Proposed Senate District 29, Jose Serrano Jr.

Here is LATFOR's proposed new district for state Sen. Jose Serrano Jr., who currently represents the 28th district. It appears that by adding a 63rd district, some people's district number has changed.

In terms of the Bronx, just some minor adjustments it looks like. But he does pick up some prime real estate in Central Park. Enjoy having one of the most economically diverse districts on the planet, Jose.

And here is his district as it is now:

$9.9 million restoration coming to Soundview Park

Here's a story from this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

Groundbreakings, am I right?

The mouth of the Bronx River is getting a makeover. 

The US Army Corps of Engineers, the same group that oversaw the highly necessary reconstruction of Orchard Beach, is restoring the Soundview Park wetlands, lagoon and upland forests. 

The $9.9 million restoration should take about a year, officials said. They added that the wetlands would help curb flooding during heavy storms, something that was all too obvious to area residents during Tropical Storm Irene. 

The ecological restoration will include the excavation of approximately three acres immediately north of the park’s lagoon area and the creation of tidal wetlands in its place. Aside from preventing flooding, restoring the tidal wetland will provide a habitat for birds and marine life, improve water quality and promote a healthier ecosystem.

Jump below for the full story.

Roberto Clemente State Park highlighted in national initiative

Here's a story from this week's Bronx Press. The full lineup of stories is coming later today.

Ken Salazar (center) toured Roberto Clemente State Park
with U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano, state Sen. Jose Serrano
and others last week.

By Brendan McHugh

It’s not often a member President Obama’s team visits the Bronx, but they did last Friday to launch a new job creating initiative.

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Obama’s nature czar, came to Roberto Clemente State Park in Morris Heights to launch the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. 

Just days before the release of a 50-state report outlining ways to reconnect Americans to the outdoors, Salazar joined U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano and local environmental activists in highlighting Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative to establish a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda and reconnect Americans to the outdoors. 

“For so many decades, people turned their backs on America,” Salazar said. “It’s been only in the last 30 years there’s been a rediscovery of the greatness of the rivers of America.” 

Jump below for the full story.

GOP contender Herman Cain donated $250 to Rep. Serrano

Did the pizza man want to open up a Bronx location in 1993?

Probably not, but that didn't stop GOP presidential candidate and former Godfather Pizza CEO Herman Cain from donating $250 to Bronx Rep. Jose Serrano that year. As Yahoo! reported, Cain claims all five Democrats he gave money in the mid-90s to were "moderate Democrats." The other donations were made to politicians in Nebraska, where the pizza chain is based.

"They were business decisions and personal decisions," Cain told The Ticket (Yahoo!) when asked about the donations to Democrats. "One was a restaurateur. One was a personal friend. All moderate Democrats."

Except, as The National Review points out by highlighting his National Journal profile, Serrano isn't exactly moderate, at least over the past 10 years. The bold is the Review's:

In opposition to Cuban Hispanics in Congress, Serrano has been Fidel Castro’s greatest champion in the House. He has sought repeal of economic sanctions against Cuba. When questions arose about Castro’s future after major surgery in July 2006, Serrano issued a press release telling President George W. Bush, “Hands Off Cuba.” When Castro’s brother, Raúl Castro, took control, Serrano said that it was “long past time to end the charade and begin dialogue and engagement with Cuba.” Another of his issues is statehood for Puerto Rico, which he calls an American “colony.” He backs a long-stalled referendum to determine the status of the island. In 2000, Serrano was arrested at the White House while protesting the Navy’s bombing range at Vieques, Puerto Rico. He also took credit for working with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Citizen Energy Corp. to strike a deal to bring cheaper oil to the South Bronx. He has criticized the reluctance of House Democratic leaders to pass immigration reform.
In New York politics, Serrano backed former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer for mayor in 2001 and 2005. He backed civil-rights activist Al Sharpton for president in 2004.

Jump below for the rest, included Serrano's response, via the Observer.

Crowley rakes in $$$ in third-quarter fundraising

Here are the three Bronx congressmen's latest campaign filings, in case you were wondering:

Third Quarter Take (Cash on Hand)

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-7th): $237,571; ($933,462)

Rep. Jose Serrano (D-16th): $12,075; ($14,504)

Rep. Eliot Engel (D—17th) : $73,750; ($111,542)

Check out the full list at the Daily Politics, or surf around Open Secrets and see what you can find.

Waste charged in EDC South Bronx job creation program

Here is a story from this week's Bronx Press. Enjoy.

By Brendan McHugh

The city’s Economic Development Corp. failed to spend $9.3 million meant for job creation and training, most for the Bronx.

According to City Comptroller John Liu, in 1992 the EDC received $8.9 million in exchange for financial breaks for the Riverside South residential development, all of which was intended to benefit the Harlem River Rail Yard in the South Bronx.

“It makes little sense that millions intended for economic development remain unused for so long, especially in the Bronx where jobs are greatly needed,” Liu said.

This Public Purpose Fund, earmarked from the beginning to benefit the rail yard, was fully funded by 2005. An audit by Liu, which found the idle money, recommends the EDC find a way to use the money to benefit the Bronx, “and not wait another 19 years to do so.”

Jump below for the full story.

Senators trying to prevent cuts to hospitals

The story about the hospital cuts in the Bronx Press was shortened, so I wanted to give you the full version.

But before we get to the story, take time to read this New York Post exclusive about New York's representatives in Congress fighting for the same thing the state Senators are fighting for.

By Brendan McHugh 

Pleading with the U.S. Congress, every Bronx state Senator and a handful in Manhattan have signed a letter calling on their congressional delegation to oppose major cuts to New York’s teaching hospitals.

With deficit reduction negotiations ongoing in Washington D.C, three major hospitals in Manhattan and the Bronx are facing cuts of up to $1.25 billion, including Montefiore Medical Center.

The hospitals could see massive cuts in Medicare funding, with aid reductions of as much as $5.8 billion nationally. Such cuts would disproportionately affect New York City, given that it’s home to three of the top teaching hospitals in the country.

Aside from Montefiore, cuts would also have an impact on New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Senators Adriano Espaillat, Bill Perkins, Thomas Duane, Liz Krueger, Gustavo Rivera, Jose Serrano, Jeff Klein, Ruben Diaz Sr. and Ruth Hassell-Thompson signed the letter.

Jump below for the rest of the story.

Senator Serrano Not In The Race

While we have confirmation that Assemblyman Ruben Diaz and City Councilman Joel Rivera (and maybe Israel Ruiz and Larry Seabrook) will be involved in the upcoming special election, we've also been working to track down answers from anyone else who has ever been considered for that job.

With that in mind, I got a hold of Brian Levinson, spokesman for State Senator Jose M. Serrano, to ask if his boss was interested in pursuing the seat. There was a time not too long ago when Serrano, the son of Congressman Jose Serrano, was considered to be a front-runner for the seat himself.

Levinson informs us that Senator Serrano is staying out of the special election, which comes as no real surprise to us at this point. Levinson added that the senator was unsure what his involvement would be regarding his involvement in the race.

"The Senator is not running, and he's not sure right now to what extent he'll get involved in the race," said Levinson.