Bronx officials elated Heastie is speaker

Diaz for president?

During his four years so far as borough president, Mr. Diaz has gained widespread attention for his aggressive advocacy for the Bronx.

If anyone wondered whether the former assemblyman had aspirations to higher office, Mr. Diaz may have given himself away last week when Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin visited.

As Mr. Rivlin recounted Mr. Diaz’s visit to the Israeli presidential house earlier this month, the borough president said into his microphone, “I wish I had a presidential house.”

“You know, I never had a dream to become president,” Mr. Rivlin replied, drawing laughter from the audience. “But it happens.”

What will happen next for Mr. Diaz is anyone’s guess. But he certainly seems to be dreaming big, and is not shy about dropping hints as to his ambitions.

Engel applauds budget

Items in President Barack Obama’s proposed $4 trillion budget for 2016 are likely to draw strong opposition from the Republicans who control Congress. But loyal Democrats like Riverdale’s Rep. Eliot Engel applauded the budget for its priorities.

“Republicans should be taking a real serious look at all of these proposals,” Mr. Engel said in a statement. “The president’s plan would reduce the tax burden on the middle class, increase much needed dollars for infrastructure projects, support our public schools, and end the damaging and unpopular sequester.

“As our economy continues to pick up steam, it is imperative for government to remain focused on smart policies that will ensure every American feels the recovery.”

Mr. Engel particularly praised the president’s proposed $70.7 billion in discretionary funds for education, $144 billion for rail programs and boost to $8.6 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, among other measures. 

“I’m not a scientist, but I listen to them, just like the majority of Americans,” the congressman said. “Climate change is already here and it will take the leadership of the United States to tackle the issue globally.”