Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. (Lori Van Buren, Times Union)
The latest edition of state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr.’s “What You Should Know” email blast brings joy and good cheer for many of his colleagues as 2017 approaches, plus other stuff for people on both sides of the political aisle with whom Diaz finds himself occasionally at odds.
At the top of the list: The Bronx Democrat hopes the upcoming trial of Joe Percoco and the ongoing probes into New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s political efforts will end with neither Gov. Andrew Cuomo nor de Blasio hauled away in handcuffs — because of the great embarrassment it would bring to the people of the state and city, he says.
Among his other New Year’s wishes: for Sen. Liz Krueger to stop talking so much during floor debates (though he misspells her name as “Kruger,” which might be a Freudian slip in memory of his old Amigo and noted bribe-taker Carl Kruger), and for Sen. Gustavo Rivera to “refrain from using the ‘f’ word in Conference and elsewhere, especially when he is in the presence of ladies, children, and people who have self-respect.”
Here’s Diaz’s full bill of particulars:
Like every other year, I for one will be on my knees on December 31st at 12 midnight, presenting God with my laundry list of my petitions and wishes. Among these wishes are the following:
(1) For Governor Andrew Cuomo: I wish that during the New Year, his “friends and brothers” Joe Percoco and his other former staffer, will not throw him under the bus because it will be an embarrassment to all of us in the State of New York to see our Governor being paraded in handcuffs in front of the cameras.
(2) For New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio: I wish that the two Grand Jury investigations by US Attorney Preet Bharara, and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. conclude with no indictments because it will also be embarrassing for all of the residents of the City of New York to see their Mayor going through this nightmare.
(3) For Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins: I wish that our Democratic Governor stops playing the political games that he has been playing for the past 5 years with Senator Jeff Klein and the Republican leadership. They have been preventing her from becoming the first African-American Woman to serve as the Leader of the New York State Senate. I wish 2017 will be the year these games will stop.
(4) For Senator John Flanagan, Leader of the Senate and Assemblyman Carl Heastie, Speaker of the Assembly: I wish they could get the salary increase for their Members without appearing to have sold out to the Governor like beggars on the corner.
(5) For Assembly Member Marcos Crespo, Chairman of the Bronx Democratic Committee: I wish that he could come out smelling like roses from the apparent double-crossing he is facing, that according to some, is being done to him and the Democratic County Committee by some of his Bronx colleagues.
(6) For my friend Adriano Espaillat: I wish that his new position as the first Dominican Congressperson in the United States of America will serve as an example for many others throughout our nation. We all feel very proud of Adriano Espaillat.
(7) For Congressman Charlie Rangel: I wish that God will grant him solace, peace and recompense for all of his many years of service and dedication to our community and our nation.
(8) For Gerson Borrero and Curtis Sliwa: I wish that God will continue laying His hands on them, healing and blessing them so they can continue criticizing me on their radio and tv programs.
(9) For Senator Liz Kruger: I wish that this new year will bring her enough self-awareness to stop speaking for hours and hours about what is wrong with a piece of legislation, and then vote in favor of the bill.
(10) For Senator Gustavo Rivera: I wish that he would stop being so vulgar and that he would refrain from using the “f” word in Conference and elsewhere, especially when he is in the presence of ladies, children, and people who have self-respect.
(11) For Senator Jose Marcos Serrano: That God will continue to look upon him and bless him so he will keep being the patient, decent and respectful gentleman that he is.
(12) To all of the constituents in my 32nd Senatorial District: I wish that God will bless them for all of their confidence, trust and support they gave me during this past election when I broke all of the records in Bronx County.
(13) And finally, for me: That my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will approve of my wishes and plans for my 2017 political life.
And ladies and gentlemen, for now, these are just a few of my wishes for the next year.
I am Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.
