Sunday, February 17, 2008

RIVERA OKAYED YANKEE PARK SEIZURE

The central institution of Bronx politics and the key to the Yankees’ plan for taking over the
parks was the borough’s Democratic Party organization, which has been led by State Assembly Member Jose Rivera since 2002.

Moments before the June 2005 alienation vote was about to begin, a state assembly member raised questions about interim parks. The sponsor of the legislation, Assembly Member Carmen Arroyo responded, “I recommend you take the package that Mr. Rivera is offering today.” It is unclear what the package consisted of or who negotiated it.

Jose Rivera’s son Joel Rivera is a Bronx Council Member and the Council’s Majority Leader. Joel Rivera co-sponsored the City legislation to seize the parks that was voted upon three days later.

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