Who

State Assemblyman Rivera heads up the Democratic Party in the Bronx and is the patriarch of one of the Bronx's most powerful political families.

Backstory

After a tough childhood in Puerto Rico, Rivera moved to New York and worked as a steel worker, gypsy cabdriver, and carpenter. He later became a labor activist, and got elected to the New York State Assembly in the '80s. He was elected city councilman in 1987; in 2000, when term limits kicked in, he headed back to the Assembly. Although he nearly challenged Adolfo Carrion for the Bronx Borough presidency in 2001, Rivera opted not to oppose him for the sake of unity and became head of the Bronx Democratic party in 2002, replacing Robert Ramirez.

Of note

Being a party leader is essentially being a kingmaker, and Rivera offers up a vital endorsement for anyone seeking elected office in the Bronx. But as he's consolidated power, he's come under criticism for morphing from an energetic, reformist, man-of-the-people into a complacent and even nepotistic (see below) insider. As a legislator, Rivera isn't exactly known for proposing groundbreaking bills. To wit: In January 2007, he honed in with laser-like focus on the crucial problem of how skinny models should be allowed to be. He introduced legislation to create an advisory board that would generate guidelines for child performers and models under the age of 18 to prevent them from developing eating disorders.

Scandal

Like fellow Bronx Democratic kingpin Ruben Diaz Sr., Rivera has had a number of brushes with controversy and the law. In late 2006, word got out that Rivera (along with attorney Stanley Schlein) was under investigation for his involvement with various real estate deals surrounding the new Yankee Stadium. Rivera also spent seven months in prison at age 20 in the late '50s for a conviction for possessing a loaded firearm. One other, less troubling stint in the clink: Rivera was arrested along with Al Sharpton and former Bronx political boss Roberto Ramirez for protesting the U.S. military base in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Family ties

An increasing number of Riveras have found their way into positions of power since Jose took over the Bronx party. His daughter Naomi was elected to the state assembly in 2004, and his son Joel recently became the majority leader of the City Council.

Personal

Rivera and his wife, Blanche, have an apartment in the Bronx. In the late '80s, however, he was caught lying about his place of residence—a trick used by officials who don't want to live in the areas they represent. (His apartment was a 10-foot-by-10-foot single room at the rear of someone else's home.) At the time, the Riveras were suspected of living in Elmont, Long Island.

No joke

Rivera is famously devoted to his video camera. He brings it with him virtually everywhere he goes—Albany, run-of-the-mill meetings, demonstrations. Over the past two decades, he says he's accumulated over 5,000 tapes of footage.