The candidates in local and boroughwide races in a nutshell

For Borough President

Name: Ruben Diaz Jr.

Current Job: Borough President

Why he is running: Mr. Diaz said Bronxites voted for him based on his pledge to represent the entire borough.  Though he feels progress was made under his watch, he wants to see ongoing development projects to completion.

Mr. Diaz said he has helped recruit several developments to the Bronx, including the Kingsbridge Armory ice complex and the Riverdale Crossing mall, while convincing Fresh Direct to move to the borough. 

Under his tenure, Mr. Diaz said the Bronx Overall Economic Committee has provided tens of millions of dollars in low-interest loans to small businesses.

The Borough President also touted the creation of several new housing projects for seniors, veterans and low-income residents and the Bronx’s lowest crime rate since 1963.

“When I was running four years ago, a lot of people said, ‘Oh this is ceremonial,’” Mr. Diaz said of the office. “But when you look at the living wage law in the city of New York, that happened at my behest, thanks to Oliver Koppell and Annabel Palma.”

Indeed, the council members introduced legislation requiring developers who receive more than $1 million in taxpayer subsidies to pay a living wage, defined as $10 an hour with benefits and $11.50 an hour without.  This, after Mr. Diaz opposed a plan to build a shopping mall at the Armory because he felt it would hurt the local economy and pay poverty wages.

However, Mr. Diaz has championed Fresh Direct’s move, even though it will not provide living wage jobs – he argues he lacked time to negotiate a better deal — and residents have voiced concerns about pollution.

His priorities: Mr. Diaz said he aims to bring a major league soccer stadium to the Bronx, lobby Albany until it funds construction for a Metro-North line in the East Bronx and create incentives to draw the film industry to the borough.

“We know the film industry has generated over $7 billion in New York City last year,” Mr. Diaz said.  “However, the Bronx has seen very little of that money.”