Bronx County Democratic Barbecue

  Yesterday was the Annual Bronx Democratic County Barbecue. Besides the unlimited hot dogs, hamburgers, side salads, liquid refreshments, and informational booths, the big attraction this year was the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' by 7 Bronx elected officials you can see in the photos below. Each elected official had a bucket of ice poured on their heads, and since Assemblyman Carl Heastie is also the county leader he had two buckets of ice poured on him. 

  Public Advocate Letitia James was on hand showing off her dance steps with the former Dancing District Leader who now hopes to become the Dancing State Committeeman Kenny Agosto. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. took pride in his candidate for 33rd State Senate Gustavo Rivera, while his father Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. is backing Senator Rivera's opponent who was not present since he is not a Bronx County organization candidate.  State Senator Jeff Klein as you can see in one of the photos was being given some last minute advice by County Leader Heastie, and again Senator Klein's opponent was no where to be found. The grill was manned by members of the Bronx Young Democrats who were cooking the food faster than it could be eaten. The BYD's deserve a shout out as they were cooking over a hot grill while the temperature was over 90 degrees. 

Left - Bronx Young Democrats Daniel Johnson and John Zaccarro Jr. are manning the grill to get the franks and burgers cooked.

Right Public Advocate Letitia James, and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda have District Leader Julia Rodriguez between them.

Below - the Public Advocate Dances with Kenny Agosto (left) the former 'Dancing District Leader'.

Left - BP Ruben Diaz Jr. with his candidate incumbent Gustavo Rivera in the 33rd State Senate District. Senator Rivera is holding the latest edition of the Bronx News with election predictions for Tuesday's Democratic primary. Maybe that is why he and BP Diaz have such big smiles.

Right - Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. arrives in his modified ice cream truck painted for Assemblyman Marcos Crespo this year. Senator Diaz Sr. is backing the opponent of Senator Gustavo Rivera in the 33rd State Senate race. 

Left - State Senator Jeff Klein with Riverdale Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinotwitz and soon to be new 81th A.D. District Leader Eric Dinowitz. 

Right - County Leader Carl Heastie seems to be giving Senator Jeff Klein some last minute advice.

Bronx County Executive Director Iachia Bravo announces that since Assemblyman Carl Heastie is also the county leader that he will have two buckets of ice poured on him.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has his son Eric pour the bucket of ice over him, and that is Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj also being dunked on the right.

Councilman Andy King was the last to have the bucket of ice poured on him. CM King took of his bowtie as not to get it wet.

Also taking the ice bucket challenge were State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson, Assemblyman Mike Benedetto, and District Leader Cynthia Cox who did not make it into the photos. 

Bronx County Democratic Barbecue

   There was heavy rains in the AM and when the Bronx County Democratic Barbecue started at 12 PM yesterday storm clouds were still above. This kept many people away as the crowd was much smaller than usual, but the comradely of those who attended was still the same. As the barbecue continued there was no rain, and the photo ops and speeches were abundant. As the weather got better Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie seemed to be getting worse (as you will see in the last photo), saying that he caught something in Charlotte during the Democratic Convention recently. Second in command at county Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz then became the master of ceremonies as he took over for the ailing Heastie. 

   Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Bill deBlasio were the only two mayoral candidates in 2013 to show, and Manhattan Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Keith Wright was the only other non Bronx elected official to also attend. The barbecue really seemed to come out of its coma when Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. showed up as the BP was the life of this party. When he took the microphone his now famous words "Is The Bronx in The House" came out first. 

    Now for some Barbecue talk. I asked mayoral candidate Scott Stringer if those rumors I heard about him running for Public Advocate instead of mayor were true. Stringer replied that rumor is "Definitely False", and that his campaign for mayor has only begun. He added that everyone will soon see that. To Manhattan Democratic County Leader Keith Wright I asked if he was going to run for the 13th Congressional District next year when Charlie Rangel retires, and his answer was "Who Knows". Deputy City Clerk Shirley Saunders told me that since the Marriage Equality law was passed over 10% of marriages in the Bronx are of same sex. 

    The only insurgent candidate to show up was 80th A.D. candidate Adam Bernudez at the end of the barbecue, as I was leaving. Adam sent an e-mail to me saying that he shook BP Diaz's hand, and the BP said "Good luck Adam'. He added the only person nasty to him, was a certain Executive Director (he did not name) who hates him and said "You can't give out your fliers here". He was just talking to his friend, Yves Filius, who lives in the 80th A.D. he wrote.

Left - Manning the grill as usual Election Law King Stanley Schlein is flanked by recent law graduate Rosanna Vargas and Darrell Walston. Right - Bronx Young Dems Daniel Johnson (in green), Michelle Avila, and President John Zacarro help out on the grill.

Left - Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz 81st A.D.  Manhattan Borough President (mayoral candidate in 2013) Scott Stringer, 81st A.D. District Leader Bruce Feld, and County Leader Carl Heastie,

Right - Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson, Civil Court Juge candidate Eddie McShan, BP Diaz, Deputy City Clerk Shirley Saunders holding granddaughter Madison, Assemblymen Dinowitz and Crespo, State Senator Serrano with son, and Councilman Fernando Cabrera (far right).

Left - Just about every Bx. County endorsed candidate or incumbent along with Public Advocate Bill deBlasio.

Right - State Senator Gustavo Rivera at the microphone. Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson with cast on leg after falling at the Democratic convention in Charlotte, and Bx. County Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie sitting in chair. No Heastie is not suffering through another long speech, but is really sick as he also has a remembrance of the convention in Charlotte.