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Hull BRONX TIMES REPORTER,14 AUG. 20-26, 2021 BTR
West Bronx lawmaker
resigns from statehouse
New York State Assemblyman Victor Pichardo Jr., left, announced that he plans on stepping
down from his position on Sept. 10, 2021. Photo Silvio Pacifi co
BY CHRISTIAN FALCONE
Citing an inability to balance his responsibilities
as a lawmaker with his
duties to his family, New York State
Assemblyman Victor Pichardo Jr., announced
Friday that he would be stepping
down.
The 36-year-old Democrat’s resignation
will take effect next month.
“Eight years ago, I was a young man
completely dedicated to my work … Today,
I am blessed with a fantastic partner
and wife, and two beautiful, intelligent,
curious daughters,” he said in a
message posted on Twitter. “Like many,
I have struggled to balance spending
time with them and focusing on the incredible
work that needs to be done to
improve our community. Unfortunately,
I can no longer do both. Therefore, it is
with a very heavy heart that I am stepping
down from the New York State Assembly
effective September 10th.”
Pichardo, a west Bronx lawmaker
who currently chairs the Assembly’s
Banks Committee, fi rst joined the statehouse
in 2014, winning a special election
in November 2013. He won successive reelections
in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.
His current two-year term was set to
expire in 2022.
But his three hotly contested primary
battles with activist Hector
Ramirez highlighted his early years in
politics, including winning a controversial
2014 Democratic primary over
Ramirez by just two votes. Ramirez
would later be arrested on allegations of
voter fraud, which he pleaded guilty to
in 2016.
A graduate of DeWitt Clinton High
School and SUNY Buffalo, Pichardo initially
cut his teeth in politics working
as a staff assistant to U.S. Sen. Chuck
Schumer before being promoted to community
outreach coordinator. He would
go on to work at Mercy College as its associate
director of public relations before
transitioning back into public service
as director of community affairs
for state Sen. Gustavo Rivera in 2012.
Rivera told the Bronx Times that Pichardo
has been an example of professionalism,
dedication and of unwavering
commitment to improving lives in
the community he has called home for
many years.
“While it saddens me that he will no
longer represent the 86th Assembly District,”
he said, “I have no doubt that his
accomplishments as a legislator and on
the ground will be felt for many years.”
During his eight-year tenure in the
Assembly, Pichardo helped pass legislation
legalizing marijuana, ushering
in the DREAM Act and the Green Light
Act – immigrants over the age of 16 and
in the U.S. illegally can apply for a driver’s
license – raising minimum wage to
$15 an hour and reforming the criminal
justice system. He was a proponent of increased
funding for education and afterschool
programs while representing one
of the lowest income districts in the borough.
“I am proud of the work I have done
… but still, there is a lot more to do,” Pichardo
said. “I believe in the citizen legislature;
we run for offi ce, we serve for a
time and then we step down to allow others
amongst our community to take up
the mantle of public service.”
State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, who also
serves as the chairman of the Bronx
Democratic Committee, said Pichardo
served the people of the west Bronx with
integrity.
“The impact of his service has been
felt by Bronxites everywhere,” he added.
“This is a great loss for the Bronx delegation
and the New York State Assembly.”
Bailey called Pichardo a tireless
champion for economic opportunity
and investment in neighborhoods in the
Bronx. He also credited him for “helping
lead the Bronx through the darkest days
of the pandemic.”
During the peak of the COVID-19
pandemic in 2020, the Bronx had the
most cases and deaths per 100,000 out of
NYC’s metropolitan area. According to
data released on Aug. 12 by usafacts.org,
Bronx County totaled 183,027 reported
COVID-19 cases and 6,596 COVID-related
deaths.
The 86th Assembly District covers
Fordham Heights, University Heights,
Morris Heights and the west Bronx.
Filling the vacancy in the state Legislature
will likely require a special
election.
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