Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz Outraged by News of Sexual Assault Against Elderly Bronx Senior

JULY 19, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz Outraged by News of Sexual Assault Against Elderly Bronx Senior
 

As Chair of the New York State Senate Aging Committee, Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz (D-Bronx) issued the following statement today after hearing a report that a 79-year old senior citizen woman was stripped naked, beaten up and raped at 1400 Benson Street in The Bronx:
 
“It is sickening to hear today’s report about the assault, beating and forcible rape of an elderly Bronx woman.  Whoever committed this crime must be arrested immediately and imprisoned. 

What is going on in our society?  How can Mayor Michael Bloomberg claim that crime is going down?  If we cannot protect our senior citizens, then who can we protect?  Clearly, we need more police protection for our seniors and for the more vulnerable members of our society.

It is outrageous that the City’s $63 billion budget has eliminated financing programs that help sexual assault victims, including the New York City Alliance Sexual Assault program and three rape crisis programs.
 
They say that a society is ultimately judged by how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable members.  It is our responsibility to promote an inherent respect for all human life and to provide the best care available for our elderly.  We must find ways to prevent violent crimes against senior citizens and all members of the human family.
 
The Senate Aging Committee remains committed to protecting our seniors.  My deepest sympathies go out to the 79-year old victim of this horrible crime.”
 

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