Oscar Rivera Lopez & Mark Gjonaj’s Assembly District

What You Should Know
By State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District

You should know that since Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, has been elected to the seat previously occupied by Council Member Jimmy Vacca, has created a vacancy and there is already a brawl brewing about who will occupy his vacant seat in the New York State Assembly.

It is important for you to know that Mr. Mark Gjonaj has been representing the 80th Assembly District, which encompasses Allerton, Bedford Park, Morris Park, Mosholu Parkway, Norwood, Pelham Gardens and Van Nest areas in the Bronx.

These are multi-cultural neighborhoods. Its residents are honest, responsible and hard working African Americans, Hispanics, Whites, Albanians, Bangladeshi, as well as others who love this country.  I know this because I formerly represented them as their New York State Senator.  I’m very familiar with these neighborhoods and its residents. 

You should know that when Mark Gjonaj leaves for the City Council, a special election will be held to fill the vacancy. Rumor has it that there are two women interested in filling the position in the Assembly.   

One of them is Nathalia Fernandez. Ms. Fernandez is well known in the district and in the Assembly because she has worked as Mark Gjonaj’s Chief of Staff. Ms. Fernandez is well qualified educated, experienced, and well versed in the needs, problems, and the expectations of the residents of the district. As a result some say that Ms. Fernandez is the right person to replace Mark Gjonaj in the Assembly due to her vast knowledge and experience within the district. 

But surprise, surprise, the other woman who is interested in the position is none other than Lorraine Cortez Vazquez, presently the President of the National Puerto Rican Parade, who just this year she brought shame and disgrace to the parade when she made the controversial decision to honor Mr. Oscar Lopez Rivera, as a “Hero of Liberty”, “Heroe De La Libertad” which resulted in disunity within the Puerto Rican Community.  

You should know that Oscar Lopez Rivera, according to Wikipedia is known to many as a “terrorist”. He is one of the leaders of the clandestine paramilitary organization “The Fuerzas Armadas De Liberacion Nacional Puertorriquena” known as the terrorist group the “F.A.L.N.”.  This organization is devoted to the independence of Puerto Rico and they carried out more than 120 bomb attacks on the United States between 1974 and 1983 which resulted in the killing of six (6) people.  

On August 11, 1981 Mr. Lopez was found guilty of  “Seditious Conspiracy”, use of force to commit robbery, interstate transportation of firearms and ammunitions to aid in the commission of a felony. He was released from prison and Ms. Lorraine Cortez Vazquez  hails him as a Hero of Liberty.

Her association and close friendship with Oscar Lopez Rivera will not sit well with the district she hopes to represent.  Already many are commenting on their apprehension of having Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez as the person to fill Mark Gjonaj’s vacant seat.  Others are saying that the honest, hardworking residents of the 80th Assembly district will not cast a vote for Ms. Vazquez.  

As you can see my dear readers, two well prepared, well educated women will be competing to fill the vacancy for the 80th Assembly district.  This will be a very interesting and very divided contest, as was this years the National Puerto Rican Day Parade….. thanks to Oscar Lopez Rivera, and the actions taken by Ms. Lorraine Cortez Vazquez.  
This is Senator Ruben Diaz and this what you should know.