Shady Seabrook can hand out 350G 

According to Speaker Quinn

 

   This one comes from the The New York Post about  how Bronx Councilman Larry Seabrook will be allowed to distribute more than $350,000.00 in member items despite being still under federal indictment for misusing such monies. The Post says that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (a mayoral candidate in 2013) will allow Seabrook to allocate the monies, because "there is now a strict system in place that would root out irregularities long beforeany government monies were misspent". 

   The story goes on to detail the process, and tell of what Councilman Seabrook is accused of doing, while saying that Seabrook gave out $362,000.00 in council  funding last year before he went to trial. Council officials claim that the local elected officials know their districts better than anyone else, and should be the ones to distribute any discretionary finding.
   Dick Dadey director of the Citizens Union recommends keeping Seabrook as far away from council monies, and praises the council for the new procedures of accountability. 

   Mayor Bloomberg says that Seabrooks fate rests with the court system.

   

 

Klein and IDC Look For Bigger Gains in 2012

   The timesunion.com has a very interesting article here  about senators Jeff Klein (Bronx Westchester), Diane Savino (Staten Island), David Carlucci (Rockland County), and David Valesky (Onondaga County), and what they accomplished after forming the Independent Democratic Conference. 

   Senator Klien is quoted as saying "I think we were wildly successful. We showed that you could govern in a bipartisan fashion. You can get things done even if you're a minority legislator."

   The story continues to say that of the 68 bills the IDC got passed in the State Senate 32 were signed into law, and that 21 policy reports recommending savings of millions dollars were given. 

   The fine line on how the IDC gets along with both Republicans and Democrats is discussed, and the entire story makes interesting reading. You make see the IDC in a whole new way. Could this group be the next big thing in politics?

What You Should Know

By Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz

   The year 2011 has been one of ups and downs for our community: we have endured political scandals;  Governor Andrew Cuomo’s  budget has practically eliminated programs and services for the needy in our community;  marriage between men with men and women with women was imposed on our people;  an extreme sex education  curriculum has been introduced into the public schools of the city of New York by Mayor Michael Bloomberg; and the elimination of the use of the public schools by churches for worship and service to our Lord.  These are among some of  the many  and most important events of the year 2011.

On the other hand our community has grown in sports,  in the sciences, in the arts, in music and above all else, according to the 2010 census- in numbers.

In this new year, I want to wish my friends  and  my  enemies prosperity.  May the Lord keep and protect  them, and bless them and their loved ones with health.  

 For some people, I have special wishes for the New Year:

For Gerson Borrero, May he find a job where he can survive because wherever he goes, they fire him or he has problems.

For Ruben Diaz Jr., May The Three Kings put under his bed news that his ambitions are on the right track.

For, El Pacha, May he stop feeding so much food to the Pachasitos, he is going to give them an upset stomach
                                .
For, Wadoman, May the Administration of Univision or Telemundo open their eyes and see the talent that they have lost in Wadoman.

For,  Luis Sepulveda, Esq., When he makes it  to the State Assembly, may he not forget Wadoman and the values we have taught him.

For, Assemblyman Nelson Castro,  May he learn to honor and keep his word.  All  a person has is his word, and when the person sells or compromises their  word, they lose all credibility and become the laughing stock of their colleagues.

For,  Dr. Hector Chiesa, May the New Year  bring him the partner of his dreams and  may he have many Chiesitos.

For,  Dr. Kittim Silva, May he continue writing books and hitting Satan over the head.

For, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, May he always stand in defense of the community, the poor even when the Speaker and  his colleagues reject his position.

For, President Barack Obama, May he fulfill his promises to immigrants and resolve their problems with their immigration’s status. May he stop the destruction and separation of families who suffer with so many deportations and above all else, that once and for all, may he stop blaming President Bush and accept his  responsibility.

And my wish for myself:  that the New Year grant me, Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change things I can and wisdom in order to know the difference.

This is what you should know, and I am the Rev. Senator Rubén Díaz.