Campaign Announcement
Yonkers Democrat Tasha Diaz has announced her campaign for Yonkers City Council President, publicizing her decision to pursue this leadership position on January 17. Currently serving her fifth year as a Councilwoman for the city of Yonkers, Diaz hopes to further what she refers to in an email to Yonkers Democrats as her “constituent oriented approach”. She emphasizes her commitment to being available for all constituents, while criticizing current City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy for a term that has been, according to her, “hallmarked by self service”. In this letter, Diaz also accuses Collins-Bellamy, whom she is running against, of being involved in unspecified illicit activity within her position.
Multiple Accusations of Abuse
Diaz herself faced public disrepute when in early 2024 she was unanimously voted out of her position as City Council majority leader due to an HR complaint involving multiple victims. The complaint, brought by City Council Member Corazón Pineda-Isaac in January of 2024, contained allegations of roughly two years of abusive behavior displayed by Diaz. Recorded audio of Diaz threatening to “slap the taste out of [Pineda-Isaac’s] mouth” is among the documented threats chronicled in the complaint. Other incidents, including name calling and a direct threat, which was corroborated by at least one other party, are included in the complaint.
Pineda-Isaac was not the only one to come forward with such accusations against Diaz. Jenika Delgado, who worked under Diaz as a staffer, also came forward claiming similar abuse directed towards her. Delgado reported verbal threats directed at her and others, the denying of legally-mandated sick leave upon diagnosis with COVID-19, and racially charged comments used as an intimidation tactic by Diaz.
Delgado describes these experiences as having facilitated a “hostile and traumatic work environment” and having led to “severe mental distress and anxiety” in a February 2024 email addressed to City Council members. She further called for Diaz to resign from her position, stating that she believed Diaz to be a detriment to Yonkers residents in light of these occurrences. Ultimately, the Yonkers City Council sided with Pineda-Isaac and Delgado, removing Diaz from her position as majority leader.
New Endeavor
Now, one year after being expelled from her majority leader position, Diaz is attempting to garner support for her new political endeavor. Along with incumbent Collins-Bellamy and potentially others who have yet to announce their candidacy, Diaz is faced with the task of garnering sufficient signatures to be eligible for the ballot. If successful, they will compete for Yonkers voters in the Democratic Primary in June of this year.
