WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW By Former Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz District 18, Bronx County

 

Congress Members Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (AOC) And Jamaal Bowman Voted Against The Bronx Metro North Station

 You Should Know that Alexandria Ocasio Cortes and Jamaal Bowman are two, out of the six, Democrats that voted against the “Infrastructure Bill” that allocates much needed funds to “Penn Station” that will enable the construction of four (4) new Metro North Train Stations in Bronx County.

 

This “No” vote by these two Bronx Democrat Representatives’ (Congressmembers AOC, and Bowman) is not only disgusting, disheartening but also a betrayal to the residents and the constituents who elected them to be their voice in Congress and serve the communities of Coop City, Morris Park, Soundview, and Parkchester.

 

It is important for you to know that the development of these 4 Metro North train Stations will be a huge blessing for the County of the Bronx, its residents, and the city of New York as a whole.  These (4) Metro North Stations, and the vision of bringing them to fruition was due to the negotiations, plans, logistics, and overall costs back then when I was serving as a member of the New York State Senate. It took much work, persuasion, and influence from The Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who convinced Governor Andrew Cuomo, to approve this infrastructure project and include 1.7 billion dollars into the State’s budget for the Construction of these (4) Metro North Stations in the Bronx.

 

The 1.7 billion dollars assigned by Governor Cuomo for this transportation project in the Bronx, originally only included the funding for the development of these (4) Metro North Stations. However, for this project to be realized, federal dollars would be needed to redevelop “Penn Station”. Only then the Bronx Metro North Project can move forward making it a reality.

 

It is important for you to know, that the vision of these (4) Metro North Train Stations were revealed on Wednesday January 21,2015 during Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “State of the State Address.” 

 

Before more than 3,000 people, among them many dignitaries, legislators, television cameras attending the “State of the State Address”, the Governor, while announcing his plans for developing the transportation infrastructure for the Bronx said: “We want to build (4) MTA stations in the Bronx, to open up that side of the Bronx.”  Upon hearing the governor say this, I immediately shouted out “Hoo-rah!” Obviously, I shouted loud enough to be heard by the governor. He replied to my outburst, pointing toward me, he said jokingly “I have a name for one of these stations, the Diaz Station, we’re going to call it, Ruben Diaz Station.” 

 

Mr. Duncan Osborne referred to the Governor’s joke when he referred to the “Diaz Station” remark in an article appearing in “The Gay City News” dated January 22, 2015. Also, Laura Nahmias from Capital News, and Mona Salama from ANM News, they both tweeted about the Governor’s, “Joke” regarding the name of one of these stations.   

 

Now my dear reader, after seven (7) years of the Bronx Borough President’s office attempting to help bring this vision for the Bronx to fruition, thanks to Senator Chuck Schumer’s efforts the “Infrastructure Bill” was recently passed, against the will of Congressmembers Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, both who are the representatives for the area targeted for the construction of these (4) Metro North Train Stations.   

 

I am former NYS Senator and former NYC Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz, and this is What You Should Know.