In The Bronx, Silver Explains Rivera's Career

Here’s Sheldon Silver playfully introducing Democratic County Leader Jose Rivera, also an assemblyman, at the Bronx Democratic County Dinner last night.

Silver told the crowd that Rivera was “in the Assembly for five years and he went to Albany Medical Center and the doctor told him to go on light duty. So, he went to the City Council for 13 years. And then he was all cured and he came back. Now he’s working again real hard.”

“I say that in jest,” said Silver to Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Guests also included Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, City Comptroller Bill Thompson, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, likely Republican mayoral candidate John Catisimatidis (who had brief chats with Silver and Cuomo); City Council members Eric Gioia, John Liu, and David Weprin; Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV; and former county leader Roberto Ramirez.

It looked to me like a better turnout than in previous years, although other reporters I spoke to disagreed.

This year, for the first time, attendees were asked to make checks out to “Friends of Jose Rivera,” rather than the Bronx County Committee, making it more of a Rivera fund-raiser than county dinner.

Rivera seemed to be in a fine mood, and gave a special greeting “for the New York Observer, and Bronx Press Review.”