The Serrano Report, Vol. VI, #26
On Capitol Hill
Serrano Applauds Havana “Peace Without Borders” Concert
On Sunday, Colombian pop-star Juanes headlined a large concert by musicians from around Latin America in Havana. The following day, Congressman Serrano congratulated the organizers and participants of the "Peace Without Borders" concert.
“The concert’s message of peace, reconciliation and dialogue through the performing arts resonates deeply with me,” said Serrano. “I applaud the work of the organizers, the participants, and the people of Cuba who turned out in such amazing numbers.
“I especially would like to recognize Juanes, as well as the American citizens who sought and got permission to perform, including Puerto Rican artists, Olga Tañon and Danny Rivera. These people are doing great work to build bridges to the Cuban people—bridges that our government has largely burned over the years. These brave artists deserve our praise and no retribution from those opposed to the current Cuban government.
“In a country of 11 million people, having 1 million gather for a concert is truly staggering. It shows the healing power of the arts. I hope that we are able to build off this moment for a change in relations between Cuba and the U.S.
“Many want to dismiss this concert and its effect, but they have not experienced how powerful the arts can be. In many ways, the Bronx survived and was reborn out of its hard times through the arts. Music, dance, poetry, murals and plays kept people’s hopes alive in the Bronx—hopes for a better day. That power cannot be understated.
“I believe that the concert yesterday in Havana has the potential to be a key moment in the inevitable reconciliation between our two nations. We should listen to its message of peace and hope and begin to act to make those sentiments a reality.”
House passes the Unemployment Compensation Extension Bill
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Act, by a vote of 331 – 83. If enacted into law, the bill would extend unemployment benefits for workers in high unemployment states. The benefits would be extended by 13 weeks in those states that meet or exceed an 8.5% unemployment rate. Currently 25 states meet this threshold including New York, which is currently right at an 8.5% rate. Without this legislation it is estimated that nationwide more than 300,000 people will run out of unemployment compensation by the end of September, and over one million by the end of the year.
Approximately 90,000 workers in the state of New York would exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of December 2009 should the bill not pass. To pay for the extension, the bill would continue the existing federal unemployment tax for up to one year.
“It is imperative that this bill be passed in the Senate," said Serrano. "Many people have been laid off through no fault of their own. During these turbulent economic times, unemployment benefits for six months are not sufficient. Many people depend on these benefits in order to pay their bills and feed their families. Finding a job today can be challenging and many people will need longer than six months to find employment.”
In the Bronx
Serrano Opposes Bronx Postal Closures
On Wednesday, the Postal Regulatory Commission, which provides oversight of the Postal Service's operations, held a field hearing in the Bronx to hear testimony about the Postal Service's proposal to close as many as 400 Post Offices around the country including seven in the Bronx. Congressman Serrano submitted the following testimony for the hearing, arguing for the critical role the Postal Service plays in the United States.
I deeply appreciate that the Postal Regulatory Commission has chosen to hold one of its field hearings here in the Bronx. The choice of location clearly reflects the high number of post offices slated for closure in our borough and the importance of postal services to many thousands of immigrants, senior citizens, and working families who make their home in Bronx County.
I have been a longtime supporter of the Postal Service and am well aware of the current financial difficulties that it is facing. However, I do not think that in the long run it is productive to close post offices in dense urban areas where many people still rely heavily on the postal service.
Although the geographic distances between post offices in the Bronx are shorter than they are in more rural areas, when people rely on their feet and public transit to get them from place to place, the loss of the nearest post office can still have a large impact. If the Postal Service shutters post offices in my district it will remove itself from people’s daily routine, and it will encourage my constituents to look for other alternatives. Decreasing service to the community in this manner, does not seem to me to be a good long-term model for the Postal Service and could result in significant loss of market share for the USPS in communities like mine.
In addition to the diminished retail footprint that will result from these proposed closures, I am concerned that the quality of mail delivery will also suffer. Among its other plans to save money, the Postal Service is proposing a move to five day a week delivery. I think that this stated desire of the USPS, along with fewer post offices in my district, will result in a lower level of service for my constituents. Although as a nation we are moving more and more to mainly electronic forms of communication, the people of my district rely heavily on the Postal Service. As a city of immigrants, New York particularly needs the Postal Service to help new arrivals send resources to communities overseas and to communicate with their family members abroad. These simple acts provide them with a vital connection to their home countries, and they need that connection to be reliable and timely.
More generally, I am concerned about the criteria that have produced the current list of possible closures. A cursory examination of the list reveals that large urban areas are hit the hardest. I am not sure if this is because of the distance between post offices, or for another reason, but it does seem to me unwise for the Postal Service to target its densest consumer base with such draconian cuts. Even within the five boroughs of New York City, the locations chosen for closures seem out of balance. While the Bronx and Manhattan both have seven sites on the list, Brooklyn and Queens have none. It is my hope that the Postal Regulatory Commission is afforded the opportunity to closely consider the process under which these particular locations were selected. In addition, the larger question about the efficacy of widespread post office closures in alleviating the USPS’ fiscal crisis should also be considered by the PRC.
Finally, I think that as the Postal Service moves forward it needs to identify ways to better serve its consumers. If the Postal Service just strives to do less and less, it will become even more marginalized and people will inevitably adopt other ways to meet their needs. One of the great features of the postal service is that it is everywhere. It is my constituents’ first choice because they know where their local post office is and they know that it will be open when they need it. I would urge the Postal Service to consider how it can become more useful to its customers, not less so.
Wholesale Produce Market Opens to Bronx Community
On Wednesday, the new Wholesale Greenmarket at the New Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx opened, providing residents, store owners, and local restaurateurs with a source of fresh fruits and vegetables on Saturday mornings and each night during the week. Congressman Serrano applauded the opening, saying it was “the fulfillment of a promise to our community” and a “valuable new resource for a healthier lifestyle in the Bronx.”
“Our community has watched for decades as the region’s freshest produce moves in and out of our borough en route to stores, restaurants, and supermarkets throughout the East Coast, but we never had access to that huge bounty. Today that changes, and it is a great moment,” said Serrano. “From now on, people in the community can access fresh food in bulk at affordable prices—and I expect that many will take advantage of this opportunity.
“The Bronx is underserved when it comes to fresh produce, fish, and meats at affordable prices. Too many people’s only option is picked over produce offered at inflated prices. This is not because the local merchants are bad, but simply because many lack storage space, refrigeration, and even access to these products. Today’s opening gives those merchants and their customers a new option that will dramatically improve their food choices.
“I applaud the work of the many, many individuals and agencies involved in making this new market a reality. Our community owes them a debt of gratitude for their dedication to the dream of opening the market to us. Like me, they believed that there is no reason that in the richest city on Earth, people in any neighborhood should lack access to affordable, high quality food. "
Grant Opportunities
Community Outreach Census Grant
Application Deadline: October 16, 2009
The New York State Department of State recently announced the availability of funding to assist in reducing the undercount in New York for the 2010 federal census. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that millions of Americans were not counted in the last census, including more than 200,000 New Yorkers. Accordingly, the State has set aside funding for community outreach and public education to ensure maximum participation in next year's census. Special emphasis will be placed on "hard to count" populations, including immigrant and minority communities. Local governments and 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations are encouraged to apply.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the NY State Department of State website.
For information on other government grants, please go to: www.grants.gov.