Carlos M. Rivera (1934 – October 12, 2020)
was the first
Hispanic commissioner in the
New York City Fire Department's 127-year history. He was appointed the 27th
Fire Commissioner of the
City of New York by Mayor
David Dinkins on January 1, 1990 and served in that position until his resignation on August 31, 1993.
Career
Rivera's parents moved from
Puerto Rico to New York City, where he was born in 1934. There Rivera received his primary and secondary education. He joined the New York City Fire Department on July 23, 1958 and worked his way up in the department serving in various leadership positions. Initially he served in the Bronx, but moved to
Manhattan after his promotion to
lieutenant in 1964.
On January 1, 1990,
New York City Mayor
The mayor of New York City, officially Mayor of the City of New York, is head of the executive branch of the government of New York City and the chief executive of New York City. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property ...
David N. Dinkins named Rivera the 27th commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. As commissioner he was responsible for that departments $634 million budget. He was also responsible for the 11,500 firefighters under his command. During the
1993 World Trade Center bombing
The 1993 World Trade Center bombing was a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, U.S., carried out on February 26, 1993, when a van bomb detonated below the North Tower of the complex. The urea nitrate–hydrogen gas en ...
, Rivera was in charge of the response of the fire department.
Rivera resigned on August 31, 1993, stating that "Family reasons and health considerations" was the reason for his decision. However, it is believed that Rivera was under pressure from the moment he was appointed, in December 1989, as the Dinkins administration tried to hold down costs citywide.
Rivera died on October 12, 2020, aged 86.
See also
*
List of Puerto Ricans
*
New York City Fire Commissioner
The New York City Fire Commissioner is the civilian administrator of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York. There have been 34 commissioners excluding Acting Fire Commissioners, and 38 commission ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivera, Carlos M.
Rivera, Carlos, M.
2020 deaths
1934 births
New York City firefighters