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What You Should Know

By Colin Campbell 5/07 11:32am

What You Should Know

John Sampson (Photo: Facebook)

Díaz Sr. Suggests Sampson’s Arrest Part of Plot to Disenfranchise Minority Voters

Outspoken State Senator Rubén Díaz, Sr. is out with another one of his “What You Should Know” missives, this one addressing the recent spate of New York legislators being arrested, a list that State Senator John Sampson joined yesterday. And Mr. Díaz, in a roundabout way, very strongly suggests there’s a racial component to federal prosecutors’ targets.

“The only thing we do know that is new in these times in New York State, is the Black and Hispanic politicians are the ones being wired and sent out to root out corruption among Black and Hispanic officials,” he said in a statement dismissing alarmist rhetoric to describe the Empire State’s corruption controversies. “I would hate to think that as Black and Hispanic leaders who are elected to represent our communities, that we would be targeted to weed out corruption only in our backyards, and that we would be held to a higher standard than the non-Black and Hispanic leaders.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/15 2:00pm

What You Should Know

(Photo: Getty)

Rubén Díaz Says Ethics Reform Should ‘Begin in the Governor’s Mansion’

The State Legislature is set to look at tightening New York’s infamously loose campaign finance rules in the wake of a recent slate of corruption scandals, but State Sen. Rubén Díaz believes legislative attention should instead be focused on Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“I would like to recommend that ethics reform in New York State begin in the Governor’s mansion,” Mr. Díaz declared today in one of his regular “What You Should Know” statements. “While we consider how to restrict Senate campaign donations that are used to pay for meals, I would like my readers to know that many of my colleagues are routinely invited to the Governor’s mansion to eat his food and drink his wine with no oversight to who pays those bills.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/26/12 11:38am

What You Should Know

Ruben Diaz. Sr.

Ruben Diaz Rings in the New Year With Jabs at the State Senate and ‘Uncle Tom’ Malcolm Smith

State Senator Ruben Diaz sent a special New Year’s-themed edition of his regular “What You Should Know” email newsletters this morning. In his year-end missive, Mr. Diaz took a series of shots at the State Senate with backhanded “political wishes” for the new IDC/GOP leadership coalition, “Uncle Tom” State Senator Malcolm Smith and State Senator Adriano Espaillat.  Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/19/12 1:05pm

What You Should Know

ruben diaz sr gov

Rubén Díaz Wishes Governor Cuomo Would Be Mocked ‘in Tweets’

Democratic State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr., known for his opposition to gay marriage and his outspoken “What You Should Know” press releases, sent out another one of his inimitable missives earlier this afternoon. It’s quite a doozy. In the statement, Mr. Díaz touched on all of his favorite topics; attacking Governor Andrew Cuomo, brandishing his socially conservative beliefs and advocating for increased minority representation in New York politics. Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/10/12 11:00am

What You Should Know

(Photo: Getty)

‘Vito Lopez vs. Bill Clinton’

That was the title of outspoken State Senator Rubén Díaz, Sr.’s latest “What You Should Know” statement that very directly compared allegations placed against President Bill Clinton to those against Assemblyman Vito Lopez. Mr. Díaz, not unknown to make controversial statements, said he wants to “show the high level of hypocrisy among many, many people in this business of politics and media” regarding Mr. Lopez, who was once the powerful boss of Brooklyn’s Democratic Party before his sexual harassment scandal shook the state’s political landscape a few weeks ago.

“You should know that as I continue to read the news about how many people have come out showing their anger against New York State Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and how many leaders have asked for his resignation, I have to compare the reaction and treatment by those same leaders to what they did against former President Bill Clinton when he was the President,” the senator argued in the statement. Read More

By Colin Campbell 8/31/12 1:50pm

What You Should Know

ruben diaz sr gov

Díaz Sr. Compares Daughter’s Arrest to Officers Who Shot Amadou Diallo

Police Sergeant Damaris Díaz, daughter of State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr., was arrested last weekend for keying her boyfriend’s car, charged with a felony and suspended without pay until the trial. Mr. Díaz, who at the time had no comment, finally issued one of his long-winded “What You Should Know” statements this afternoon to give his own theory on why his daughter might be getting tougher treatment than the average citizen.

“You should know that when Amadou Diallo was murdered by 4 police officers, they were not suspended without pay after shooting 42 bullets into Amadou Diallo,” he wrote. “We hear almost daily about police officers who commit all kinds of crimes and engage in police brutality to the point where some innocent people have lost their lives – and yet those police officers are not suspended without pay.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 8/16/12 11:50am

What You Should Know

(Photo: Wendy Long visited Ruben Diaz, via City & State)

Rubén Díaz, Sr. Knows Who His Friends Are

It’s another day, so there’s another statement from State Senator Rubén Díaz, Sr. saying rather bold things about his Democratic colleagues.

In Mr. Díaz’s latest “What You Should Know” statement, he discussed being laid up in the hospital on his way to becoming a post-knee surgery “Bionic Man,” and specifically mentioned who has visited him and who hasn’t. After thanking everyone who has wished him well, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Mr. Díaz tore into everyone else. Read More

By Colin Campbell 8/10/12 11:59am

What You Should Know

(Photo: Getty)

‘Hi Ruben, This is Your Friend Tim Dolan’

State Senator Rubén Díaz, Sr., known for sending out amusingly outspoken statements, has another one this morning.

Mr. Díaz is currently laid up in the hospital recovering from a knee surgery — “I Will Be a Bionic Man” was how he announced the surgery initially — and received a phone call yesterday from Cardinal Timothy Dolan wishing him well.

“Just by the way he started the conversation, ‘Hello Ruben, this is your friend Tim Dolan,’ shocked me and almost made me cry,” Mr. Díaz wrote to describe the phone call from higher up. Read More

By Colin Campbell 7/30/12 10:52am

What You Should Know

(Photo: Getty)

John Orozco’s Bronx Background and Diaz Sr.’s Olympic Connections

Bronx native John Orozco is turning out to be one of the American stars of this year’s Olympics and State Senator Rubén Díaz, Sr. wants everyone to know that it took a lot of hard work to help the young athlete get the gymnastics classes he needed while growing up.

“You should know that many years ago when I was first elected to the New York City Council, John Orozco´s mother, Damaris, came to my office to ask my son, Ruben Diaz Jr., and myself for any assistance that we could offer,” Mr. Díaz wrote in a statement today. “She was determined to find a way for her Bronx family to afford to send John to a school where he could properly train in gymnastics.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/05/12 2:33pm

What You Should Know

(Photo: Getty)

Diaz Sr. Compares Cuomo to Caesar’s Wife

State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., infamous for sending out somewhat odd “What You Should Know” statements, has another one out this afternoon, and it’s a good one.

For example, the statement, which is about The New York Times‘ report that Governor Cuomo solicited casino contributions for an independent group that advocates on his behalf at the same time he was pushing for casino legalization in the state, references Caesar, feces, and “some kind of celestial beings” before the first paragraph is through.

It can be viewed below: Read More