Ritchie Torres

During the 75th annual convention of the Puerto Rico Builders Association, I spoke out about the moral imperative of equal treatment for Puerto Rico. Federal law flagrantly discriminates against the three million American citizens who call Puerto Rico home, denying them equal access to Medicaid, SNAP, and HUD-assisted affordable housing.

I had a wonderful time touring the Renaissance Youth Center (RYC) in the South Bronx. RYC is no ordinary community center. It is a vibrant educational community that punches above its weight, offering an extraordinary range of programs and opportunities for young people. https://t.co/fGG69MTjON

Hanging out with some new alpaca friends. https://t.co/gMiZaKZP51

My speech at a 10/7 vigil in the Bronx: Three years ago, October 7th—the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust—cruelly coincided with Simchat Torah. What should have been a day of joy became one of overwhelming grief, shock, and trauma. On that day, Jews throughout the world were robbed of the joy of Simchat Torah. When I led a Bronx delegation to Israel for the first time since October 7th, I will never forget the experience of meeting the survivors of the Nova massacre and finding myself inspired by their resilience, by their insistence on defying despair itself, by the message: “We will dance again.” Those words remind us that the joy of Simchat Torah can never be surrendered to terror. It must be reclaimed. The most powerful antidote to antisemitism is to be joyfully Jewish. Franklin Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Jewish identity is a beautiful gift. It is not something to be hidden out of fear. It is something to be openly celebrated with joy. With pride. With passion. And with love. The purpose of terrorism is to strike terror into the heart of a people. The Jewish people and their allies must never stop dancing, never stop singing, and never stop living. Because the moment we stop, terror has won. And terror can never have the final word on the fate of either the Jewish people or the Jewish State. So I have a simple call to action: Never give up. Never give in. Never stop singing. Never stop dancing. Relentlessly rejoice in your Judaism. Am Yisrael Chai.

I am outraged by the ICE shooting of a man in Marble Hill today as he sat in his car beside a 5-year-old child. Firing multiple rounds into a car with a child inside, on a busy residential street in the Bronx, is abhorrent and indefensible. It put an entire neighborhood in danger and left a man seriously injured. ICE has long operated as a rogue agency, and today’s shooting is a chilling reminder of how little regard it has for the safety of New Yorkers. I am calling on the DHS Inspector General to open an immediate and independent investigation, and on ICE to release all footage of the shooting. New Yorkers are owed a full accounting, not silence.

The Bronx, sometimes called the 79th municipality of Puerto Rico, is home to the largest Puerto Rican population outside San Juan. I recently toured a new federally funded battery storage project in Puerto Rico—which may be the largest of its kind in U.S. history. Together, solar power and battery storage will deliver cleaner, more reliable energy to an island in dire need. For far too long, the people of Puerto Rico have paid some of the highest electricity rates in the nation for one of its worst-performing electric grids.

The world demonizes Israel 365 days a year. Perhaps, for just one day—October 7th—the critics of Israel could take a vacation from their hysterical hatred of the world’s only Jewish State and find it within themselves to express condolences for the thousands of Israelis murdered, maimed, mutilated, raped, and abducted at the hands of Hamas.

I had the honor of attending the 68th Anniversary of the NAACP Williamsbridge gala in the Northeast Bronx. https://t.co/iih6k3rkCf

The far left sees October 7th—the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust—not as an occasion to mourn the 1,200 Israelis murdered in an act of terror but as an occasion to romanticize the mass murder of Jews as “resistance.” The inevitable consequence of glorifying political violence is political violence itself. That is the dangerous direction in which American politics seems to be heading.

SNAP helps nearly 3 million New Yorkers afford groceries. Today, the federal share of SNAP administrative costs falls from 50% to 25%, shifting more costs to New York. I'm fighting to delay Trump's next SNAP cost shift and protect this critical lifeline. https://t.co/rCd9cR5nJb

I had a wonderful time bringing Bronx-based faith leaders to Washington, D.C. We toured the United States Capitol and attended the annual faith breakfast hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. https://t.co/9QudBioEXh

Wishing a meaningful Yom Kippur to everyone observing in the Bronx and beyond. May this be a time for reflection, forgiveness, and connection with the people who matter most. G'mar Chatimah Tovah. https://t.co/tyDTWaxy2S

Hasan Piker asserts that America is “worse than al-Qaeda pound-for-pound,” citing the number of deaths he attributes to U.S. foreign policy. Yet rather strangely, he has a rule against criticizing Mao Zedong, whose rule was responsible for an estimated 40–80 million deaths. Piker condemns America while refusing to condemn one of the 20th century’s deadliest dictators, instead lionizing Mao as one of the world’s “great leaders.”

OpenAI agents escaped their testing environment, coordinated in secret, and hacked Hugging Face. I asked Treasury Secretary Bessent if the Trump Administration would back any new AI safety rule in response. His response: “I haven’t seen anything yet.” https://t.co/NinxAM67t6

It is one thing to merely see oneself as a victim. It is another to objectively be a victim. Israelis were objectively victims of October 7th—the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Any suggestion to the contrary is anti-Israel activism camouflaged as journalism. https://t.co/5eRQvhQzkA

The Trump Administration never takes responsibility for the disasters that happen on its watch. So I asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent a simple question: What is the statute of limitations on the Joe Biden blame game? https://t.co/LYwvxurAHR

Electric bill too high? You may be eligible for a monthly discount. New York State’s Energy Affordability Program can save you up to hundreds of dollars a year. This is on top of the $200 rebate checks going to millions of homes. See if you’re eligible: https://t.co/6tr154xxKp https://t.co/KkkA1aR51b

Generations of Latino New Yorkers have helped shape the Bronx we call home. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate our cultures, traditions, and histories. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Let us continue to celebrate our roots and build the future of the Bronx together. https://t.co/UMtIUN7F6n

Generaciones de neoyorquinos latinos han ayudado a forjar el Bronx que llamamos nuestro hogar. ¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana! Sigamos celebrando nuestras culturas, tradiciones e historias, y construyendo juntos el futuro del Bronx. https://t.co/nvNJGqmwUK

To our Jewish neighbors in the Bronx and beyond: wishing you and your loved ones a sweet and meaningful Rosh Hashanah. May the new year bring health and happiness. Shana Tova! https://t.co/WWhY9WP0a3

The Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Melrose and Morrisania is a serious matter for our community. My heart is with the Bronxites affected and their families. If you were in this area and develop flu-like symptoms, seek medical attention. Early treatment matters. Read my full statement below:

The NYC Health Department is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires' disease in Melrose and Morrisania. If you live, work, or recently visited the area and develop flu-like symptoms, please seek medical attention and follow the latest guidance. Learn more here: https://t.co/hWOedz5Q3Z

September 11 changed our city, our country, and countless lives forever. Today, I remember every family who lost someone they loved, every survivor who carries the memories of that day, and every first responder who ran toward danger to save others. We will never forget. https://t.co/PUWhF0lxzP

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Suicide prevention is personal to me. On World Suicide Prevention Day, I want to remind anyone struggling that you are not alone. There is help, there is hope, and you do not have to face it alone. Call or text 988 for support. https://t.co/gK7zMc1pQR