The Serrano Report, Vol. VIII, #7

On Capitol Hill

On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner testified before the Financial Services Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. Congressman Serrano is the ranking Democrat on this Subcommittee and during the hearing questioned Geithner about current economic policy.

In his remarks, Serrano reaffirmed his strong support for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, which continues to provide capital to those underserved communities that have been the hardest hit during this economic recession. He also asked Geithner about two proposed CDFI initiatives, the Bank on USA program, which would promote affordable financial serves and credit for those without back accounts, and the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which would increase the availability of healthy, affordable foods in underserved urban and rural communities. Geithner reaffirmed his strong commitment to these programs and to overall funding for the CDFI Fund.

Serrano also spoke with Geithner about funding for the IRS saying, “Cutting IRS funding makes little sense to me, since the IRS provides the very funding that the rest of our government uses to operate.” Geithner agreed that we should make sure that the IRS has the ability to accurately and efficiently collect tax revenue and ensure that our tax system is administered fairly.

Serrano Helps Promote Exercise among the Disabled

On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano stopped by a basketball free-throw contest organized by the US Olympic Committee to promote exercise among people with disabilities. Since less than 10% of disabled individuals in the US participate in daily physical activity, the event was designed to emphasize the need to provide them with enhanced training and physical activity assistance in schools and communities. Olympic and paralympic athletes helped host the event and Serrano shot against Marlon Shirley, a two-time 100-meter champion who holds the record as the only amputee to break the 11 second barrier in the 100-meter dash.

In the Bronx

Serrano Applauds Union Victory

This week Congressman Serrano congratulated workers from 32BJ SEIU for winning a tentative new four-year contract agreement to cover more than 3,000 apartment building workers in the Bronx.  The agreement reached with the Bronx Realty Advisory Board provides annual wage increases for the workers, and preserves employer-paid family health care and pension benefits. 

Last week Serrano voiced his support for the union, and urged both sides to reach a “swift agreement” that “does not ask working families to make unreasonable sacrifices because of a fragile economy.”

After the announcement on Tuesday that a tentative agreement had been reached, Serrano applauded 32BJ and the Bronx Realty Advisory Board for negotiating a deal that protects Bronx workers and does not interrupt vital services in more than 1,000 buildings across the borough.

“The Bronx building workers, and 32BJ stood up for themselves and their working conditions, and through their strong position, they have reached a fair and equitable new agreement,” said Serrano. “I commend them for their efforts and also must commend the Bronx Realty Advisory Board for their role in forging this agreement. Many working families will benefit from the modest wage increase—and will stay protected by the health care provisions. This is a fair deal for these workers and their families.

“With worker’s rights under attack across the nation, it is particularly heartening to know that we can have positive outcomes for our working families. Too often we are being told that the troubled economy means that we must slash the benefits and wages of the workers, while there is simultaneously no money for the government services that they need as well. That toxic combination only serves to push families down the economic ladder. Instead, in this agreement we are seeing a commitment to workers that should be followed around the nation.”

“Congressman Serrano is a strong ally and friend who has continuously stood with us in the fight for good jobs for New York’s working families," said Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU). “The men and women of 32BJ SEIU thank Congressman Serrano for his support over the last few months.”

Bronx members of 32BJ will vote on ratifying the contract later this month.

Serrano Criticizes Plan to Close Bronx Post Offices

On Thursday, Congressman Serrano sent a letter to the Postmaster General, warning him that plans to consolidate and close postal facilities in the Bronx were unwise and would unfairly impact the Bronx community. Long an advocate for continued high-quality postal service in the Bronx, Serrano wrote:

As you struggle to address your budget deficit through postal consolidation, I wanted to register my concern that our Bronx community is being asked to bear a disproportionate burden of your intended cost-cutting.

I was disappointed to learn that once again the Postal Service has identified the Bronx, NY Processing and Distribution Center for consolidation with the Morgan Processing and Distribution Center. This is something that was successfully challenged and halted in the past, and there are still no valid reasons to close a facility of such importance to our Bronx community.
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My Bronx community is also very concerned about the decision of the U.S. Postal Service to move forward with the closure of post offices in our Bronx communities. Our community is dependent upon the services provided in these local post offices, and these closures would have a negative impact on the ability of my constituents to conveniently access necessary services.

Facing large budget shortfalls, the Postal Service has repeatedly sought to decrease delivery and close locations, positions that Serrano has opposed, arguing that they would disproportionately injure the poor and elderly communities that continue to most rely on regular mail delivery and post offices.

Please read the full letter

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