100PercentBronx: Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS NYSNA NURSES ON STRIKE AT PICKET LINES

This week, Senator Rivera stood in solidarity with nurses from the New York State Nurses Association at Montefiore Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Allen Hospital, who have been on strike since Monday.

When addressing the crowd, Senator Rivera expressed his admiration for the crucial work that nurses play in our healthcare system. Senator Rivera strongly agrees that our nurses deserve a dignified and fair contract and full implementation of the historic safe staffing laws of 2021, which NYSNA was instrumental in helping to pass.

Senator Rivera urges hospital management and our nurses to return to the negotiating table and deliver a fair contract for the sake of our patients.

Watch his remarks to the nurses on strike at Montefiore here.

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS SENATE HEARING ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

This week, Senator Rivera joined Chair of the Senate Committee on Internet and Technology Kristen Gonzalez and other State Senate colleagues at a legislative hearing on regulating the high-risk uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in the private sector. During this hearing, lawmakers discussed potential risk factors, solutions, and best practices concerning AI use, including improving transparency.

Senator Rivera is currently a co-sponsor of Senator Gonzalez's bill S1169A, which will regulate the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems by requiring audits of high-risk AI systems, granting enforcement authority to the state attorney general, and establishing the private right to action.

This week, Senator Rivera visited the Bronx School for Music (BSM) in his district. BSM is a nonprofit community-based music education program that educates a diverse group of students, the majority of whom come from low income and minority communities.

Thank you to BSM's President and Founder Philip Kwoka for the invitation!

SENATOR RIVERA'S STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S STATE OF THE STATE

This week, Senator Rivera joined colleagues and New Yorkers from across the state in Albany to urge the passage of the New York For All Act (S.2235A), which would prohibit New York state and local agencies from cooperating with federal entities, such as ICE.

We cannot allow our State to be complicit in the trump administration’s lawless deportation squad that is kidnapping and murdering people. It's time to stand up and protect our neighbors!

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS 1199SEIU RALLY TO TO PROTECT NEW YORK'S HEALTHCARE

This week, Senator Rivera also joined members of 1199SEIU at a rally in Albany advocating for the state to protect New Yorkers' healthcare. Washington has stripped millions of Americans of healthcare so our State must step up and pass the New York Health Act to fix what’s completely broken.

Watch my remarks here.

This week, Senator Rivera sat with Katelyn Cordero from Politico to discuss Governor Kathy Hochul's 2026 State of the State Address as well as his priorities for this year's legislative session in Albany, which includes the New York Health Act, his bill to create a single payer healthcare in New York State.

“I don’t believe that, in this moment, we need to be conservative. I think the opposite is true,” Rivera said. “We need to be bold, and I think that relying on federal action as a sign of what the federal government will do going forward is not the best approach. I don’t trust that the federal government is going to do anything positive for us,” said Senator Gustavo Rivera.