About Former Senator Ruben Diaz's

Reverend Rubén Díaz was elected to the New York State Senate in November, 2002 to serve the 32nd Senate District in the South Bronx. The communities in his district include Castle Hill, Longwood, Melrose, Morrisania, Parkchester, West Farms and Concourse Village. Senator Díaz is the Ranking Member on the Senate Standing Committee on Aging. In this role, he will continue to champion legislation to improve the lives of New York’s senior citizens.

As State Senator, Reverend Díaz continues to work hard to improve economic opportunities, housing, health care, and education for the people of The Bronx.  His district office located in the South Bronx serves more than 200 constituents each week.

Senator Díaz is the author of a popular column titled “What You Should Know.” This column is distributed widely and covers a range of political and social issues.

During his tenure at the New York State Senate, Senator Diaz has hosted numerous “Abrazo” events to celebrate various ethnic groups of New Yorkers. These events include the “Abrazo Boriqua in New York,” “African-American Abrazo in New York,” “Abrazo Dominicano in New York,” “Abrazo Garifuna in New York,” and “Abrazo Bangaldeshi in New York.” These events are co-hosted by the “Diaz Team” which includes Bronx Assemblymen Marcos Crespo, Luis Sepulveda and Michael Blake, and they are free to the public.

Reverend Díaz was decisively elected to the New York City Council in 2001, representing the 18th District in The Bronx, including the communities of Bronx River, Castle Hill, Clason Point, Crotona Park, Harding Park, Parkchester, Soundview, and parts of Crotona Park East, Ferry Point, Hunts Point, West Farms, West Tremont, and Zerega. During his swearing-in ceremony, Reverend Díaz conducted the first Pentecostal religious service ever held inside City Hall. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Ephrain Navas González, Superintendent of the Northeastern District of the Church of God.

Rubén Díaz was born on April 22, 1943 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and attended the Miguel Such Vocational School in Río Piedras. In 1960, he joined the U.S. Armed Forces and proudly served in the Army until he completed his tour of duty with an Honorable Discharge in 1963.

Senator Rubén Díaz has made New York City his home since 1965. He attended Herbert H. Lehman College, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in 1976, and became the Pastor of the Church of God located on Seward Avenue in The Bronx. He attended the Damascus Bible Institute, graduating with a Theological Degree and, in 1978, became an ordained Minister of the Church of God, headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee.

In 1977, Reverend Díaz decided to pursue his interest in working for the betterment of his community by helping the less fortunate. As a result, in 1977, in the basement of the Church of God on Seward Avenue, Reverend Díaz founded, and was until 2002 the Executive Director of the Christian Community Benevolent Association, Inc. That organization is a not-for-profit CBO geared toward helping the elderly and the needy. Senator Díaz also founded, and is the Pastor of, the Christian Community Neighborhood Church, located at 1347 Longfellow Avenue, Bronx, NY.

Reverend Díaz is the Founder and President of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization, which is comprised of 150 Evangelical Ministers from the tri-state area. They have faithfully met each Thursday for more than 25 years to discuss ways they can assist people in their communities. Their concerns include matters of immigration, care for senior citizens, education and social justice.

In 1993, Reverend Díaz was appointed to serve on the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. In that capacity, he served the people of the City of New York for three years, investigating allegations of police brutality and misconduct.

Reverend Díaz received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities in 1997, bestowed upon him for his tireless humanitarian work by the National Evangelical University of the Dominican Republic (Universidad Nacional Evangélica de la República Dominicana).

Senator Díaz has received numerous awards from community organizations including the 1st Lifetime Achievement Award by Affinity Health Plan, the South Bronx Hero Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Friend of Foreign Service Medal from Taiwan, and Human Life Review’s Great Defender of Life Award. The New York Post has recognized Senator Diaz among the 25 Most Influential Latinos in New York.

Senator Díaz has been honored by the Castle Hill Little League; R.A.I.N.; National Puerto Rican Day Parade; E. Roberts Moore Senior Center; Evangelical Pastors’ Association of Hudson County, Inc.; LACA State of New York; Aliento de Vida; Parents Association of PS 60; John Adams Houses; Advocates for Life; Word of Life International; Assembly of Christian Churches; Bangladesh Independence Day Committee; Pelham Parkway Resident Council, Inc.; Red Apple Sports Association; United Federation of Evangelical Youth; National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; ArchCare; Virgilio Santos Foundation; Islamic Cultural Center of North America; Bronx Dominican Parade; Coalicion Dominicana de New York; New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom; American Legion Union Port Post 1065; St. Vincent De Paul Residence; Casa Boriqua Senior Center; Charter Parent Advocacy Network; IS 174 Family; La Asociacion del Niño Evangelico de Nueva York; Pelham Parkway Houses; Resurrection Christian Center; Beth Abraham Houses; A.P.R.O.T.E.L.; El Evangelista Yiye Avila, Presidente y Fundador de Ministerio Cristo Viene y La Cardena del Milagro; Children of PS 69; Gran Parada Dominicana de El Bronx; Universoul Circus; BQN Softball; Juan “Igor” Gonzalez Little League; Melrose Family Day; James Monroe Tenants Association; Betances Senior Center; Evangelical Parade of Connecticut; Queens Hispanic Clergy Association; Unidad de Ministros de NY; Centro Cultural y Deportivo Los Mocanos; A.S.O.P.R.O.D.O.M; Mt. Zion CME Church; Iglesias Conlico de Dios; Edwin Marreo Baseball League; LACA State of New York; NYS Federation Taxi Drivers, Inc.; UPC Network; C.O.D.U.E.; Villa Maria Home; Aviation Volunteer Fire Department; Covenant Coalition; and the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano PRD.

Senator Díaz serves as an Advisory Board member of Democrats for Life.

Senator Rubén Díaz is the proud father of three children who all pursue lives of civil service: Damaris Díaz Kiely is a retired Sergeant in the New York Police Department; Samuel Díaz is a Supervisor for the New York City Housing Authority; and Rubén Díaz, Jr. is the Borough President of the Bronx. Senator Díaz is also the loving grandfather of six grandchildren. He is happily married to Leslie Ivette Díaz.

Standing Committee Assignments 2017: Aging (Ranking Member) Banks, Finance,  Investigations and Government Operations, Judiciary, Transportation