What You Should Know

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

El Diario la Prensa is Following My Lead
    

    You should know that El Diaro la Prensa is following my lead – yes, the lead of Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz – and the political movement I began last year asking my colleagues in the New York State Senate, especially the Hispanic Senators, unite and to not vote for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Budget unless it includes the Dream Act.

You should know that I worked very hard on this movement to Unite for Dream Act during last year’s Budget negotiations, and I was disappointed that my colleagues who advocate for the Dream Act on behalf of their constituents in public, did not unite with me and insist for the Dream Act to be included in the State Budget.  You should also know that I have not given up and instead, I am more determined than ever for a vote of unity against any Budget that does recognize the immigrant.

In my March 12, 2013 column, What You Should Know column titled Hispanic Legislators: Put Up or Shut Up, urging the 6 Hispanic Senators and almost 15 Hispanic Members of the New York State Assembly:

"If they really want to fight for the Dream Act and if they honestly want it to be part of the Budget, then let all of the Hispanic legislators – let all of us in the Senate and in the Assembly – come together and take a vote that we will not vote for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Budget – none of it – not one single part of it – unless it includes the Dream Act. Let the Governor pass the Budget without the Hispanic vote, and let us show our repudiation of him and his Budget plan of ignoring the immigrants."

Today’s editorial in El Diario la Prensa agrees with me.  Although they did not credit me, Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz, for my efforts to be sure that no Hispanic legislator votes for the Budget without the Dream Act, I am very glad they are standing beside me in this effort.

Below is a copy of today's editorial from El Diario la Prensa.

And once again, I ask all of my colleagues in the Senate and in the Assembly, especially the Hispanic Members of the State Legislature, to stand united with me and oppose the upcoming Budget if it does not include the Dream Act.

This is Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

Unity on the NY Dream Act
Editorial/El Diario la Prensa
03/18/2013

The New York Legislature is about to approve the budget, and as things stand, the state's Dream Act bill will be shelved once again. Hispanic lawmakers—who represent many Dreamers—can prevent this if they unite and make it clear to Senate leaders and Gov. Andrew Cuomo that they will vote "NO" on the budget package unless it includes the Dream Act.

Lawmakers have had this bill, which attempts to do what other states have done and give eligible undocumented students access to state financial aid for college, for several years. During the current session, the Assembly finally drafted a balanced version that was recently approved, along with $25 million to pay for it.

The Senate, controlled by Republicans and Independent Democrats, refuses to include this bill in the budget, despite its economic benefits in the long term. Hispanic senators support the bill, which makes sense, since it's a priority for their constituents. They have sent messages to Cuomo and attended Dream Act demonstrations.

But their actions haven't yielded results. Senate leaders and Cuomo clearly don't understand the importance of this law. However, when it's convenient for them, they talk about the contributions immigrants make, their concern about low high school and college graduation rates, and how important educating minorities is to the state's economic well-being.

Now, it's time to show that this bill is extremely important. The course of action in Albany will affect the future of 200,000 immigrant students who graduated from our public schools to start or continue their college studies. This major budget, with essential laws like a minimum wage increase, must also include the Dream Act. Hispanic lawmakers and others who believe in providing equal education opportunities must reject the budget proposal unless the Dream Act is in it.

http://www.eldiariony.com/Opinioneditorial/20130318/Unity-on-the-NY-Dream-Act#.UUdqXleNAt0 

   

Time to Retire for Some Members of Congress

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York 

Time to Retire for Some Members of Congress

You should know that there are some people who believe that the time has come to inject new blood, energy and ideas into the United States Congress.

In the City of New York, there are some Members of Congress who, according to some people, have been serving for too long.  Here is a list of the entire New York Congressional Delegation:

Gary Ackerman, elected to Congress in 1983, has served 29 years.
Yvette Clarke, elected to Congress in 2006, has served 6 years.
Joseph Crowley, elected to Congress in 1998, has served 14 years.
Eliot Engel, elected to Congress in 1988, has served 24 years.
Michael Grimm, elected to Congress in 2009, has served 2 years.
Carolyn Maloney, elected to Congress in 1992, has served 20 years.
Gregory Meeks, elected to Congress in 1998, has served 14 years.
Jerrold Nadler, elected to Congress in 1992, has served 20 years.
Charles Rangel, elected to Congress 1970, has served 42 years.
José Serrano, elected to Congress in 1990, has served 22 years.
Edolphus Towns, elected to Congress in 1982, has served 20 years.
Robert Turner, elected to Congress in 2011, has served 1 year.
Nydia Velázquez, elected to Congress in 1992, has served 20 years.
 
Imagine the millions and millions of Congressional dollars that have been poured into the New York City districts for all those years.  

We should all be living like kings and queens.  But in all of those years, we in the City of New York, continue to see a decrease in affordable housing with more people living in homeless shelters; services for the growing number of senior citizens continue to be cut; the number of children who cannot read at grade level and cannot graduate from high school in 4 years continues to grow; more and more New Yorkers rely upon food pantries to feed their families; people with illness and disabilities continue to suffer as medical services continue to be cut; gun violence remains on the rise; etc. etc.

This situation is at a point where some Members of New York’s Congressional Delegation have finally decided to retire and let new blood take over.  Apparently, not all of them will voluntarily open the door to leave and allow for new blood to come in, and as such, new blood is forcing them to retire.

Here comes Hakeem Jeffries: an energized, eloquent, well-spoken young African American from Brooklyn who has effectively sent a message to incumbent Ed Towns that if he doesn’t retire, he will make him retire in an election.  Apparently Congressman Towns saw the writing on the wall and has announced his retirement.

Congressman Gary Ackerman, also read the writing on the wall (and maybe read his horoscope) and has decided that it’s time for him to hang it up.

State Senator Adriano Espaillat has been sending a message to Congressman Charles Rangel that after 42 years in Congress (and at 80 years of age) he should retire and enjoy the rest of his life.  

In response, Charlie Rangel must have thought Adriano Espaillat was bluffing and said, “Come on.  Take me on.”

Now, Adriano Espaillat, energized with his comunnity’s support and the backing of Oscar de la Renta, has a new look. Espaillat is now dressing like a movie star - has changed his wardrobe, hairdo, shoes and cologne - and is on his way to forcing Charlie Rangel into retirement.

There is another young man from Brooklyn who is trying to force Nydia Velázquez into retirement: Erik Martin Dilan, the son of New York State Senator Martin Malavé Dilan.

Erik  has the support of many who believe that Nydia Velázquez should just go back to Puerto Rico and join the Popular Party and all of her cronies in continuing their push to keep Puerto Rico a colony of the United States and leave the Brooklyn Congressional seat to new blood.

Here in the Bronx, we are stuck with Congressmen José Serrano and Eliot Engel.  My advice to Congressman Serrano, Open your eyes and look around you at all of the young people who surrounding you in Bronx County who hunger and thirst for new Congressional blood.

He should really start planning his retirement before he is forced into it.

At the same time, José Rivera, Carmen Arroyo and I might also start looking around and planning our good-byes … but not before José Serrano does because his time is long overdue.

I am Senator Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know. 

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York  

Who is the Real Thief, Mr. Clement Gardner, FBI Agent Bullets Campbell, The U.S. Dept. Of Justice or the office of the NYS Attorney General’s office?

You should know that five years ago, in 2007 to be specific, Clement Gardner, a bookkeeper employed by Christian Community Benevolent Association, confessed to FBI Agent Bullets Campbell that he was embezzling money from the organization and that from 2003 to 2007 he had stolen approximately $75,000.00 of monies geared toward helping the poor and needy of the South Bronx.
       
You should also know that Christian Community Benevolent Association was founded by Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz (35) years ago, when the Bronx was burning and businesses, banks, and the wealthy were fleeing and abandoning the South Bronx leaving behind hunger, misery, and burnt out buildings.   Christian Community remained, developed jobs and provided services to those in needs.

After so many years of decent and successful administration by Christian Community, here comes Clement Gardner and confesses to the FBI his conniving and treasonous manner in which he took advantage of the trust and confidence placed on him by the decent people of Christian Community.  
       
Anybody would think that the right thing for the FBI to have done would be to inform the organization, let them know and give them the opportunity to take the necessary actions to protect their interests, to get rid of Mr. Gardner, and sent him to jail back in 2007.
       
You should also know my dear reader, that contrary to what reasonable people would do, the FBI authorized Mr. Gardner, through Agent Campbell, to go back to the agency where he stole more money.
       
Was Mr. Gardner told: “We don’t care what you do we just want Senator Diaz.  Go back keep doing what you’re doing and give us Senator Diaz?”  
       
Who allowed Clement Gardner to steal for five more years?   Mr. Clement Gardner was free to live “La Buena Vida” the good life.   He was stealing and developing a scheme sophisticated enough that it was overlooked by the private auditing firms, hired by the Christian Community and by auditors for the City of New York Human Resources Administration Home Care Contracts.   These experienced auditors were contracted every year to conduct audits of Christian Community’s books.  

Apparently, Clement Gardner was allowed to embezzle thousands of dollars, under the knowledge, approval, advice and direction of law enforcement agencies that are supposed to protect the people of the State of New York.

Now, five years later, after the law enforcement agencies realized that they were taken for a ride by Mr. Clement Gardner and that he made a fool out of them, they conducted a press conference to announce what they have known for the last five years.   What a travesty.......what a shame... and they call themselves honest.    They should all get indicted and sent to jail along with Clement Gardner.

In their quest to get Senator Ruben Diaz, these government agencies are now faced with a bigger problem.  That from 2007 to 2012 they gave Mr. Gardner the opportunity to steal many thousands more, from the people of the State of New York in return for Senator Ruben Diaz, which he did not do.

Soon they will conduct another press conference to announce how many more thousands or maybe millions of dollars Mr. Clement Gardner has stolen.   The New York Press Editorial Board, reporters, news media, and the whole world will cover the big news.    Soon they will also, announce who is to blame for the thievery and what a great job they did in capturing the perpetrator.    Ja Ja Ja, this is laughable.  

Will the media ask the right questions of the NYS Attorney General, The FBI agent Bullets Campbell, the U.S. Department of Justice and/or the companies responsible for the annual audits: Who authorized this? Who protected Clement Gardner and why?  Why wasn’t Gardner arrested five years ago when he confessed to the dirty deed?   Why wait five years? Why allow him to continue to steal money?   Why wasn’t this brought to the attention of the agency’s administration or to HRA?   No, the media will not ask those questions of those responsible, because to do so will make Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz and the people of Christian Community look like victims.

If they ask the right questions, they might get to the truth.   The truth will reveal that Senator Ruben Diaz and the people of Christian Community are decent, God-fearing individuals whose only interest is helping those less fortunate.   That news my friend is a pill that is too big and too hard for most of the media to swallow.   For many of the news media, making Senator Ruben Diaz continue to appear as the hated homophobe, the one against same-sex marriage, the anti-woman for his position against abortion, is their agenda.  For reporters and the news media, the bad news on bad guys sells more papers and is better for business.  

You should know that we  neither have the money or the resources to sue their pants off.  They are too powerful, too untouchable, and have too many resources at their disposal, to do as they please.  We are the little guys and they are above the law.

I am Senator Ruben Diaz, and this  is what you should know.

 

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York 

Congressman Charles Rangel and Senator Adriano Espaillat will attend Hispanic Ministers Banquet

You should know that  this weekend many Evangelical Churches and their congregations, together with The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization will join together to celebrate their 24^th Annual Banquet.
 
You should also know that among the many  dignitaries and elected officials who have confirmed their attendance are New York State Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli, Congressman Charles Rangel, Senator Adriano Espaillat,  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., New York City Comptroller John Liu and New York City Public Advocate Bill De Blasio.
 
The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization was created in 1988, with the purpose of defending and protecting  those Biblical, traditional, family and moral values taught by the word of God, since then, each year the organization celebrates an annual banquet where more than 800 people including ministers, elected officials, and dignitaries gather to recognize those men and women who have done outstanding work on behalf of their communities and those in need. 


This year’s annual banquet, which will take place Saturday April 14th,  and will be dedicated to six members of our community, who have excelled in their religious endeavors on behalf of their community and  service to those that are most in need.
 
The Rev. Abelardo Batista - Bishop General of the Assembly of Christian Churches, Rev. Rene Cruz -   Apostle of the Christian Church El Redentor, Rev. Pedro Olivieri – Pastor of the Church La Puerta Estrecha in upper Manhattan, Rev. Myrna Padro – Director of the Bible Institute Rehoboth, Dr. Pedro Sanchez -  from the Dominican Republic and Mr.  Juan Bautista Jimenez Reinoso - Lieutenant Colonel of the Dominican National Police.
 
These six individuals have been recommended and selected by the Executive Board of Directors of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization, as the most prominent figures in the evangelical community during  the year 2011.

You should know that we all rejoice in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for allowing us to celebrate together another year of many victories, achievements, blessings and the opportunity to do his will.
 
 
I am  Senator Rev.  Rubén Díaz and this is what you  should know.

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