At the Bronx Democratic County Dinner on June 24, for the first time, checks for the annual event should be made out to “Friends of Assemblyman Jose Rivera," not to the county organization. (Rivera is also the county leader).
“This is an interesting year,” said Rivera when I spoke to him about it. “We’re still raising money for the organization, but we’re doing it through the trustees. So, it’s like a joint dinner event with Friends of Jose Rivera.”
He went on, “We just don’t want to tie down the whole operation for one massive fund-raiser. It requires a lot of volunteers. This way, it doesn’t.”
I asked if the decision was related to David Paterson’s proposed changes to the state campaign finance rules, or if it is related to the political future of his son, City Councilman Jose Rivera, who is expected to enter the borough presidency race next year.
“Absolutely not," he told me. "But you know, it doesn’t hurt to keep in mind that we got to get ready for the future.
"I don’t know," Rivera went on. "I don’t have all the answers. A change is coming. It doesn’t hurt for us to begin to prepare for the day when the usual way of raising money is no longer there.”
Andrew Cuomo will keynote the event.
