Naomi Rivera

A Democratic source called last night with a few names being circulated by the Queens organization to be Hillary Clinton delegates.

This group is from the 7th congressional district, which covers parts of Queens and the Bronx, and it includes: Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, City Councilman Joel Rivera, his sister, Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, East Elmhurst district leader Vita Brome and City Councilman Hiram Monserrate.

The inclusion of Monserrate is noteworthy for several reasons. These are petitions the Queens County Democratic Organization are circulating with approval from the Clinton campaign, and Monserrate has traditionally run outside (read: against) the local establishment.

But despite the fact that he attended a Barack Obama fund-raiser, and that he previously told the Daily News that Clinton’s Iraq vote was troubling, he appears to be resisting the urge to go against his party colleagues by actually endorsing Obama.

Anyone have any other names? Or any other observations about this bunch?

In his sophomore year at the New York Military Academy near West Point, Joel Rivera and his friends  read more »

I caught up with the Bronx Democratic County Organization's chairman and amateur videographer Jose Rivera at the Columbus Day parade in the Bronx yesterday.

He reminded me and a few parade-watchers at one point that "Columbus did not do it by himself. He needed Queen Isabella and her treasury."

Sensing a metaphor, I asked him about some other people who got some career help from a powerful patron: his children, City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera and Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera.

"They have to state their case, and go and run and get votes," he said. "They're very feisty, outspoken. They do work for it on their own."

I asked him who was the better politician.

He didn't answer directly, but said Naomi "is more like me. She's spunky. She's feisty." Joel, he noted "is more of a gentleman."

More Rivera here.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Staffers from Naomi Rivera’s office contacted Observer headquarters today to inquire about the best email address to send press releases to. But upon giving the caller the general address, the staffer was unable to understand editorial@observer.com.

The frustration in my voice was audible after the fourth time of saying editorial at observer dot com and the caller inquired as to why I had an attitude. I informed her that I didn’t and had to go.

She proceeded to call back and inquire once again, informing me that she had some time on her hands to discuss it. I again informed her that I didn’t and had to go.

A senior staffer called just a few minutes later to inquire why I was unable to give our email address to her worker.

Only in the Bronx kids, only in the Bronx.

—Nicole Brydson

So Shelly's line -- "I don't go to cops' funerals" -- is clearly one of the season's greatest hits. You like to imagine the meeting: "The Post's on the phone. What should I say?" "Tell them you don't do cop funerals."

But today's Post does include a bit of overkill. (Overkill? The Post? Never.)  read more »

A reader notes that "Page 5 of the Post runs a caption today about people at the cop's wake giving Sheldon Silver icy stares. The women in the photo appear to actually be Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera and her Staff Director Michelle Dolgow, who is not even looking at Silver. It looks like they were walking in with Silver."