Ruben Diaz Jr. has been around politics in the Bronx for a long time, seeing the changing borough through the course of the 21st century. The former Bronx borough president surprised many when he declined to seek the mayoralty in 2021 and made a pivot to private life, becoming a senior vice president at Montefiore Einstein in the Bronx. In light of City & State’s 20th anniversary, Diaz talked about the changes in Bronx politics since 2006, including the rise of Rep.