Bronx cheers as Beep Diaz takes stage
ABOUT 350 well-wishers packed into the Veterans Memorial rotunda of the Bronx County Courthouse for the inauguration of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. last night.
“Look at how far we’ve come,” Diaz said to cheers. “Look at how much growth we have seen. We believe that our borough has so much potential. We believe that our borough has so much opportunity. We believe that the people of our borough are proud of where they are and where they're from.”
All nine City Council members from the Bronx joined Diaz at the swearingin ceremony as a tribute while Melissa Mark Viverito received a standing ovation when introduced as the new speaker of the City Council.
Mayor de Blasio congratulated Diaz on the deal to turn the Kingsbridge Ar- mory into the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, calling it “a real victory for this borough.”
“I have to say that I, as a Brooklynite, have such appreciation for the Bronx,” de Blasio said. “I feel like every time I’ve been involved with the Bronx I’ve been treated like family.”