The Serrano Report, Vol. VI, #31

On Capitol Hill

Serrano Helps Roll Out Health Care Reform

Congressman Serrano was on hand Thursday morning for the unveiling of the House version of the health care reform legislation, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which will expand coverage to 96% of Americans and make health insurance more affordable for all. “This morning I stood with my Democratic colleagues as we unveiled the House version of the health care bill that we will consider in coming weeks,” said Serrano after the press conference. “This plan includes many things that I strongly support, including a public option to ensure competition with the private insurers. This is a key provision. But there are plenty of other provisions that make this a must-pass piece of legislation.”

Some of the most important reforms included in the bill are:

• Outlawing denials based on ‘pre-existing conditions’ and dropping coverage when people get sick;

• Creation of ‘health insurance exchanges,’ where people without insurance can purchase coverage from insurers or the public option;

• Ending annual and lifetime limits on coverage, and capping out of pocket spending to prevent runaway medical bills;

• Providing tax credits to low-income people to purchase coverage;

• Expanding Medicaid, and improving Medicare;

• Funding prevention, wellness and public health programs.

“Our nation has waited far too long for this health reform legislation—and our people have suffered too many indignities at the hands of our current system,” said Serrano. “This bill is more than a technical fix to a broken system; it is a statement about who we are as a people. We do not believe that people should have to worry about how to pay to treat their illnesses or worse, to go without treatment in a nation like ours. When we pass this bill, we will bring dignity and fairness to our healthcare system. This is a step that is long overdue.”

“My home city of New York and my community in the Bronx stand to benefit a great deal from this health care bill. Many of our working families struggle to afford coverage, if they are even able to obtain it at all. We have many people on Medicare and Medicaid, and we also have a variety of health epidemics. This bill will not only help to make our community healthier, but also reduce the burden on families’ finances, get people out of the emergency room and into a physician’s office, and most of all, prevent people from enduring treatable illnesses. This is a very important piece of legislation for New York. I look forward to seeing President Obama sign it into law.

The following is a link to H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act as Introduced: http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

Hate Crimes Legislation Signed into Law

On Wednesday, President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law, marking the end of an effort that has lasted more than a decade to expand the federal definition of hate crimes, and to increase the resources available to investigate those horrendous acts. 

“This new law marks a great victory for tolerance in America,” said Serrano.  “It includes new resources and new federal authority to fight these terrible crimes.  As important, this new law reaffirms our nation’s commitment to freedom and equality.  We may have further to go along this road, but the Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a big step along the way.”

The hate crimes legislation included in the bill expands federal authority to prosecute crimes motivated by an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.   In addition the bill provides resources to local authorities in the investigation of hate crimes, and authorizes the Department of Justice to assist is such investigations.

House Passes Interior Bill

On Thursday, Congressman Serrano voted for final passage of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Conference Report. It was passed by a vote of 247 to 178.  Attached to this Conference Report was a continuing resolution to allow the government to continue its operations through December 18, 2009.

The Interior Conference Report includes $32.2 billion, which represents a $4.7 billion increase over fiscal year 2009.  It provides needed funding for the Department of the Interior, including our National Parks and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, and other related agencies.  Congressman Serrano said, “All of us benefit from the funding provided to our national parks and wildlife refuges – they are places where people of all ages can enjoy natural beauty and wildlife.  Our lives are also enriched by the funding for the arts and the funding provided to make sure our water is clean and safe and that climate change research is a priority.   I was pleased to vote in favor of this conference report.”

With the Senate's passage of the Conference Report on Thursday night, Congress has completed work on 5 of the 12 fiscal year 2010 appropriations bills.  Because there are still seven more spending bills waiting for approval, a continuing resolution was attached to this conference report to keep the government funded at the fiscal year 2009 levels through December 18, 2009.  “In order to make sure that all of us will continue to receive important government services, I supported the addition of this continuing resolution,” explained Congressman Serrano.

Serrano/Holden/Brady Place 'High-Steaks' Bet on World Series

On Thursday, on the Eve of the World Series, Congressman Serrano, Tim Holden (D-PA) and Robert Brady (D-PA) announced the details of their high-stakes, winner-take-all wager on the 2009 Yankees/Phillies World Series. Local food products form the tangible prize, but the bragging rights are the real takeaway. If the Phillies win, Serrano will give Holden and Brady a coveted gift basket from Mike’s Deli on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Meanwhile, Holden agreed to provide cheesesteaks for Serrano if the Yankees come out on top. Brady says he will kick in South Philly cheesesteaks as well but he will up the ante by adding, soft pretzels and Tastykakes for his colleagues and their staffers.

“I’m glad that Tim and Bob have agreed to this bet, because I know that in about four games I will be relishing a great cheesesteak or two,” said Serrano, whose Congressional District includes Yankee Stadium. “No one in my position has gotten that privilege since 1950, when the Yankees last met the Phillies in the Fall Classic—and swept them in four straight games. It is hard for me to imagine this series being any different. I look forward to the clash of these potent offenses, but can’t wait to see the Phillies bats’ muzzled by some of the greatest pitching in the majors. It will be a series to remember, and along with a great cheesesteak, a Yankees victory to savor.”

"My friend from New York seems quite confident in the Yankees success, but his memory must be short since it is the Phillies who are the reigning World Series champions," said Holden, the son of former Phillies catcher Joseph "Socks" Holden. "I'm quite confident Charlie Manuel has the boys poised and ready. Boasting the bats of four thirty-plus homerun hitters in 2009, as well as a pesky one-two punch at the top of the lineup, the Phils will look to beat their rivals at the plate. And if that were not enough, Manuel will send the reigning AL Cy Young award winner, a three time Cy Young award winner and future Hall of Famer, and the reigning World Series MVP to the mound. It all sounds like a recipe for me eating from Little Italy in New York," Holden quipped.

Brady says, “Philly has been preparing for this rematch for almost 60 years. And, we are more than ready. The whole city is a sea of red and that sea will be title wave in New York. My mother is Italian so I’m looking forward to chowing down and sampling the deli gift basket from New York’s Little Italy.”

In the Bronx

Serrano Applauds Center for Sustainable Energy’s Alternative Vehicle Technology Conference

In a letter sent this week to Tria Case, Director of Bronx Community College’s Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE), Congressman Serrano saluted the Center’s efforts to promote the adoption of emerging vehicle technologies and provide training to the next generation of automotive engineers and service technicians.  Serrano congratulated the Center on the occasion of its fifth annual Alternative Vehicle Technology Conference and Expo, an event held today on the Lehman College campus.

“Successful, road-tested alternative vehicle technologies that CSE promoted when they were still in their infancy are today a visible presence on the roads of our borough,” Serrano noted.  “From the vehicles on display to the topics explored by your panels, the content you are presenting today no longer exists only in laboratories or workshops,” the letter continued.  “I am heartened by these developments and feel confident that these alternative technologies will not be  considered ‘alternative’ much longer.” 

Serrano Urges Fannie Mae Not to Abandon Distressed Bronx Housing

This week Congressman Serrano, along with Senator Chuck Schumer, urged Fannie Mae not to abandon more than a dozen buildings located in the Bronx.  In a joint letter to Fannie Mae’s Executive Vice President for Housing and Community Development, Serrano and Schumer charged that Fannie Mae had a responsibility to “remain directly involved with this portfolio until such time that safety and stability have been restored” to these buildings. 

After purchasing the $29 million dollar loan for these buildings in 2007, Fannie Mae later discovered that the loan did not meet its own underwriting standards.  The previous owners of the buildings, a group called Ocelot Capital, abandoned the entire portfolio and left the buildings in a state of disrepair.  Fannie Mae now wishes to sell the buildings’ mortgages through a competitive bidding process; however, Serrano and Schumer note that it could take over a year for new owners to take full control, which leaves the tenants in an uncertain position in terms of maintenance and necessary repairs in the interim.

“This is a serious situation and I feel that Fannie Mae has an obligation not to walk away from the table right now,” Congressman Serrano said this week.  “We appreciate the actions Fannie Mae has taken so far, but these tenants are still a long way away from having responsible new ownership, and until a resolution is found I will urge Fannie Mae to remain in the picture and continue providing the necessary oversight and financial assistance we feel they owe to the residents of these buildings.”

The full letter is below:

Mr. Kenneth J. Bacon
Executive Vice President
Housing and Community Development
Fannie Mae
3900 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20016-2892

Dear Mr. Bacon:

We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding the pending debt sale of the mortgages which Fannie Mae holds on 16 buildings located in Bronx County, known collectively as the Ocelot portfolio.

As you know, under the current ownership these properties have been allowed to deteriorate into a state of extreme disrepair. The 400 unit Ocelot portfolio contains more than 3000 outstanding code violations as well as a number of extreme health and safety violations, which are well-documented and in many cases place the occupants at immediate risk.

While we are grateful that Fannie Mae has taken some initial steps to remedy this situation, including initiating foreclosure proceedings against the current owner, we feel strongly that Fannie Mae has an obligation to remain directly involved with this portfolio until such time that safety and stability have been restored to these buildings.

We understand that Fannie Mae’s current proposal is to sell the mortgages through a competitive bidding process to a restricted list of potential buyers, at least some of whom have been vetted by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Unfortunately, we believe this proposal does not adequately address the dangers that continue to plague these properties and, in fact, would ultimately shift the responsibility for abating these conditions to both HPD and to the private affordable housing sector, an outcome which we deem unacceptable.

Neither HPD nor the affordable housing community should be held financially responsible for the deterioration that these properties have suffered since 2007 when Fannie Mae took over the mortgages. In addition, the substantial legal fees associated with foreclosure proceedings should likewise not be shifted to the private sector or local government.

Perhaps most importantly, Fannie Mae has acknowledged that foreclosure may take more than a year to complete. Whoever acquires the debt during this interim period would be in the uncertain position of having to either ignore the immense capital needs of these buildings, or identify and expend private funds in order to secure the health and safety of the residents.

I am certain you would agree that the first option of ignoring some of these abhorrent conditions is not acceptable considering the danger it presents to residents. After speaking with several interested parties and responsible housing practitioners in New York City, we have also concluded that the latter option is not a financially viable one and once again shifts the financial burden in a way that is not socially or fiscally responsible.  It is therefore our position that the debt sale is not an acceptable means by which we can accomplish our shared goal of restoring these projects to decent, safe and sanitary housing—at least not in the near term.

For these reasons, we urge Fannie Mae to consider cancelling the debt sale and instead to return to the original plan of pursuing immediate foreclosure in order to gain title to these projects.  Through this course of action we believe that these properties can be transferred to a responsible housing provider in the most expeditious manner.

If for whatever reason Fannie Mae feels that this not a viable option, then at a minimum, we urge you to establish a capital fund which can be used to maintain and improve building conditions until a foreclosure auction is complete and full rehabilitation plans can begin.

We thank you for consideration of this request and look forward to your response on this very urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Congressman José E. Serrano

Senator Charles Schumer

Serrano Honors Local Environmental Activist

This month Congressman Serrano paid tribute to Brother Abu Talib, a longtime environmental activist, educator, and co-founder of Taqwa Community Garden, located on 164th Street and Ogden Avenue in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.  Brother Talib, who celebrates his 75th birthday this year, founded Taqwa Community Garden 17 years ago and has been stressing the importance of healthy food choices and urban agriculture ever since.

“Brother Talib is a local legend and someone who has dedicated his entire life to environmental activism and education,” Congressman Serrano said.  “Seventy-five years is a milestone, and I’m pleased to be among the many Bronx residents who are recognizing Brother Talib’s many contributions to our borough.”

The full letter is below:

Brother Abu Talib
c/o Taqwa Community Garden
E. 164th and Ogden Avenue
Bronx, NY  10452

Dear Brother Talib:

I write to you with admiration and deep appreciation for the many years of service you have given to this borough.  As I am certain you know better than most, smart, sensible, and community-driven development should always ensure a place for green space in our neighborhoods.  Urban gardens can and should be an essential part of that mix.  But as we look ahead to a bright (and green) future for our borough, in my view nothing becomes more important than paying tribute to the true innovators, like yourself, who helped make possible all the excitement that we celebrate today. 

The Bronx has been transformed into a critical hub of energy and imagination for environmental activism and Taqwa Community Garden owns a part of this legacy.  With little fanfare, you have quietly and humbly gone about the work of teaching a generation of Bronxites how to grow and harvest a community garden.  You have turned Taqwa Community Garden into a fine example of grassroots education and empowerment, and you have taught our children the meaning and importance of making healthy food choices.  And before phrases like “green jobs” and “sustainable development” were as accessible to people as they are today, you understood the value of these ideas and practiced them right here in the South Bronx.

I am aware that your journey with respect to this garden has been long and steady and often against the odds.  But you must know that we are indebted to you for your quiet leadership, your decency, and your perseverance.  And as someone who has also spent a great many years in the service of others, I believe that no one is more deserving of the recognition that the Bronx is now receiving than people like you, our elders, who helped show us the way.

Sincerely,

Congressman José E. Serrano

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