Félix W. Ortiz

Ortiz moved from Puerto Rico to New York City in 1980, becoming the first member of his family to move to the continental 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.[http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=051&sh=bio Felix Ortiz New York State Assembly biography]

Ortiz was first elected to the assembly in November 1994, defeating the incumbent Javier A. 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.Lovett, Kenneth. "LET KIDS START DRINKING AT 18: BROOKLYN POL." The New York Post, May 1, 2006.

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.[http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/A10129-2009 New York State Assembly bill A10129] Ortiz said he was inspired to introduce the bill after his father suffered a heart attack due to high blood pressure.[http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/13889/assemblyman-seeking-to-ban-all-salt-in-restaurant-cooking/ Assemblyman seeking to ban all salt in restaurant cooking], Steve Barnes, Times Union blog, March 10, 2010 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,"[http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/03/11/2010-03-11_assault_on_salt_an_insult_chefs.html Brooklyn Dem Felix Ortiz wants to ban use of salt in New York restaurants], Samuel Goldsmith, New York Daily News, March 11, 2010 and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who called the bill "ridiculous".[http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/reports-of-salts-death-have-be.html Reports Of Salt's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315080144/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/reports-of-salts-death-have-be.html |date=2010-03-15 }}, Elizabeth Benjamin, The Daily Politics, March 12, 2010 The proposal also earned Ortiz the title of "Nanny of the Month" for March 2010 from Reason.tv.[http://reason.com/blog/2010/04/01/reasontv-nanny-of-the-month-fo Reason.tv: Nanny of the Month for March 2010 is Salt-Banning NY State Rep. Felix Ortiz!], Reason, April 1, 2010 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".

Ortiz has supported various progressive public policies. He has passed legislation in areas of worker rights and safety, obesity prevention, banning the use of cell phones while driving and advocating for increases in organ donations.

Ortiz, who has worked with First Lady Michelle Obama on obesity prevention measures, also introduced legislation mandating that fast food restaurants post calories counts for food items on their menus. The calorie counts are now standard practice at fast food eateries.

Ortiz has served as chair of several committees and legislative task forces including Cities, Veterans Affairs, Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Food, Farm and Nutrition and the Legislature's Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force.

He has also served on the executive committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and serves as co-chair of the NCSL Task Force on International Relations. He is the former chairman of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) and is a member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus. In February 2015 Assemblyman Ortiz was appointed Assistant Speaker of the New York State Assembly; he is the first Hispanic to hold the position.

Ortiz ran for the 38th district of the New York City Council in 2017, but lost in the primary to incumbent Carlos Menchaca.

On July 16, 2020, Ortiz conceded defeat against Democratic Socialist and political newcomer Marcela Mitaynes after absentee ballots from the June 23 Democratic primary had been counted. Once the votes were certified, Ortiz had lost by 280 votes in a 4-way primary.{{cite web | url = https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-felix-ortiz-assembly-primary-democratic-socialist-marcela-mitaynes-20200716-uzz6mvq5jnbdfb3szmrdi3lqo4-story.html | title = Longtime Brooklyn Assemblyman Felix Ortiz concedes primary to Democratic Socialist Marcela Mitaynes | first = Denis | last = Slattery | work = New York Daily News | date = 16 July 2020 | access-date = 16 July 2020}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=051 Assembly Member Website]
• [http://www.gothamgazette.com/eyeonalbany/assembly/district51.shtml Gotham Gazette's Eye On Albany: New York State Assembly: District 51]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20030818224348/http://nydems.org/html/electedofficials/ortiz.html Biography: New York State Democratic Committee]

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{{s-bef|before=Javier A. Nieves}}

{{s-ttl|title=New York State Assembly, 51st District|years=1995–2021}}

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Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:American politicians of Puerto Rican descent

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New York (state)

Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly

Category:New York University alumni

Category:People from Salinas, Puerto Rico

Category:United States Army soldiers

Category:2012 United States presidential electors

Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature

Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature