{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Joel Rivera | image = Joel Rivera 2013.jpg | image_size = 200px | office = Majority Leader of the New York City Council | term_start = January 1, 2002 | term_end = December 31, 2013 | predecessor = | successor = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|10|24}} | party = Democratic | other_party = <!--For additional political affiliations--> | relations = Jose Rivera (father)<br>Naomi Rivera (half-sister) | children = 3 | office1 = Member of the New York City Council<br>for the 15th district | term_start1 = February 20, 2001 | term_end1 = December 31, 2013 | succeeded1 = Ritchie Torres | preceded1 = Jose Rivera | succeeded = Jimmy Van Bramer | 1blankname = Speaker | 1namedata = Gifford Miller<br>Christine Quinn }}
'''Joel Rivera''' (born October 24, 1978) is an American politician who served as a member and the majority leader of the New York City Council. First elected to the Council in a special election in 2001 at 22 years of age,<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonathan P. |last=Hicks |title=Fordham Student Is Elected To Father's Old Council Seat |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/21/nyregion/fordham-student-is-elected-to-father-s-old-council-seat.html |work=New York Times |date=2001-02-21 }}</ref> Rivera became the youngest elected official in the city's history.<ref>{{cite news |first=Manny |last=Fernandez |title=Pros and Cons of a Zoning Diet: Fighting Obesity by Limiting Fast-Food Restaurants |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/nyregion/24fast.html |work=New York Times |date=2006-09-24 }}</ref> He continued to win re-election until reaching his legal term limit in 2013.
==Early life and education== Rivera was born to Ivine Galarza and Jose Rivera. He graduated from the New York Military Academy, a private boarding school,<ref>{{cite news |first=Azi |last=Paybarah |title=The Rivera Family |url=http://observer.com/2006/12/the-rivera-family/ |work=New York Observer |date=2006-12-18 }}</ref> and went on to attend Iona College, Fordham University, and Baruch College.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nyccfb.info/public/voter-guide/general_2009/cd_profile/CD15_Rivera_361.aspx |title=2009 NYC Voter Guide: Joel Rivera |publisher=NYC Campaign Finance Board}}</ref>
==Career== Rivera succeeded his father, Assemblyman Jose Rivera, as the New York City Councilmember for District 15 in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonathan P. |last=Hicks |title=Name Recognition Is Easy When Names Are the Same |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E0DD163CF93AA35750C0A9639C8B63 |work=New York Times |date=2005-03-09 }}</ref> He became Majority Leader of the City Council the following year. As chair of the Health Committee, he helped to ban trans fat and mandate calorie labeling in New York City fast food restaurants,<ref>{{cite news |first=Ray |last=Rivera |title=City Council May Change Menu Rule on Calories |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/nyregion/26food.html |work=New York Times |date=2007-02-26 }}</ref> and launched an Obesity Prevention Initiative, which funded the HealthCorps program in local schools.<ref>"6M Fat Fight" New York Post, June 6, 2007</ref> Rivera is also the founder of [http://www.bronxpad.com BronxPad], a website dedicated to "Helping Home Buyers and Home Sellers Achieve their Real Estate Goals."
In September 2007, he was named one of ''City Hall'''s "40 under 40" for being a young influential member of New York City politics.<ref>[http://archives.cityandstateny.com/rising-stars-40-under-40/ Rising Stars: 40 Under 40], ''City Hall'', September 17, 2007.</ref>
==Personal life== Rivera married Joyce Lee Hernandez Lopez in 2016 and they have three children together.<ref>{{cite web|title=Joyce and Joel|url=http://www.joyceandjoel.com/|website=JoyceandJoel.com}}</ref> Rivera was married previously married to Valerie Vazquez.<ref>{{cite news |title=Valerie Vazquez and Joel Rivera |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/16/fashion/weddings/16vazquez.html |work=New York Times |date=2006-07-16 }}</ref> The couple has a daughter, Sophia.
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{S-bef|before=Jose Rivera}} {{S-ttl|title=New York City Council, 15th district|years=2001–2013|}} {{S-aft|after=Ritchie Torres}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivera, Joel}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:American politicians of Puerto Rican descent Category:New York City Council members Category:Hispanic and Latino American New York City Council members Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Politicians from the Bronx