Joel Rivera has made his mark in history becoming the youngest City elected official at age 22. Within the year he was unanimously selected by his colleagues to become the Council’s youngest Majority Leader.

Joel is Chairman of both the State & Federal Legislation and the Charter Revision committees. He also is a member of the following committees: Finance, Land Use, Housing and Buildings, Standards & Ethics, Rules, Privileges & Elections, and the subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions & Concessions. As Majority Leader, Joel is an ex-officio of all Committees within the NYC Council. Additionally, Joel sits on the Budget negotiating team and the Steering Committee.

Joel wasted no time in building relationships with his constituents. He meets with students to discuss issues including high tuition, smaller classes and the need for qualified teachers. He has worked with the Borough Parks Commissioner to advance beautification projects, lobby for increased personnel, and has secured funding for projects at Poe Park, Crotona Park and local community gardens.

Joel has constantly been involved in community activities, such as The People’s Convention for Housing; the first “Not in My Neighborhood You Don’t” Anti-drug Campaign, of which he still a member; the “March Against Apartheid” with Rev. Jesse Jackson; voter registration drives; and political campaigns, including that of President Clinton in 1992. He was active in the struggle to remove the Navy out of Vieques and participated in toy drives to benefit the less fortunate in the Bronx and abroad. Re-elected in November 2001 by a margin of 2 to 1, Rivera continues to work hard to insure that the 15th Councilmanic District continues on a progressive path.

Represents: Bathgate, Belmont, Crotona, Fordham, East Tremont, West Farms


(Statement reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)

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