Diana Reyna

Diana Reyna (born 1974) is currently the New York City Council Member who represents the 34th Council District, which includes Williamsburg and Bushwick as well as Ridgewood in Queens, USA. Council Member Reyna was born and raised in New York City. She attended the now closed Our Savior School (the former parochial school of Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church) in Williamsburg, Saint Joseph High School in downtown Brooklyn, and Pace University in Pleasantville, New York. She has been a member of the New York City Council since her election in 2001. Council Member Reyna is the first Dominican American woman elected to public office in New York State. Previously, Council Member Reyna was the chief of staff to New York State Assembly Member and Chairman of the Kings County (Brooklyn) Democratic Party, Vito Lopez. The two have since had a very public falling-out culminating in Lopez running an unsuccessful candidate against Reyna in the 2009 Primary & General Election.^[1]

Legislative and councilmanic efforts

Council Member Reyna has concentrated her efforts in funding youth programs and family literacy.,^[2] as well as fighting crime and reducing gang violence in her council district.^[3]

In 2007, the New York City Council passed a bill Council Member Reyna had sponsored, which amended the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to increasing fines for illegal conversions from industrial to residential uses. The bill was later signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg.^[4]

Council Member Reyna voted in favor of the extension of term limits to allow for a third term for the Mayor and City Council.^[5]

Council Member Reyna voted against a modified version of Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan.^[6]

From "Breaking the Gridlock on Congestion Pricing" by Gail Robinson dated, March 24, 2008 (gothamgazette.com):

"Under both the commission's recommendations and the governor's bill, the base fee for cars entering the area would be $8. Trucks would pay $21. But many drivers would end up paying far less since the system subtracts tolls used to enter Manhattan -- as long as the driver used E-ZPass to cross one of the rivers. So while someone using the toll-free Brooklyn Bridge would be charged an $8 congestion fee, a person who used the Queens Midtown Tunnel, which has a $4.50 toll, would pay that and a $3.50 congestion fee for a maximum charge of $8." ^[7]

External links

• Official NYC Council Website about Diana Reyna
• District boundaries for 34th Council district
• The Brooklyn Rail article: "Introducing Councilwoman Diana Reyna"

References

1. ^ http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-09-01/columns/power-plays-by-party-boss-vito-lopez/
2. ^ http://council.nyc.gov/d34/html/members/home.shtml
3. ^ Adam Brodsky, "BLIND-SIDED: OUTSIDERS MESSING UP BUSHWICK'S FIGHT V. CRIME," "New York Post," June 15, 2007 http://www.nypost.com/seven/06152007/postopinion/opedcolumnists/blind_sided_opedcolumnists_adam_brodsky.htm
4. ^ http://www.nyccouncil.info/html/legislation/legislation_details.cfm?ID=Int%200034-2006&TYPE=all&YEAR=2006&SPONSORS=YES&REPORTS=YES&HISTORY=YES
5. ^ http://bushwickbk.com/2009/09/09/34th-district-candidate-profile-diana-reyna/
6. ^ http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/council-panel-approves-congestion-pricing-measure/index.html?hp
7. ^ http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/issueoftheweek/20080324/200/2473

Political offices
Preceded by Victor Robles	New York City Council, 34th District 2002–present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Reyna, Diana
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Date of birth	1974
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