Ralph Salamanca | |
---|---|
Member of the New York City Council from the 17th district | |
Assumed office March 8, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Maria del Carmen Arroyo |
Personal details | |
Born | New York City,New York,U.S. | July 2,1980
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Jessenia Aponte |
Children | 2 |
Education | Monroe College (AA) |
Website | Official website |
Rafael "Ralph" Salamanca Jr. (born July 2,1980) is the councilmember for the 17th district of the New York City Council. He is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Concourse Village,East Tremont,Hunts Point,Longwood,Melrose,Morrisania,Port Morris,and West Farms in The Bronx.
Salamanca was born and raised in The Bronx to parents from Puerto Rico. [1] His father worked the docks at the Hunts Point Market while his mother was an administrative worker in healthcare. [2] Salamanca did not finish high school,but did receive his high school diploma equivalency certificate and subsequently earned an associate degree from Monroe College. [3]
A lifelong resident of the South Bronx,Salamanca began his career working as an administrative assistant for a healthcare services provider,and later went on to organize surrounding healthcare issues in both The Bronx and Brooklyn,including in Williamsburg,Brooklyn,with future-New York City Councilmember Antonio Reynoso. [4]
Salamanca was a member of Bronx Community Board 2,where he would advocate for issues in the Hunts Point and Longwood neighborhoods. [5] He eventually became the District Manager for the board,and also served as the President of the 41st Precinct Council. [6] He gained citywide attention for his work as the Community Board Manager for shutting down strip clubs in the community that were havens for criminal activity. [7]
In 2015,Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo resigned from her seat on the City Council. [8] Salamanca entered the race for the special election to replace her and won a six-way Democratic primary election,with 39% of the vote. He was sworn into office on March 8,2016. [9]
Salamanca ran again in November 2016 to finish Arroyo's term,won his first full term in 2017,and was re-elected in 2021. Salamanca explored but ultimately did not pursue a candidacy for Bronx Borough President in 2021. [10]
Election history | |||
---|---|---|---|
Location | Year | Election | Results |
NYC Council District 17 | 2016 | Nonpartisan | √Rafael Salamanca 39.12% George Alvarez 24.25% Julio Pabon 15.11% J. Loren Russell 10.84% Joann Otero 7.13% Marlon Molina 3.09% |
NYC Council District 17 | 2017 | Democratic Primary | √Rafael Salamanca 72.17% Helen Hines 27.36% |
NYC Council District 17 | 2017 | General | √Rafael Salamanca (D) 92.26% Patrick Delices (R) 3.47% Oswald Denis (Conservative) 2.26% Elvis Santana (Empower Society) 1.81% |
In September 2021,a stray bullet shattered Salamanca's office window while he was inside with constituents. No one was hurt in the incident. [11]
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Longwood is a mixed-use neighborhood in the southwest Bronx in New York City. Its boundaries,starting from the north and moving clockwise are East 167th Street to the north,the Bronx River and the Bruckner Expressway to east,East 149th Street to the south,and Saint Anns Avenue to the west. Southern Boulevard is the primary thoroughfare through Longwood.
Bronx Community Board 2 is a local government unit of the city of New York,encompassing the neighborhoods of Hunts Point and Longwood in the borough of the Bronx. It is delimited by the Bronx River on the east,Westchester Avenue,East 167th Street,and East 169th Street on the north,Prospect Avenue and East 149th Street to the west,and the East River on the south.
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