The Serrano Report, Vol. X, #1
On Capitol Hill
Serrano Applauds President's Gun Control Plan
Last week, Congressman Serrano announced his strong support for the gun violence initiative that President Obama and Vice President Biden had unveiled. Serrano applauded their immediate actions using executive orders and pledged to work on behalf of their legislative proposals.
“It is long past time to seriously grapple with the epidemic of gun violence that plagues our nation,” said Serrano. “The ongoing killings of our children show that we cannot tolerate the inadequate regulation of guns in our nation. Our founding fathers guaranteed the right to sensible gun ownership, not an unrestricted, no-holds-barred, anything-goes smorgasbord of irresponsible gun ownership. I am very relieved that President Obama is taking immediate steps to prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands, and is asking Congress to aid him in this effort. I believe Congress should act quickly on the President's legislative proposals.
"As Ranking Member of the Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee, I am happy to see that the President has asked the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study the effectiveness of gun locks and gun safes, and to propose steps to improve the safety standards of these products. This is an important step in reducing unauthorized access to firearms, and one I will support during the appropriations process.
“I come from a community where guns only do bad things. I hate gun violence. But I respect and understand the position of hunters, sportsmen and those who use guns responsibly. In return, I believe that gun owners can agree that some extreme weapons have no place in society and there are some people who should not be permitted to have guns because of previous behavior. I believe that’s a fair tradeoff.
“While it seems to take a horrible tragedy to wake our nation up to the problem of gun violence, the reality is that this is an ongoing and persistent problem every day in every part of the country. New York took sensible steps to prevent gun violence this week. Other states should follow our lead. But for the scourge of this horrible epidemic to be wiped out, we need national legislation and regulations. Only then will we end the killings and the violence. I look forward to attacking this legislative issue and hopefully ending this awful problem.”
Serrano Welcomes Constituents for Inauguration
On Monday, President Obama was sworn in for his second term in office. After the event, Congressman Serrano welcomed consituents into his office to commememorate the special occasion. "The people of the Bronx have made so very many special contributions to our nation," said Serrano. "Therefore, I love to have representatives of our community with me when we celebrate special events in our national history."
Serrano with constituents after the inauguration
In the Bronx
Serrano Breaks Ground on High Bridge Restoration
Earlier this month Congressman Serrano joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other officials to break ground on the restoration of the High Bridge, which will be reopened to the public in 2014. The bridge, which connects the Bronx and Washington Heights, was last open to the public more than 40 years ago.
“Though it has been a while coming, the start of this project is particularly gratifying,” said Congressman José E. Serrano, who provided more than $5 million in federal funding for the project in 2005 and 2006. “The City and neighborhood groups deserve special praise for taking the seed money that I obtained more than 7 years ago, and adding to it and bringing us to today’s groundbreaking. Our borough has often been symbolically disconnected from the rest of the City, and so the High Bridge will restore an important connection.”
This $62 million dollar renovation will include safety and structural improvements, including renovated stairways, railings and lighting. The High Bridge was first opened in 1848 as part of the Croton Aqueduct system. The bridge historically was open to pedestrians and was a popular spot to promenade in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The central masonry arches of the bridge were replaced with a steel arch in the 1920s, but the original masonry arches remain on both the Bronx and Manhattan ends of the bridge.
“I foresee children, cyclists, walkers, joggers and even commuters using this new pathway to Washington Heights. But for me, it is more than just a reopened pathway to another borough. It is yet another symbol that the Bronx is no longer cut off from the rest of the City, isolated and neglected. We are no longer a different world from the rest of the City, but instead a vibrant, important part of the fabric of our metropolis. We are connected to it through people and culture and arts and industry. We are part of the heart of what makes New York what it is. So, yes, people will cross the High Bridge on foot and on bicycle. But more importantly, the Bronx will have yet another symbolic and real reconnection to the greater City.
“I applaud all those involved in restoring and reopening the High Bridge for all to use. It has been a long process, with not a few setbacks, but the focus and the dedication of all those who worked on it has been truly special. I am very much looking forward to the day in 2014 when we all cut the ribbon and walk across the High Bridge along with the public for the first time in decades. That will be a great day for our City.”
Serrano and Bloomberg unveiling the project
Grant
Art Works Grant
Deadline:March 7, 2013
The National Endowment for the Arts recently announced the availability of funding under its "Art Works" program. Successful applications should offer projects that offer new approaches to creating and presenting art, provide fresh insights, and are likely to open new ground in the field of art they represent. Nonprofits, state and local governments, and tribal communities are all encouraged to apply.
Please view the announcement on the NEA's website for more information.
For more information about other federal grants please visit grants.gov.