Last night not only did the New York State Senate finally pass the marriage equality bill, Governor Andrew Cuomo managed to sign it into law at 11:55 p.m. Since the law will go into effect after 30 days, New York should start seeing legal same-sex marriages by late July. more ›

American Idol returned last night to just ok ratings but it still managed to piss off Bronx beep Ruben Diaz, Jr.. Let us explain: last night's audition episode—featuring Bronx native/new Idol host J.Lo!— included a segment about 16-year-old Bronx-native Travis Orlando, a boy who apparently has had a rough childhood that included time in shelter. He describes his formative years as "tough," surrounded by "gangs, drugs, violence," and continues later to boast his neighborhood has "robberies, killings, anything you can possibly imagine goes on here." Enter an angry Diaz! more ›

If we're to believe this CBS headline, then Grim LeRogue, the man who rushed the field at Yankee Stadium with a photo of A-Rod reading "You have to go bud, you've ruined too many of our white queens," hates A-Rod. But before he set off on his crusade to win Cameron Diaz's heart, he saved some of his wrath for local politicians. He is believed to be the author of vitriolic letters sent to Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the newsrooms of The Riverdale Press and Norwood News, signed "The Uncle of Sam" in an apparent nod to the Bronx's "Son of Sam" killer. Uh oh, is there a talking dog involved? more ›

Albany may very well have continue to "work" for another week without a government shutdown (and without a budget) because Republican State Senator Hugh Farley (Schenectady County) said he'd vote with mostly Democrats and support the budget extender bill. Farley explained, "I can't vote to shut down government. It's a terrible bill, a terrible process, but it would be catastrophic for my constituents," many of whom work for the state government. He added, "This is a devastating, terrible process that is happening." more ›

In his continuing quest to make the Bronx the opposite of the least healthy county in the state, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced the formation of the Bronx Smoke-Free Partnership last week, as part of the 2010 Bronx Week festivities. more ›

Following a barrage of exposés on the Department of Education's Rubber Room—a paid purgatory for union teachers booted from the classroom— Sen. Ruben Diaz of the Bronx slammed the system. "New York City must no longer permit a gift of several million dollars for incompetent former teachers who sit in the infamous 'rubber rooms,' drawing full salary while the Department of Education drags its feet and refuses to promptly address allegations of teacher misconduct and incompetence," said the Democrat in an angry statement to the Post. more ›

According to everyone involved, yesterday’s gun buyback in the Bronx was a marvelous success! Four churches collected 1,216 firearms in a limited-time, no-questions-asked cahs4guns event. “In the fight against gun violence, everything helps, and I am proud that we were able to take so many guns out of circulation,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. in a statement. Gun relinqhishers can use the money to feed their families and pay their mortgages—or just blow it all on drugs and knives. more ›

As expected, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. (D-Bronx) won the special election for the Bronx Borough President seat vacated by Adolfo Carrion Jr. (Carrion is now at the White House.) Diaz Jr. won with 87% of the vote—over 28,000 votes— over Republican district leader Anthony Ribustello. Diaz told NY1 about his plans, "I want to meet the mayor of the City of New York. I want to meet with the speaker of the New York City Council. I want to revise the vacancies and appointments on the community boards. And all the different development projects that are on their way here to the borough of the Bronx. I want to go talk to the staff at the Borough President's Office. There's so much to do. I'm ready and I'm anxious and eager to go and work at Borough Hall." Diaz's term will be up December 31, which means he'll need to mount another campaign this fall. more ›

While there is a special election for the Bronx Borough President's seat today, since Adolfo Carrion Jr. headed to the White House in February, it's widely expected that Democrat Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. will win. The NY Times reports that Diaz has the wide support of Bronx Democrats and "His lone opponent is Anthony J. Ribustello, a Republican district leader who is best known, to the extent he is known at all, as the actor who played Tony Soprano’s beefy driver on 'The Sopranos.'" The Times adds a footnote about Diaz being son of State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., "a Pentecostal minister who is an outspoken opponent of gay marriage and abortion. The elder Mr. Díaz was one of the so-called Gang of Three conservative Democratic senators who flirted with Republicans last year and threatened to block the Democrats from assuming control of Senate leadership." Earlier this year, the Daily Politics reported that Diaz Sr. said "his son played a crucial role in convincing him to back Smith for majority leader." more ›