Marjorie Velázquez Explained

Marjorie Velázquez
Office:Member of the New York City Council
from the 13th district
Term Start:January 1, 2022
Term End:December 31, 2023
Predecessor:Mark Gjonaj
Successor:Kristy Marmorato
Birth Date:11 August 1981
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:New York University (BA)

Marjorie Velázquez (born August 11, 1981)[1] is an American politician from New York City. A Democrat, Velázquez served as a member of the New York City Council representing the 13th district, which covers parts of the eastern Bronx. Velázquez was defeated for re-election by Kristy Marmorato in the 2023 election.[2]

Early life

Velázquez was born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents who had moved to New York City in the 1970s. She graduated from St. Catharine Academy and received her B.A. in finance and accounting from the New York University Stern School of Business.

Political career

Pre-Council career

After working for several years in accounting and corporate finance, Velázquez suffered serious injuries after multiple accidents in 2012. She joined Bronx Community Board 10 and was elected as a Democratic District Leader for the 82nd Assembly district, a position she still holds.[3]

2017 City Council campaign

In 2017, Velázquez ran to succeed term-limited Democrat James Vacca in the 13th district of the New York City Council.[4] With support from Vacca and The New York Times, among others, Velázquez was seen as one of the race's frontrunners.[5]

Velázquez's main opponent in the Democratic primary was Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, who ran to Velázquez's right and spent over $700,000, a record for a City Council campaign.[6] Velázquez lost the primary by a 38-34% margin, with three other candidates taking the remainder.[7] Soon after, Velázquez indicated she would be back, saying, "Would I ever run again? Most definitely."[8]

2021 City Council campaign

Velázquez announced in 2020 that she would seek a 2021 rematch with Gjonaj, citing the repeated scandals Gjonaj found himself combating during his first term.[9] [10] [11] In February 2021, however, Gjonaj announced he would not seek re-election, saying that the political climate was "not favorable to a centrist ideology that my constituency, community and I embrace."[12]

Now running for an open seat, Velázquez would go on to win the five-way Democratic primary in June 2021. She won the subsequent November 2021 general election with a near-identical 56.3% of the vote and took office in January 2022.[13] [14] [15] [16]

City Council

In 2022, Velázquez protested against turning an unused building on Jacobi Medical Center’s campus into housing for ex-convicts with complex medical needs (such as Stage 4 cancer or congestive heart failure).[17] That same year, she also opposed the construction of 349 housing units (168 of which were affordable housing) in Throggs Neck.[18] [19] [20] She later changed her view, supporting the Throggs Neck development.

Personal life

Velázquez lives in Throggs Neck with her husband.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: It's my birthday! Let's make it a great one as I run for the City Council to give our families a voice and a fighting chance. Any amount helps, support us today! . @mvelaznyc . August 11, 2020 . July 19, 2021.
  2. Web site: UPDATE: In historic win, Marmorato beats Velázquez for Council District 13 seat. Botello, Camille. November 7, 2023. Bronx Times-Reporter.
  3. Web site: Group trains women to run for office and lead. FOX 5 New York. January 17, 2017. July 19, 2021.
  4. Web site: Bronx district leader in the running to replace Vacca in Council. Politico New York. Gloria Pazmino. November 18, 2016. July 19, 2021.
  5. Web site: Primary Choices for the New York City Council. The New York Times. The New York Times Editorial Board. September 1, 2017. July 19, 2021.
  6. Web site: Five-way Bronx race easily most expensive City Council battle this year. Spectrum News NY1. Zack Fink. September 8, 2017. July 19, 2021.
  7. Web site: Gjonaj and Cabrera Secure Primary Wins. Norwood News. Wendy Joan Biddlecombe, David Cruz, and Reggie Francois. September 13, 2017. July 19, 2021.
  8. Web site: Looking Back, and Ahead, with Women Who Lost City Council Races. Gotham Gazette. Grace Dixon. October 23, 2017. July 19, 2021.
  9. Web site: Marjorie Velazquez looks to unseat 'ethically challenged' Bronx Councilman Mark Gjonaj. New York Daily News. Shant Shahrigian. August 9, 2020. July 19, 2021.
  10. Web site: Advisor to City Council's Mark Gjonaj Quits as City Island Feud Festers. The City. Ese Olumhense. January 7, 2020. July 19, 2021.
  11. Web site: Councilman Mark Gjonaj's many unflattering headlines . City & State. Amanda Luz Henning Santiago. March 10, 2020. July 19, 2021.
  12. Web site: Mark Gjonaj will not run for reelection to New York City Council . City & State. Jeff Coltin. February 17, 2021. July 19, 2021.
  13. Web site: Jeanmarie Evelly . April 27, 2021 . Five Candidates Face Off for Newly-Open Council Seat in East Bronx's District 13 . July 19, 2021 . City Limits.
  14. Web site: Marjorie Velázquez declares victory in historic City Council primary race . Bronx Times. Jason Cohen. July 13, 2021. July 19, 2021.
  15. Web site: When they go low, we WIN! Thank you to the incredible #VelaSquad, unions, community groups, every single person who helped us be one of the few races called last night. Let's take this decisive victory and continue to deliver in November and next year on the City Council.. @mvelaznyc. June 23, 2021. July 18, 2021.
  16. Web site: General Election 2021 - Member of the City Council, 13th Council District . New York City Board of Elections. May 2, 2022.
  17. Web site: Stratman . Josephine . August 2, 2022 . NYC is desperate to house the homeless. A bitter fight in the Bronx over housing people leaving Rikers shows why that's so hard . 2022-08-13 . New York Daily News.
  18. Web site: Monahan . Shea . 2022-05-20 . Throggs Neck Food Fight Threatens Rezoning . 2022-08-19 . The Real Deal New York . en-US.
  19. Web site: Ricciulli . Valeria . 2021-08-27 . Why Throgs Neck Homeowners Are Up in Arms About Two 8-Story Buildings . 2022-08-19 . Curbed . en-us.
  20. Web site: 2023-05-26 . Carpenters Union Would Take Marjorie Velázquez Over Jesus Christ, But Will Bronx Voters? . The City . en.
  21. Web site: About Marjorie. Marjorie Velázquez City Council 2021. July 19, 2021.

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