Joel Rivera Wants To Hear From You

A flyer is circulating throughout The Bronx announcing a series of public forums, sponsored by a conglomeration of borough non-profits known as the North Bronx Thinktank, where City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera will "discuss the issues of the day" in advance of a run for higher office in 2009.

Given the wholly Bronx nature of the events and the general perception across Bronx political circles, you can bet that higher office is borough president. North Bronx Thinktank spokesman Anthony Rivieccio called the events part of a "listening tour" on behalf of Rivera, and said that specific dates for the events would be finalized in the coming days.

The three major contenders for Bronx Borough President in 2009 have all been making moves to become as visible as possible in advance of that somewhat distant election. Aside from Rivera's listening tour, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr., has been seen at events in all corners of The Bronx, and State Senator Jose M. Serrano is raising his own profile through the [blogosphere].