He left the Chicago City Council in 2009 to serve as an advisor to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, appointed to work on social justice issues.

Ocasio was appointed alderman in 1993 by Mayor Richard M. Daley to fill the unexpired term of Luis Gutierrez, who was elected congressman.

Ocasio also led a $16 million rehab for Humboldt Park which included renovating and modernizing the boat house, the lagoon, and inland beach.

Additionally, he served on five other committees: Budget and Government Operations; Education; Energy, Environmental Protection, and Public Utilities; Finance; and Housing and Real Estate.

He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and while there he served as President of the "Arrogant" Alpha Lambda chapter of Iota Phi Theta fraternity.