Hundreds Turn Out for Town Hall Meeting on Economic Recovery Package

Some two hundred people filled an auditorium at the College of New Rochelle to hear details on federal economic recovery spending dedicated to New York State.

On Saturday, April 18, 2009 State Senators Ruth Hassell-Thompson and Pedro Espada, Jr. were joined by U.S. Congressman Joe Crowley to host a town hall forum on the federal stimulus package to inform the public about the benefits local communities may realize from the $24.1 billion New York stands to receive from the federal stimulus package. In addition to the elected officials, representatives from state agencies and authorities spoke and answered questions from the audience.

"The economic recovery package provides an unprecedented opportunity to invest in the creation of jobs and infrastructure. By working together, at the federal, state and local levels, we will do more than recover from this economic crisis, we will be able to put our community to work, building a better, brighter Bronx that will allow our families and our children to prosper," said Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson.

Money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be spent in a variety of ways including preserving health care and education funding, stabilizing the economy through job creation and green energy initiatives, providing continued support for our most vulnerable citizens and improving infrastructure, transportation and energy efficiency.