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District 18 - Council Member - Democrat - Soundview, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Clason Point, Harding Park - Reverend Rubén Díaz was elected to the City Council in 2017, and had previously served in the New York State Senate since November 2002. He represents the South Bronx, including the communities of Soundview, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Clason Point, and Harding Park. As Council Member, Reverend Díaz will continue to work hard to improve economic opportunities, housing, health care, and education for the people of the Bronx.
Reverend Díaz was previously decisively elected to the New York City Council in 2001, representing the 18th District in the Bronx, including the communities of Bronx River, Castle Hill, Clason Point, Crotona Park, Harding Park, Parkchester, Soundview, and parts of Crotona Park East, Ferry Point, Hunts Point, West Farms, West Tremont, and Zerega. During his swearing-in ceremony, Reverend Díaz conducted the first Pentecostal religious service ever held inside City Hall. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Ephrain Navas González, Superintendent of the Northeastern District of the Church of God. Reverend Díaz was born on April 22, 1943 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and attended the Miguel Such Vocational School in Río Piedras. In 1960, he joined the U.S. Armed Forces and proudly served in the Army until he completed his tour of duty with an honorable discharge in 1963. He has made New York City his home since 1965, and attended Herbert H. Lehman College, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in 1976, later becoming the Pastor of the Church of God located on Seward Avenue in the Bronx. He attended the Damascus Bible Institute, graduating with a Theological Degree and, in 1978, became an ordained Minister of the Church of God, headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee. In 1977, Reverend Díaz decided to pursue his interest in working for the betterment of his community by helping the less fortunate. As a result, that same year, in the basement of the Church of God on Seward Avenue, Reverend Díaz founded, and was until recently, Executive Director of, the Christian Community Benevolent Association, Inc. That organization is a non-profit CBO geared toward helping the elderly and the needy. The C.C.B.A. presently employs 1000 people and serves more than 5000 senior citizens residing in Bronx County. Reverend Díaz also founded, and is the Pastor of, the Christian Community Neighborhood Church. In 1993, Reverend Díaz was appointed to serve on the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. In that capacity, he served the people of the City of New York for three years, investigating allegations of police brutality and misconduct. Reverend Díaz received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities in 1997, bestowed upon him for his tireless humanitarian work by the National Evangelical University of the Dominican Republic (Universidad Nacional Evangélica de la República Dominicana). Reverend Díaz is the proud father of three children: Damaris Díaz Kiely, who is a Sergeant in the New York Police Department; Samuel Díaz, who works for the New York City Housing Authority; and Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr. He is also the proud grandfather of six grandchildren, and is happily married to Leslie Yvette Díaz.
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