Rafael Salamanca - Wikipedia

Rafael has an associate's degree from Monroe College. He is married to Jessenia Aponte and has two children. Rafael was raised in the Bronx. 

Before taking public office, Rafael served in various administrative roles in the healthcare industry.

Rafael Salamanca Jr. - Ballotpedia

Rafael Salamanca is a New York City Council member for the 17th District. He was first elected in 2016 and is currently serving his fifth term. 

Believes in bringing good jobs that pay a living wage to the Bronx.

- Believes in bringing good jobs that pay a living wage to the Bronx.

Economy

Rafael Salamanca Jr. on why he's running for Bronx BP - City ...

As a city councilman, secured funds for community boards to purchase necessary equipment, including high-quality video conferencing systems.

Believes community boards are "the voices of what I call the first level of government, and ensure that those voices are heard."

- As a city councilman, secured funds for community boards to purchase necessary equipment, including high-quality video conferencing systems.
- Believes community boards are "the voices of what I call the first level of government, and ensure that those voices are heard."
- Opposes asking for the mayor to resign.

Public Services

Councilman Salamanca's run for Bronx Borough President | The ...

As a city council member, approved more than 8,000 affordable housing units.

Supports the construction of affordable housing.

As a city council member, spearheaded a special permit process for last-mile facilities to ensure community input and environmental advocacy.

As a city council member, spearheaded a special permit process for last-mile storage and shipping facilities to ensure community input and environmental advocacy.

Opposes the construction of new shelters in the South Bronx, including a "controversial 2,200-bed migrant facility currently under construction..."

- As a city council member, approved more than 8,000 affordable housing units.
- Supports the construction of affordable housing.
- As a city council member, spearheaded a special permit process for last-mile storage and shipping facilities to ensure community input and environmental advocacy.
- Opposes the construction of new shelters in the South Bronx, including a "controversial 2,200-bed migrant facility currently under construction..."

Housing & Urban Development

As of June 6, 2025, Rafael Salamanca’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Believes in improving schools to ensure children receive a quality education.

- Believes in improving schools to ensure children receive a quality education.

Education

Public Safety

Healthcare

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Rafael Salamanca

Vanessa Gibson - Wikipedia

Vanessa has a bachelor's degree in sociology from the State University of New York and a master's degree in public administration from the City University of New York. She was born and raised in New York City.

Before taking public office, Vanessa worked as a district manager for New York's 77th Assembly District. 

Vanessa Gibson is the current borough president of the Bronx. She was elected in 2021 and is currently serving her first term. She previously served as a New York City Council member from 2014 to 2021 and a New York State Assembly member form 2009 to 2013. 

Advocates for affordable housing, local hiring, and union jobs in new development projects.

Supports attracting businesses like Amazon to NYC, but not at the expense of union-busting and suppressing worker's rights.

- Advocates for affordable housing, local hiring, and union jobs in new development projects.
- Supports attracting businesses like Amazon to NYC, but not at the expense of union-busting and suppressing worker's rights.

As a city council member, secured funding for several parks, including $25 million for Grant Park, $4.6 million for Bridge Playground, and $4 million for Corporal Fischer Park.

Supports amending the zoning resolution to allow patrons to dance at more venues and eliminate the restrictions against dancing.

- As a city council member, secured funding for several parks, including $25 million for Grant Park, $4.6 million for Bridge Playground, and $4 million for Corporal Fischer Park.
- Supports amending the zoning resolution to allow patrons to dance at more venues and eliminate the restrictions against dancing.

Supports fostering Community Land Trusts to create new homeownership opportunities and prioritizing developments for vulnerable residents.

As a council member, sponsored the Commercial Tenant Harassment Bill, which expanded penalties for landlords illegally pressuring renting businesses.

As a council member, championed legislation guaranteeing low-income tenants' right to counsel, ensuring access to lawyers for eviction cases.

As a city council member, negotiated with the de Blasio administration over plans to rezone an area surrounding Jerome Avenue, advocating for more affordable housing and expanded school seats.

- Supports fostering Community Land Trusts to create new homeownership opportunities and prioritizing developments for vulnerable residents.
- As a council member, sponsored the Commercial Tenant Harassment Bill, which expanded penalties for landlords illegally pressuring renting businesses.
- As a council member, championed legislation guaranteeing low-income tenants' right to counsel, ensuring access to lawyers for eviction cases.
- As a city council member, negotiated with the de Blasio administration over plans to rezone an area surrounding Jerome Avenue, advocating for more affordable housing and expanded school seats.

Supports the Kingsbridge Armory and Metro-North expansion projects, believing they will revitalize the borough.

- Supports the Kingsbridge Armory and Metro-North expansion projects, believing they will revitalize the borough.

Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Vanessa L. Gibson for Bronx ...

Opposes school screenings that hinder quality education and plans to remove barriers based on geography, income, and race.

Supports expanding the responsibilities of Community Education Councils to reduce mayoral control and encourage parental and community involvement in public school policy.

Plans to modernize classroom technology and enhance remote learning by expanding broadband, funding laptops, and providing mental and educational resources for students at home.

Supports modernizing classroom technology and enhancing remote learning by expanding broadband, funding laptops, and providing mental and educational resources for students at home.

- Opposes school screenings that hinder quality education and plans to remove barriers based on geography, income, and race.
- Supports expanding the responsibilities of Community Education Councils to reduce mayoral control and encourage parental and community involvement in public school policy.
- Supports modernizing classroom technology and enhancing remote learning by expanding broadband, funding laptops, and providing mental and educational resources for students at home.

Supports grassroots, peer-based violence intervention programs and increased teen employment opportunities to address gun violence.

As a council member, championed alternatives to incarceration, tenant protections, and enhanced police training.

As a council member, supported alternatives to incarceration, tenant protections, and enhanced police training.

- Supports grassroots, peer-based violence intervention programs and increased teen employment opportunities to address gun violence.
- As a council member, supported alternatives to incarceration, tenant protections, and enhanced police training.

Plans to stabilize and fortify public hospitals to ensure they have the necessary resources to treat residents and administer vaccines.

- Supports abortion access.
- Plans to stabilize and fortify public hospitals to ensure they have the necessary resources to treat residents and administer vaccines.

Vanessa Gibson

- Borough Presidents serve as advocates for their respective boroughs, advising the mayor and city agencies on borough-specific needs and priorities. ​
- By influencing budget allocations and land use decisions, Borough Presidents can directly impact the development and quality of life in their boroughs.
- Borough Presidents are elected to four-year terms and can serve up to two consecutive terms. ​
- The annual salary for a Borough President is $179,200. ​

Your borough's representative and advocate

The Bronx

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New York City Borough President, The Bronx, Democratic Primary

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