Reynoso taps Richardson as new deputy borough president

Pols praise Brooklyn assemblymember

January 10, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Brooklyn Borough Hall. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

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On Monday, new Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso announced he has appointed Assemblymember Diana Richardson (D-Crown Heights-Wingate-Flatbush-Prospect-Lefferts Gardens) as deputy borough president.

Richardson, a lifelong Brooklyn resident and the daughter of immigrants, has served her district in the Assembly since 2015.

Legislation she sponsored includes the Community Violence Intervention Act of 2021, which secures funding for statewide antiviolence programs; the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which repeals provisions of state law related to rent increases in individual apartments; the Gun Violence Legislative Package, which requires the Division of Criminal Justice Services to publish quarterly reports on firearms, rifles and shotguns used in the commission of crimes.

In her new role, according to Reynoso, Richardson will be focused on addressing food insecurity, reducing gun violence, and supporting Brooklyn’s Community Boards and ensuring they are reflective of the communities they serve.

Assemblymember Diana Richardson, now appointed as deputy borough president. Photo courtesy of BP Reynoso’s office

“For years, Assemblymember Richardson has been an unwavering progressive voice and a powerful advocate for her community in Central Brooklyn. From tackling food insecurity and gun violence in our communities to delivering historic tenant protections and criminal justice reform, Diana has been on the frontlines fighting for the kind of progressive policies that transform communities,” said Reynoso.

“Our borough has been hit hard by this pandemic, particularly the communities of color, small businesses, and essential workers on the frontlines, and I’m ready to work alongside Borough President Reynoso to uplift working families and deliver a recovery that centers the most vulnerable among us,” said Richardson.

Others in government and politics in Brooklyn were quick to praise Reynoso’s choice of Richardson for deputy borough president.

“Few public servants get to serve the communities where they were born, and raised, even fewer get to do so with distinction, passion, and integrity,” said State Sen, Zellnor Myrie, whose district stretches from Brownsville to Sunset Park. “Assemblymember Richardson is such a servant. Her voice has matched her actions: Whether it was fighting for transformative housing and criminal justice reforms in the halls of Albany, feeding our communities for weeks-on-end at the height of the pandemic, or standing on the frontline in our neighborhoods to stop gun violence, she has exemplified what it means to serve tirelessly and with your whole heart.”

Congressmember Yvette Clarke said, “For the past six years, I have been honored to partner and serve with Assemblywoman Diana Richardson who is not only a colleague in government, but who also represents me as a resident of the 43rd District in the NY State Assembly. Her work ethic, leadership and compassion for others has placed her on the frontlines of policymaking in service to our community … I’m confident that our borough will greatly benefit from her hands-on approach and her passion for service.”

“Throughout my time in Washington, I always knew I could count on Assemblymember Diana Richardson to fight for our values in Albany, and now, I know she’s ready to continue her important work from Borough Hall as Deputy Borough President,” said Congressmember Hakeem Jefferies. “From fighting for tenants to preventing gun violence, Diana knows how to deliver for our community.”

“As our representative in the NY State Assembly, Diana Richardson was always accessible and sought to understand the needs of her constituents in Crown Heights,” said Rabbi Eli Cohen, executive director of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council. “Borough President Reynoso’s decision to appoint her as his deputy in Borough Hall is good news for our neighborhood and good news for all Brooklyn residents.”