Felix Ortiz
Encyclopedia
Félix W. Ortiz is an American
politician, currently representing New York
's 51st Assembly District
. He is a Democrat
.
in 1980, becoming the first member of his family to move to the United States. He attended Boricua College
, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Administration. He received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration
from New York University
in 1986. Ortiz then joined the United States Army
, serving from 1986 to 1988.
In 2000, Assemblyman Ortiz achieved passage of the nation’s first law to ban the use of hand held cell phones while driving a motor vehicle. In 2001, he introduced a bill that would lower the drinking age to 18; he cited unfairness and difficulty with enforcement as his motivations.
In March 2010, Ortiz introduced a bill, co-sponsored with assembly members Margaret Markey
and N. Nick Perry
, that would prohibit the use of all forms of salt
in the preparation and cooking of all restaurant food. Ortiz said he was inspired to introduce the bill after his father suffered a heart attack due to high blood pressure
. The bill quickly gained media attention, and prompted negative comments from New York chefs such as Tom Colicchio
, who said a salt ban would mean "no one would come here anymore," and New York City
mayor Michael Bloomberg
, who called the bill "ridiculous". The proposal also earned Ortiz the title of "Nanny of the Month" for March 2010 from Reason.tv. Responding to the outcry, Ortiz issued a statement saying that his intention was to have the bill only outlaw the use of salt "as an additive", not as "a functional component of the recipe".
Assemblyman Ortiz serves as President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, Vice-President of COPA
USA, Chair of the Labor and Workforce Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures
(NCSL), and Executive Committee Board Member of the Council of State Governments(CSG
). He is a former Chairman of the Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition. Currently he is the Chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, currently representing New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's 51st Assembly District
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
. He is a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Early life
Ortiz moved from Puerto Rico to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1980, becoming the first member of his family to move to the United States. He attended Boricua College
Boricua College
Boricua College is a post-secondary educational institution located in New York City in the United States. The college was designed to serve the educational needs of Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics....
, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Business Administration. He received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1986. Ortiz then joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving from 1986 to 1988.
Political career
Ortiz was first elected to the assembly in November 1994, defeating incumbent Javier Nieves.In 2000, Assemblyman Ortiz achieved passage of the nation’s first law to ban the use of hand held cell phones while driving a motor vehicle. In 2001, he introduced a bill that would lower the drinking age to 18; he cited unfairness and difficulty with enforcement as his motivations.
In March 2010, Ortiz introduced a bill, co-sponsored with assembly members Margaret Markey
Margaret Markey
Margaret M. "Marge" Markey is an American politician who represents District 30 in the New York State Assembly, which is made up of Maspeth and Woodside, as well as portions of Middle Village, Astoria, Sunnyside and Long Island City...
and N. Nick Perry
N. Nick Perry
Noah Nicholas "Nick" Perry is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly. He currently represents District 58, which comprises East Flatbush, as well as portions of Canarsie and Brownsville, among other neighborhoods located in the borough of Brooklyn...
, that would prohibit the use of all forms of salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
in the preparation and cooking of all restaurant food. Ortiz said he was inspired to introduce the bill after his father suffered a heart attack due to high blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
. The bill quickly gained media attention, and prompted negative comments from New York chefs such as Tom Colicchio
Tom Colicchio
Thomas Patrick "Tom" Colicchio is an American celebrity chef. He co-founded the Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and formerly served as a co-owner and as the executive chef. He is also the founder of Craft and Colicchio & Sons restaurants...
, who said a salt ban would mean "no one would come here anymore," and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, who called the bill "ridiculous". The proposal also earned Ortiz the title of "Nanny of the Month" for March 2010 from Reason.tv. Responding to the outcry, Ortiz issued a statement saying that his intention was to have the bill only outlaw the use of salt "as an additive", not as "a functional component of the recipe".
Assemblyman Ortiz serves as President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, Vice-President of COPA
COPA
COPA may stand for:* Child Online Protection Act, a former U.S. law to protect minors from certain material on the internet** Not to be confused with the Children's Internet Protection Act , the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act or COPA's predecessor legislation, the Communications Decency...
USA, Chair of the Labor and Workforce Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
(NCSL), and Executive Committee Board Member of the Council of State Governments(CSG
CSG
CSG may stand for:*CS gas*Camden School for Girls*Canada Systems Group*Carrier Strike Group*Centrum Schwule Geschichte in Cologne, Germany...
). He is a former Chairman of the Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition. Currently he is the Chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.