The Serrano Report, Vol. VIII, #6

On Capitol Hill

Serrano Meets with Army Corps of Engineers

On Thursday, Congressman Serrano met with Colonel John R. Boulé, the District Commander for theNew York District of the Army Corps of Engineers. Together they shared their happiness over the successful and timely completion of the Orchard Beach Shoreline Protection Project.

Congressman Crowley and Congressman Serrano had worked together to secure federal funding, and the Corps began the project to add sand and address safety issues at Orchard Beach in late October 2010.  The Corps finished the project in late January 2011, ahead of schedule and well before the start of this summer’s beach season.

Serrano Expects Arecibo to Stay Open

On Thursday, Congressman Serrano asked a series of questions about the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) future plans for the Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.  The questions came during the NSF’s annual budget hearing held by the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.

The new NSF Director, Dr. Subra Suresh, said that the National Science Foundation is in the process of choosing management to operate the facility for the next five years, and that Arecibo continues to serve important scientific and educational purposes.  He then agreed with Serrano’s statement that there are no immediate plans to close the facility, and that it would remain open through NSF funding for at least the next five years.

“The Arecibo Observatory continues to play an important role in scientific discovery and in education,” said Serrano.  “I am pleased that the National Science Foundation has agreed that Arecibo’s merits far exceed any arguments in favor of closing the facility, and that they are proceeding with the contracting process to ensure that the facility remains well managed into the future.  I will continue to work to ensure that Arecibo stays open and provides continued benefits to the scientific community and the public at large.”

A 2006 report from the NSF had recommended closing the Arecibo facility in 2011 if other sources of funding were not found.

In the Bronx

Serrano Speaks out for Local Union Workers

On Thursday, Congressman Serrano voiced his support for workers from 32BJ SEIU, who are currently negotiating a new long-term contract to cover more than 3,000 Bronx apartment building workers.  The union is resisting proposed cuts to their healthcare, retirement savings, and other benefits.  The current contract is set to expire on March 15th, and the union has already voted to authorize a strike, if necessary to protect their jobs. 32BJ’s members include building superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators, and garbage handlers in more than 1,000 Bronx apartment buildings.

“Painful cuts like the ones being proposed here are not welcome in any economy,” said Serrano.  “With the cost of living in this city going up across the board, to try to force Bronx workers and their families to give up the benefits they’ve earned is simply unacceptable.  Once those benefits are lost, they are never coming back—and that is why the union is prepared to take whatever action will result in a fair contract. 

“I wholeheartedly support the union members in my district fighting against these punishing cuts; and I urge all parties involved to find a swift resolution that does not ask working families to make unreasonable sacrifices because of a fragile economy.  New York’s housing and real estate market will recover, but the healthcare and retirement owed to these workers will never recover from the cuts proposed here.”

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