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Ydanis Rodríguez
Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2022
MayorEric Adams
Preceded byHenry Gutman
Member of the New York City Council
from the 10th district
In office
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2021
Preceded byMiguel Martinez
Succeeded byCarmen De La Rosa
Personal details
Born (1965-06-18) June 18, 1965 (age 59)
Licey al Medio, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santiago, Cibao, Dominican Republic
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
Residence(s)New York City, U.S.
Alma materCity College of New York
WebsiteCampaign website
Official website

Ydanis Rodríguez (born June 18, 1965)[1] is the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation and a politician who formerly represented the 10th district on the New York City Council. A Democrat who was first elected to the City Council in 2009, Rodríguez was re-elected in 2013 and 2017. He also served as Chair of the Transportation Committee. Rodríguez is known for his November 2011 arrest at an Occupy Wall Street rally, and was profiled for the act in Time's 2011 Person of the Year issue.

Rodríguez ran for New York City Public Advocate in 2019 and ran for United States House of Representatives for New York's 15th congressional district in 2020; he did not prevail in either race.

Early life

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Rodríguez was born in the Dominican Republic and moved from his hometown of Licey al Medio to New York City when he was 18 years old. While working as a taxi driver,[2] Rodriguez earned his bachelor's degree in political science at the City College of New York.

Political career

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New York City Council

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Following unsuccessful City Council bids in 2001 and 2003, Rodríguez ran again in 2009. He won the Democratic primary election in the 10th District by over 60 percent against seven other candidates[3][4][5] and prevailed in the general election.[6] Rodríguez was re-elected in 2013[7] and 2017.[8] The 10th district includes Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill in Manhattan.[9]

In January 2010, Rodriguez was appointed as chair of the Higher Education Committee.[10] As Chair, Rodríguez called for more diversity in the faculty of CUNY,[11] more childcare programs for student-parents, and successfully fought to keep CUNY's budget intact during the economic recession. As Chair, Rodriguez focused on working to raise the number of New York City high school graduates who are college-ready.[12] He has also served as Chair of the Council Transportation Committee.[13][14]

In January 2011, Rodríguez was arrested for civil disobedience at a demonstration against the Arizona law requiring police officers to arrest persons without documentation.[15] On November 15, 2011, Rodriguez was arrested for obstructing government administration and disorderly conduct. He was seen bleeding from the head as he was placed in a police car.[16] Rodriguez remained in Zuccotti Park along with about 200 other Occupy Wall Street protestors who refused to leave after Brookfield Properties asked the Bloomberg administration to clear the park for cleaning.[17] Rodriguez was featured in Time Magazine's Person of the Year issue in 2011, included for his role in the Occupy Wall Street movement.[18][19]

Rodríguez worked with the tenants of 552 Academy St. in Manhattan and local community groups to have the building turned over from a negligent landlord to CLOTH, a local community organization. He helped secure funding for a $21.1 million renovation for the building.[20] The building has one of the few green roofs in Inwood.[21]

In 2013, Rodríguez became the first New York City Council Member to ever take paternity leave following the birth of his daughter. Rodríguez took two weeks' leave. Since then, he has been vocal about the need for paid paternity and maternity leave in New York City and nationwide, citing the vast number of countries that have paid family leave.[22]

In 2014 the hiring by Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Feniosky Pena-Mora of Rodríguez's wife Christina Melendez as a special assistant to the agency with a $150,000-a-year salary sparked controversy[23] Employees at DDC twice complained in writing to Mayor Bill de Blasio that the commissioner was engaging in patronage and hiring "cronies".[23] The commissioner and Rodriguez had a prior relationship. In 2012, when the commissioner was threatened with removal as Dean at Columbia University's engineering school, Rodriguez led a campaign to keep the commissioner in his job.[23] Rodríguez's wife did not have a background in either engineering or architecture (areas associated with the DDC), but her new position with paid her $48,000 more than her previous role.[23]

In February 2016, residents of his district expressed unhappiness with Rodriguez's assertion that he needed to be paid at least $175,000 to support his family, rather than the then-current base salary of $112,500, which was already being raised 32% to $148,500.[24] The median household income was $39,500 in Rodriguez's district at the time.[24][25][26]

In 2016, Rodríguez sponsored a bill that was signed into law that eliminated the requirement that New York City taxi drivers take an English proficiency exam.[27]

In 2017, he and several other politicians expressed outrage at the MTA's practices and lack of regard for their ridership, urging the agency to offer better service.[28]

2019 New York Public Advocate campaign

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Main article: 2019 New York City Public Advocate special election

Rodríguez was one of 18 candidates who ran to replace Letitia James as New York City Public Advocate upon her election to Attorney General of New York. As the election was officially nonpartisan, Rodríguez ran on the "Unite Immigrants" party line. Rodríguez came in fifth with 24,266 votes.[29]

2020 U.S. House of Representatives campaign

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Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 15

In 2019, Rodríguez declared his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in New York's 15th congressional district following the retirement of 30-year incumbent José E. Serrano.[30] He finished in fifth place out of 12 candidates in the June 23, 2020, Democratic Party primary.[31][32]

New York City Department of Transportation

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On December 20, 2021, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Rodríguez as the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. He oversees a department of 5,060 employees with an annual budget of around $1 billion.[33][34][35]

Election History

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New York City Council: District 10
Election Candidate Party Votes Pct Candidate Party Votes Pct Candidate Party Votes Pct Candidate Party Votes Pct
2009 Primary Rodríguez Dem 5,321 60.34% Richard Realmuto Dem 1,325 15.03% Manuel Velazquez Dem 876 9.93% Others (4) Dem 1,333 12.85%
2009 General Rodríguez Dem 12,121 95.05% Ruben Vargas Ind 630 4.94%
2013 Primary Rodríguez Dem 10,157 70.82% Cheryl Pahaham Dem 3,219 22.44% F. Castellanos Dem 967 6.74%
2013 General Rodríguez Dem 18,480 89.64% Ronnie Cabrera Ind 1,595 7.74% Miquel Estrella SC 497 2.41%
2017 General Election Rodríguez Dem 18,855 90.05% Ronny Goodman Ind 1,595 10.94%

References

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  1. ^ https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/ydanis-rodriguez/?amp
  2. ^ "Welcome ydanis2009.com - BlueHost.com". Ydanis2009.com. Retrieved January 2, 2011. [dead link]
  3. ^ "2009 NYC Voter Guide: Candidate Profile: Ydanis Rodriguez". Nyccfb.info. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  4. ^ Gross, Courtney (August 24, 2009). "Drumming Up Support in the Heights". Gotham Gazette. Archived from the original on May 6, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  5. ^ "Statement and Return Report for Certification - Primary Election 2009 - 09/15/2009 - New York County - Democratic Party" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections.
  6. ^ "Statement and Return Report for Certification - General Election 2009 - 11/03/2009 - New York County - All Parties and Independent Bodies" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections.
  7. ^ Pichardo, Carolina; Hedlund, Patrick (September 13, 2017). "Ydanis Rodriguez Cruises to Victory in Uptown Council Primary". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Krisel, Brendan (November 6, 2017). "Uptown City Council Election Results: Rodriguez, Levine Win". Washington Heights-Inwood, NY Patch.
  9. ^ "Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez Appears Set to Run for Congress". NY1. September 22, 2019.
  10. ^ Lombardi, Frank (January 21, 2010). "City Council Speaker Christine Quinn ousts arch-rival Charles Barron from education committee". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  11. ^ Lombardi, Frank (March 1, 2010). "CUNY diversity: While the student body is multihued, two-thirds of faculty is white". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  12. ^ Zanoni, Carla (February 17, 2012). "Pols Launch Series to Improve College-Readiness in Upper Manhattan". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "City Council committee chairs named". Crain's New York Business. January 21, 2014.
  14. ^ "District 10". Ydanis Rodriguez.
  15. ^ Spitz, Rebecca (May 17, 2010). "Police Arrest 16 During Immigration Protest". NY1. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  16. ^ "Hispanic NYC City Council Member injured from Occupy Wall Street raid". The Knickerbocker Ledger. November 15, 2011. Archived from the original on November 17, 2011.
  17. ^ "Local Politicians Largely Blast Early Morning Raid Of Occupy Wall Street Camp". NY1.com. November 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  18. ^ Witty, Patrick (December 14, 2011). "The Protester: A Portfolio by Peter Hapak". Time. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015.
  19. ^ Hedlund, Patrick (December 14, 2011). "The Protester is Time Magazine's Person of the Year". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015.
  20. ^ Richardson, Clem (August 9, 2012). "Ready to go home. Displaced tenants pleased their Inwood building will be restored". Daily News. New York. ProQuest 1032805416.[dead link]
  21. ^ Armstrong, Lindsay (April 17, 2015). "Once-Crumbling Inwood Building Welcomes Back Tenants After $22M Renovation". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  22. ^ Colvin, Jill (February 21, 2013). "Ydanis Rodriguez First Councilman to Take Paternity Leave". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  23. ^ a b c d Fanelli, James (January 14, 2016). "De Blasio Slammed Over Commissioner's Hire of Councilman's Wife". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  24. ^ a b Buxbaum, Evan (February 5, 2016). "Washington Heights residents furious with councilman's raise request". New York Post.
  25. ^ Safran, Dennis (February 21, 2016). "The City Council's pay raise is absurd". QNS.com.
  26. ^ Honan, Katie; Chiwaya, Nigel (February 10, 2016). "MAP: Council Members Just Got a Raise. See How Much More They Make Than You". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  27. ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (August 19, 2016). "Know English? For New York Cabdrivers, That's No Longer Required". The New York Times.
  28. ^ Gioino, Catherina; McShane, Larry (August 3, 2017). "Pols hop aboard city subways to hear commuter complaints right from the source". nydailynews.com.
  29. ^ Matthews, Karen (February 26, 2019). "Jumaane Williams Wins Race for NYC Public Advocate". NBC New York.
  30. ^ "Ydanis Rodriguez for Congress". The Bronx Chronicle. October 1, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  31. ^ "Certified Results from the June 23, 2020 Primary Election" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections.
  32. ^ Lepore, Stephen M; Cook, Lauren (August 5, 2020). "Election officials certify Ritchie Torres as winner of Dem nomination in NY-15". WPIX.
  33. ^ Meyer, David (December 20, 2021). "Eric Adams taps Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez to run Transportation Dept". New York Post. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  34. ^ Benitez, John Manuel (December 20, 2021). "Ydanis Rodriguez to lead city's transportation department". www.ny1.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  35. ^ Chung, Jen (December 20, 2021). "Eric Adams Announces City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez Will Be Next Transportation Commissioner". Gothamist. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
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Political offices
Preceded by New York City Council, 10th district
2010–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Henry Gutman
 Commissioner of the
New York City Department of Transportation
2022 		Incumbent
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