The New York Observer » Ruben Diaz Sr.

Crowd Source Oppo-Research Project on Ruben Diaz Releases Findings; Diaz Fights Back

The pro-marriage equality group Fight Back New York is out today with the findings from a crowd-sourcing project devoted to digging up dirt on anti-gay marriage state Senator Ruben Diaz.

Among the items available at truthaboutdiaz.com include the fact that:

Diaz was investigated by the FBI
Diaz was arrested for possession of heroing and marijuana
Diaz sent $250,000 Read More

Diaz, Defiant

State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. was not kidding about voting "No" on the budget extender.

In debate in the Senate Chamber this evening, Diaz made very clear he would not vote for an emergency bill that contains cuts, making it look like Democrats, with a slim control of the Senate, will need Republicans for every Read More

Diaz Sr. Blames Paterson’s Thin Crowds on Gay Marriage

Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., who has made a career of giving his Democratic colleagues more than a little agita, put out a statement that seems to blame Governor David Paterson's low-wattage campaign kick-off on...his support for gay marriage, which did not pass the legislature last year.

"Where is the gay community now Read More

An Amigo Meal

ALBANY—The State Senate's four amigos will meet for lunch today, to discuss anything and everything.

"We're going to be discussing everything. Everything! The agenda for next year." Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. told me by phone this morning, after his office put out an advisory that the meal would be taking place--at the Nautilus Diner Read More

Tonight: Diaz Jr. and Sr. Party

Here are a few events happening around the city today...

Ruben Diaz Jr., Ruben Diaz Sr., and Marcos Crespo will hand out school supplies at 3 p.m. in the Bronx.Later, the trio holds a holiday party on Bronxdale Avenue.And Margaret Chin has an inauguration ceremony at Jing Fong Restaurant at 6:30 p.m.

Aubertine Okay With ‘Inclusive’ Moves

ALBANY—State Senator Darrel Aubertine seems okay with the idea of Republicans taking the chairmanships of several committees—even if it's one he currently controls.

"There have been some discussions internally about the possibility of expanding senators' roles in decision-making in the Senate; just being more inclusive and making sure everyone has a seat at the Read More

Skelos and Sampson Met to Discuss Republican Chairmanships

ALBANY—John Sampson and Dean Skelos, the leaders of their party's respective conferences in the State Senate, met this morning to discuss the prospect of Republicans taking over the chairmanship of several committees, a Democratic spokesman said.

"Because the discussions are still ongoing, I cannot confirm the members of the committees," said Austin Shafran, the spokesman, Read More

With Sampson’s Support, Malcolm Smith Might Just Hang On

ALBANY—Malcolm Smith is supposed to leave the top post in the State Senate with the New Year. But nothing in the chamber is ever that easy.

Smith, a Queens Democrat who was

"He's like an ambassador for the State Senate," said his spokesman, Austin Shafran. He added that Smith and Sampson "have an outstanding Read More

Diaz Sr. Throws a Stone at Peralta

ALBANY—State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. has a message for Assemblyman Jose Peralta: "There's a saying in Puerto Rico: if you have glass windows, don't throw stones."

I called Diaz to ask him about a column this morning by Juan Gonzalez which said Peralta had steered over $500,000 to a dubious non-profit organization with ties Read More

Many Dislike Deficit Deal, Few Voted Against It

ALBANY—Does anyone like this deficit deal? Anyone?

Below are the roll calls from the State Assembly, where a measure to offer amnesty to delinquent taxpayers passed with only two dissenters—Republicans Jim Hayes and Will Barclay. The two other bills comprising the deficit reduction plan passed 106-32, largely, though not completely, along party Read More

The Thousand Fathers of Marriage Inequality

ALBANY—What went wrong?

Despite the spin, most everyone pushing for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage privately acknowledges that the 24-38 loss in the State Senate was a whopper, and while theories abound, there's no clear explaination for how the bill was so soundly defeated.

Senator Eric Schneiderman started by blaming Republicans.

"If you look Read More

The Debate: Duane Says Little, Diaz Attacks His Leadership

ALBANY The debate on same-sex marriage in the State Senate started at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2, 2009.

Senator Tom Duane, the chamber's only openly gay member and the bill's sponsor, spoke very briefly explaining the measure.

"This legislation would merely provide me and tens of thousands of other new Yorkers with equal Read More

On Eve of Same-Sex Marriage Vote, Many Mum

ALBANY—Some pre-same-sex marriage Senate tea leaves:

Christine Quinn, the openly gay speaker of the New York City Council, is here. I snapped this photo of her near the Senate chamber, where she told me "I'm up here hopeful there will be a vote on marriage equality and that it will move the issue forward." Read More

Ruben Diaz Sr. Will Return Monday to Vote Against Things

ALBANY—A good (?) harbinger: State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. says he will be coming to the Capitol for Monday's session.

"They sent me the governor's budget proposal, so we have something to negotiate, so I'll be in Albany. They just delivered it to me at my house. UPS," Diaz told me just now, enjoying some Read More

Diaz Excuses His Absence

ALBANY—State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. is "sorry" he missed a vote on Leandra's Law, which cracks down on people who drive drunk with kids in their car, but he has other business to attend to.

"I am distributing turkeys to my seniors in the Bronx," Diaz told me by phone. He said he's distributing Read More