diane Savino, whose impassioned speech from the floor of the New York Senate for marriage equality blew up in 2009, said last night that the new Senate effort is inching forward, but isn't nearly there yet. "As we speak, right now, we have 26 votes for this bill in the N ... More >>

Ruben Diaz Sr Will Hold His Anti-Gay Marriage Rally the Same Day as AIDS Walk

Son, my priorities come first.​Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz, Sr. is clearly unhappy about being labeled the anti-HIV/AIDS, anti-LGBT bigot that he is. After Diaz, Sr. scheduled an anti-gay marriage rally during the annual AIDS Walk (and during his own son's Bronx Week festivities), we pointed out h ... More >>

Finally, a List of Who You Have to Blow in the New York State Senate to Get Gay Marriage

Paul Schindler of Gay City News has put together a great scorecard of how everyone stands on gay marriage in the state Senate, which is where the issue will be decided. Senator Tom Duane's bill needs 32 votes. Currently, 26 Democrats and zero Republicans publicly support it. Those Log Cabin Republ ... More >>

Gay Marriage Activists Take on Easter, the Royal Wedding

​Marriage equality activists are stepping up their game this week, protesting increasingly high profile events to demonstrate for the right for gays to marry. Yesterday, members of Queer Rising and Connecting Rainbows, along with Lt. Dan Choi, marched down Fifth Avenue in the Easter Parade. T ... More >>

Open Letter to Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr.: We Hope You Live a Long, Happy Life

​ Dear Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz, Sr.: I have read your open letter addressed to "The Editors of the Village Voice." As you noticed, in a recent update to this blog by Steven Thrasher on how irrelevant you are becoming in New York's inexorable move to making marriage equality a reality in this ... More >>

Gay Takeaways From Election Night

The first openly gay winner of yesterday's election won long before the polls even opened on the East Coast...in Guam! A former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam, openly gay Benjamin Cruz won re-election to the Guam Senate. Not nearly as far away but perhaps even more surprising, Jim Gray ... More >>

Marriage Equality Wins Upstate, Loses in the City

Fight Back New York claimed victory shortly after the polls closed last night for taking down anti-gay marriage Senator Bill Stachowski of Buffalo. Supporting challenger Tim Kennedy, FBNY was celebrating their second successful hit of a senator who'd voted against marriage equality, following Hiram ... More >>

Hiram Monserrate Expelled, 53-8

​The State Senate just voted 53-8 to expel Hiram Monserrate immediately. Eric Adams, Ruben Diaz Sr., Martin Malave Dilan, Carl Kruger, Pedro Espada Jr., Kevin Parker, John Sampson, and Monserrate himself were the only no votes; Thomas Morahan was excused. Monserrate gave the final vote and t ... More >>

Bloomberg World in Collision: As of Now, Bronx Saying No to Armory Project

Will Bloomie's world come crashing down in the Bronx?​Around City Hall this afternoon, fingers of blame will be pointing in all directions if - as seems likely at the moment - the mayor's proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory is voted down today. At last count, the Bronx council delegation and b ... More >>

Cheek, in Review: 7 Days of Runnin' Scared

​Kennedy Airport. Twitpic via sawyerlex. War on Christmas season swung into full effect. In a holiday spirit, the Staten Island D.A. tried shame on shoplifters. A GOP Congressman moved to read a pro-Christmas resolution into the House record. Andrea Peyser denounced the godless Bloomingdales ... More >>

Cheek, In Review: 7 Days of Runnin' Scared

​ "I thought these only existed in cartoons." Twitpic by nataliemorales. Well, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are done and the War on Christmas is getting closer! How's that going? On the one hand, the Satanists managed to keep the sidewalk Santas out of New York; on the other, Christers mus ... More >>

This Is, Apparently, Who We Have To Blow

​ ...or rather, blow away, in the next election. Ladies and gentlemen, the 'No' votes...

Who Do We Have to Blow to Get Gay Marriage in New York?

The frustrating circle-jerk in Albany.

Cheek, in Review: 7 Days of Runnin' Scared

​ "it's new york lol same shit lastnight some car was on fire in Fordham crazyy ass shit look." Twitpic by Itlabia. Can you believe last week at this time we were still thinking about Balloon Boy? Yes, that's how we passed our time before Steve Phillips, his "tubby temptress," and other exci ... More >>

Teen Suspect Arrested in Shooting of Bronx 92-Year-Old

​Cops picked up a 14-year-old boy (some sources say he is 18), Jamal Blair, and he is awaiting charges on the shooting of a 92-year-old woman in Williamsbridge. Sadie Mitchell was shot at her home on Tuesday when a bullet from a street fight crashed through her window and into her back; she di ... More >>

Special Senate Committee will Consider Monserrate's Fate; GOP, Diaz Complain

The state senate leadership finally announced it would establish a special committee to consider colleague Hiram Monserrate's membership. The committee will be chaired by Democratic on Manhattan underboss John Sampson senator Eric Schneiderman and include five Democratic senators -- including locals ... More >>

Coup in Review: State Senators Weekend in Albany! Diaz Walks Out, Yonkers "Running On Fumes"

Hope you enjoy your holiday weekend while the Albany Coup keeps your state senators stuck in Albany -- hardly a vacation destination -- under orders by Governor Paterson. The respective party leaders are brassing it out, refusing to be pushed into a settlement, and Ruben Diaz Sr. says he's going to ... More >>

Board of Ed Revives But, Packed with Shills, Will Do Nothing

We gotta admit, we thought it was a bluff. We assumed that when the Albany Coup senators let mayoral control of schools lapse at midnight, no one would step forward and say, "it is the time of the Judges!" But the Board of Education rose from the dead today and is meeting at the Tweed Courthouse to ... More >>

Coup in Review: Senate's Split Session May Not Count, They'll Try Again Today

Governor Paterson says he's "disgusted" with yesterday's split session of the state senate, which went on till almost 2 a.m. with each party -- the Democrats minus Pedro Espada, and the Republicans plus Pedro Espada -- conducting its own business, sometimes simultaneously. It's not clear whether any ... More >>

Coup in Review: Dems Lock In, GOP Goes to Court

The state senate Democrats liked the way things went yesterday so much that they once again started the new special session early, locking themselves into the chamber this morning, and holding the podium by sticking Dems up there in two-hour shifts. (The special session is called for 3 p.m.) Now it' ... More >>

Albany Coup Update: Duane "Flirting" With GOP for Gay Marriage?

They're still swinging in Albany, where the New Model Republican Majority is locked out of the state senate chamber. Democratic cavaliers are leaning on Hiram Monserrate, with operatives availing a robocall that claims Monserrate has "abandoned Barack Obama and everything we believe in" with his apo ... More >>

Special Election Today in Bronx, Soon in NY-23

Whoops, turn around for a second and there's another special election. Today the vacated assembly seats of newly elected Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and his appointee to Deputy Beep, Aurelia Greene, are up for a vote. New York and the Bronx being what they are, no one expects Diaz Jr.'s a ... More >>

Doomed Gay Marriage Bill Passes Assembly

In a statement, Sheldon Silver expresses his pleasure that the gay marriage bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell and backed by Governor Paterson, passed the assembly 89 to 52. "This is a matter of equity and justice," he say. "New Yorkers should have the right to marry who they chose." W ... More >>

Cheek, In Review: 7 Days of Runnin' Scared

Yeah, we finally made it to Citi Field Wednesday. What do we think? We think Johan Santana is awesome. Swine Flu fucked up Cinco de Mayo, continued to be funny until we got it. Wait, actually it's still pretty funny, especially since we really didn't get swine flu. But even if! Anyway Raccoon ... More >>

Bronx Dems Nominate Three for Special Election Seats

Bronx Dem nominees Marcos A. Crespo, Michael Robles, and Vanessa L. Gibson. Photo by Candice M. Giove. New Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. strode into a gallery at the Bronx Museum where members of the Bronx Democratic County from his former assembly district gathered to find a successor ... More >>

Cheek, in Review: 7 Days of Runnin' Scared

"As Christians we are sorry if you have ever felt pushed away from Church or ever felt like you didn't fit in. That was people, not Jesus." -- message handed out by members of the Awakening Church at Union Square station. Tea parties were all the rage -- literally! We read the tea leaves and att ... More >>

Tolls Coming Back to MTA Rescue?

Back in February it looked like bridge tolls were going to save us from the MTA Doomsday budget. But in March the tolls were tabled, and the MTA started lining up a crappier subway with $2.50 fares. But hark! What do we hear from Albany? They're talking about tolls again. Some modifications are bei ... More >>

Schumer Steps Up for Gay Marriage, His Own Skin

So, what to make of Chuck Schumer's declaration in favor of gay marriage? It probably doesn't change much at the functional level, as Ruben Diaz and others hold marriage equality hostage in Albany. But with the states' Dems bruised by the unresolved state and MTA budgets and other issues, and the Go ... More >>

Malcolm Smith on Gay Marriage: "We Don't Have the Votes"

In December, it was reported that Malcolm Smith had scrapped a deal with dissident Democrats to make him majority leader rather than accept state senator Ruben Diaz' demand that gay marriage leave the senate's agenda. The Empire State Pride Agenda and other marrige equality advocates praised Smith. ... More >>

State Senate Deal Collapsing: Espada, Maybe Smith Out?

Smith Won't Drop Gay Marriage -- Deal with Dissidents Off

Dems Deal -- Espada to Majority Leader?

Latino Power in Albany? More Pressure on Paterson

Winning Bronx Dems Want Unity, May Pay For It

Bronx Pol Calls Palin Winner, Biden Ali, Himself a "Patsy"

Spin Cycle: Bronx Rebels Sort Things Out in Former Laundromat

Bronx Rebels Gun for Party Chief Rivera

Freddy & Al: Brief Encounter

Get Back!

The Gathering Storm Over Gay Rights

Close-up on Hunts Point