Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr., acknowledges the applause of his Assembly colleagues who congratulated him on his election victory this month as Bronx Borough President. Speaker Silver congratulated Diaz and thanked him for his many years of service in the Assembly. The new leader of The Bronx is scheduled to be sworn-in this Friday.

Silver and his Assembly colleagues also paid a special tribute to Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene, who is leaving the Assembly to continue her career in public service as the Deputy Bronx Borough President. Silver expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Greene, who served as the Speaker Pro Tem., for her ability to preside over the house's legislative sessions with "respect for tradition and for achievement, for civility and propriety, for dignity, integrity and class at all times and under all conditions."

On Friday, the first of May, our friend and colleague, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr. will be sworn-in as the next Borough President of the Bronx.

Although I and many of your colleagues celebrated your victory last night, let me take this opportunity to tell you on behalf of the House, how proud we are of you and that we have every expectation that you will be outstanding borough president and a great City leader.

I should also point out that this evening, at the new Yankee Stadium, Easter Seals New York will present Ruben Diaz, Jr., with the Edgar F. Allen Political Service Award for his dedicated service to the Bronx and to the disabled community.

Congratulations, my friend. On behalf of the House, Ruben, I thank you for your service and I extend to you our best wishes in your new leadership post.

One more thing Ruben, you could not have chosen a better person nor a better leader to serve as your Deputy than our own Speaker Pro Tem, Aurelia Greene.

Aurelia, you know how happy we are for you as you begin your service as Deputy Bronx Borough President, and you know how sad we are that you are leaving us.

We have grown accustomed to your presence, to your smile, to your elegance at this dais, guiding our work each and every session day.

We will miss you more than words can say.

Throughout your tenure as Speaker Pro Tem, yours has been the voice of The People's House and we are proud and grateful that the guests who have visited the Assembly Chamber have been welcomed with your characteristic warmth and graciousness.

You set the gold standard when it came to respect for tradition and for achievement, for civility and propriety, for dignity, integrity and class at all times and under all conditions.

Aurelia, we have been making the trip to Albany for a lot of years now. It is an honor to know you and it has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve with you.

In all that you represent, in all you have achieved, you inspire us to be better and you make us proud - as you are - to be members of the New York State Assembly.

Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your guidance and your support. On behalf of the House, I thank you for your service.

In closing, let me say to you and to Ruben, what you have told countless visitors to this Chamber over the years:

Please accept the cordialities of the House and come back and visit us any time.