Meet Rubén Cruz

I am Rubén Cruz, and I’m running to represent all our neighbors in the New York State Assembly. This isn’t just where I live—it’s where I was built. I grew up in this "All-American" neighborhood, a child of Puerto Rican immigrants who taught me the values of integrity, competence, and service.

Built on Resilience

My family moved to Queens from Brooklyn when I was seven. It was a time of intense change and, for me, immense struggle. I fought daily with a strong lisp and stutter, and bullying was a daily reality.

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I will never forget being surrounded by a group of kids in the schoolyard of P.S. 62. I never saw the face of the one who used his sneaker to slowly press down on my outstretched hand. But what stayed with me was the smiling security guard watching the whole event from just a few feet away. That was my first lesson in how a system can fail the very people it’s supposed to protect. It’s also where I found my strength. Despite the black eyes and bleeding lips, I always got back up. I never gave up on myself, and I will never give up on our neighborhood.

Finding Pride in the Truth

I grew up in the "World’s Borough," and though my family lived on welfare, my childhood was rich with the spirit of this city. I’ll never forget the Sundays when the smell of spaghetti and meatballs from one house would mix with curry and oxtail soup from the next. It was the birth of the "New American Neighborhood" I’m so proud of.

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Years later, in a high school debate class, the truth set me free. During a discussion on the welfare system, I took a breath and stood up. I revealed that I was on welfare. I looked the class in the eye and told them how proud I was of my single mom for stretching a dollar and keeping our clothes nice. I told them about my minor work permit at 14, working in lumber yards to help support my family. It was my truth then, and it’s my truth now: I will always stand up in defense of the truth.

A Community Architect in Action

In 2006, I left corporate America to start my own company with my wife. I am not just a dreamer; I am a doer. I use my twenty years of technical experience to show non-profits, senior centers, and school programs how to cut through bureaucracy to access critical state and city resources.

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When the pandemic hit, I didn't wait for permission to help. I stepped up to lead:

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• The Queens Pet Pantry: I built a coalition including the Mayor’s Office and the ASPCA to ensure families didn't have to choose between feeding themselves and keeping their beloved pets.

• Advocacy & Recognition: I’ve spent years pulling the levers of city resources on three non-profit boards, and I was honored to be named "New Yorker of the Week" by NY-1 for my work with our seniors.

A Vision for a Thriving District

I bought my first house across the street from my old elementary school, right in front of that same schoolyard. Today, I see a District 38 where children play in safe schoolyards and our seniors can walk to local centers for community and lunch. I see a district where our buses and trains—the lifelines of Queens—run reliably so our neighbors can get to work without fail.​

Neighbors Over Politics

I live on a unique block. My neighbor on one side is a Progressive Democrat; my neighbor across the street is a Conservative Republican. During the last big snow, my Republican neighbor plowed both of our driveways. My Progressive neighbor helped me with a business tax problem. For my part, I repaired both of their front doors.

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This is the District I know: where neighbors come before politics.

District 38 deserves an Assembly Member who has been in the trenches and has the proven experience to build our future. I am Rubén Cruz, and I ask for your vote to represent all our neighbors.