15th Congressional District Debate
Diaz doesn’t show, but still appears to be the favorite
BY JASON COHEN
There is a saying in football,
that if you have two quarterbacks,
then you really have
none. That same theory is applicable
to last night’s 15th Congressional
debate.
The event, featured 10 candidates,
all who barely had time to
speak and not a single one stood
out from the pack. The district,
which is the poorest in the country,
has its primary June 23.
While everyone last night
mostly shared similar views,
it is believed Pastor and Councilman
Ruben Diaz Sr., who is
known for his anti-abortion and
LGBTQ+ views is the favorite.
Diaz did not attend the debate or
the previous one hosted by City
Limits.
BronxNet, in partnership
with Schneps Media, the Bronx
Times Reporter and the League
of Women Voters held the debate.
BronxTalk host Gary Axelbank
moderated the debate and
the candidates were Councilman
Ritchie Torres, Frangell Basora,
Michael A. Blake, Samelys Lopez,
Melissa Mark-Viverito, Chivona
R. Newsome, Julio Pabon,
Tomas Ramos and Marlene J.
Tapper.
While a few people took shots
at Torres and Blake, the night
was calm. They discussed poverty,
racism, jobs and health
care.
Poverty
Torres, the youngest person
ever elected to city council,
who overcame COVID-19, knows
fi rsthand about poverty as he
grew up in public housing in the
south Bronx. This is a community
BRONX TIMES R 22 EPORTER, JUNE 5-11, 2020 BTR
of immigrants and people
of color and they need help, he
stressed.
“COVID-19 has shown the
south Bronx is the essential congressional
district,” Torres said.
“People need jobs and decent
wages.”
Newsome, an activist and cofounder
of the NY Black Lives
Matter, claimed people like Torres
work for the city, yet allowed
places like the 15th District to
stay poor. Newsome was born
and raised in the south Bronx.
“The struggles that happen
in my community I understand,”
she said.
Health Care
Lopez said she is the only
one running for offi ce without
health care and there are too
many in society without it.
“Health care should not be
whether or not you have a job,”
she said. “The system we have
right now is not working for
us.”
Blake, who was born with a
heart murmur, echoed her concerns.
“Our people are dying because
we haven’t addressed
the issues at hand,” Blake explained.
“At the end of the day
everyone just wants to survive.”
Racism
Tapper said she has seen too
many black men and women dying
at the hands of cops or racist
people. According to Tapper,
there needs to be mass police reform.
“We need to take power away
from the police,” she said.
Ramos experienced racism
fi rsthand. He was jumped
by fi ve white men, arrested by
white cops and locked up.
“Rikers is not a place for anyone,”
Ramos said.
Jobs
Blake said wondered why the
city has a lot of money allocated
for the NYPD and not youths.
How can people expect to work
if programs the Summer Youth
Employment Program are axed?
“We need to build schools, not
jails,” the assemblyman said.
Tapper said that the Bronx
needs to focus on middle class
jobs. Not everyone can afford a
four-year college, so people need
other options.
She stressed there should be
more trade schools in the borough,
so people can have careers
that don’t I involve secondary
education.
“We need to allow for apprenticeships
to come to the Bronx,”
she remarked.
The candidates from the 15th Congressional District debate on June 1.
(top row l to r) Frangell Basora, Michael A. Blake, Samelys Lopez, Chivona
R. Newsome, Julio Pabon. (bottom row l to r) Thomas Ramos, Ydanis
Rodriguez, Marlene J. Tapper, Richie Torres, Melissa Mark-Viverito.
Courtesy of BronxNet