The Serrano Report, Vol. VIII, #21

On Capitol Hill

Serrano Welcomes Focus on Jobs

Congressman Serrano reacted to President Obama’s speech on jobs and the economy Thursday night saying “the renewed focus on jobs is long overdue.” Like much of the nation, the Bronx is suffering economically, and residents need jobs.

“We listened all year to a debate on reducing the deficit while our economy stalled in job growth,” said Congressman Serrano after the speech. “Now we have turned the focus to where it should have been in the first place: creating jobs.  The deficit debate was a side-show, manufactured by Republicans eager to shrink the size of social programs they oppose. They know as well as we do that the quickest way to shrink the deficit is to revive employment.

“President Obama laid out a series of reasonable steps that will help increase employment. I hope the House Republicans will drop their ideological resistance and bring the jobs package to a quick vote. With so many Americans out of work, it is time to end the partisanship and rigid ideology.

“The employment situation in this nation is at a crisis point. We must act swiftly and without the usual posturing and put Americans back to work again. President Obama did the right thing by proposing solutions. I urge Republicans to get behind our President in this time of economic crisis and move our nation forward again.”

In the Bronx

Serrano Joins Rally to Push for Clean Up of PCBs in City Schools

On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano joined activists and other elected officials in calling for a speedier and more thorough clean up of the toxic PCBs that have been found in some City schools. Since contamination was first found in the schools several years ago, Congressman Serrano has been very active in working to get them cleaned up. Jointly with Congressman Crowley, he has introduced legislation that would provide federal funding for remediation of PCBs in schools.

Along with Congressman Serrano, many activists and parents have been very upset with the City, which has announced a 10-year timeline to replace the light fixtures that are causing much of the contamination. There has been no plan announced to date to find and clear out PCB-laden caulk in the schools.

Wednesday’s rally focused on parents’ right to know whether their child is being exposed to PCBs in their school. The City has done surveys of the schools but has not publicly released the results. Serrano called for this information embargo to end, for a speedier timeline to replace light fixtures, and lastly, for a real plan to remediate the contaminated caulk.

“As our children go back to school, we must ensure their complete health and safety,” said Congressman Serrano. “Parents must be assured that their children’s learning takes place in a safe environment. To that end, there can be no delays or cost-saving in cleaning out all sources of PCBs – both in lighting fixtures and in caulk. This is our children’s health that we are talking about—there is no cost too high for keeping them safe and healthy.”

Serrano Attends Charlton-Thompson Garden Ribbon-Cutting

On August 16, 2011, Congressman Serrano joined with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, City Council Members Helen Foster and Melissa Mark-Viverito, members of the Friends of Charlton Gardens, including local veterans and founders Leroy Archible and Robert Gumbs, and family members of Sgt. Cornelius Charlton and Pfc. William Thompson to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the newly renovated Charlton-Thompson Garden.  Charlton-Thompson Garden is named in honor of two Bronx natives, Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton and Private First Class William H. Thompson who served in the Korean War. In 1952, Sgt. Charlton received the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart posthumously for his courage, superb leadership, and the extraordinary sacrifice he made in service of his country on Hill 543 in Korea. In 1951, Private First Class Thompson received the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for his courage and the gallant self-sacrifice he made in service of his country near Haman, Korea. Both grew up in the Bronx, and were the only African-Americans awarded the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. The garden is located on 164th Street between Boston Road and Cauldwell Avenue.  Serrano was an early supporter of renovating the park.

Congressman Joins Thousands at Fordham Road Renaissance Festival

In August, Congressman Serrano attended the 16th annual Fordham Road Renaissance Festival held along Fordham Road in the Bronx.  During this annual event, Fordham Road businesses join local residents to celebrate the community through food and music. Musicians Choco Orta and Yomo Toro were honored this year.

Congressman Serrano and Assemblyman José Rivera at the Fordham Road Renaissance Festival

Grants

Health Center Program Grants

Deadline: September 19, 2011

The US Department of Health and Human Services invites applicants to apply for the Health Center Program grant.  The program's goal is to support a variety of community-based and patient-directed public and private nonprofit organizations, which provide health care services for an increasing percentage of the nation’s underserved.

For more information about this grant, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services' website.

For more federal grants, please visit grants.gov.