Legionnaires Disease – Not the First Time Governor Andrew Cuomo Has Come to Help the Bronx

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz District 32 Bronx County, New York Tel 718-991-3161

Legionnaires Disease – Not the First Time Governor Andrew Cuomo Has Come to Help the Bronx

You should know that Bronx County has been confronted by an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease that has already taken the lives of 10 people and affected the lives of more than 100 others.

You should already know that Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr., because of his great diplomatic skills, has established a unique relationship with New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Bronx members of the New York State Legislature.  To this effect, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr. requested the intervention, the resources and the immediate action of Governor Cuomo after seeing that the number of Bronx resident suffering and dying from Legionnaires Disease was expanding.

It is well known how fast the Governor responded to the Borough President, but this is not the first time! Because of this great relationship between the Bronx Borough President, the Governor and the Bronx delegation, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr. has been able to achieve the unachievable for Bronx County. These include:

The Bronx has seen over a billion dollars in housing and more that 16,000 units developed – with a great deal of the financing coming from the New York State Housing Community Renewal – all stemming from the relationship between the Governor, the Borough President and the Bronx delegation.

The Hunts Point Market was allocated tens of millions of dollars for their new facility. In fact, the Bronx received more than half of the first round of dollars by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council.

In response to Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr.’s request, Governor Andrew Cuomo is supporting four Metro North stations in the Bronx – and the Governor has allocated $750 million dollars for this in the new 5-year Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Capital Plan.  He didn’t stop there: Governor is also allocating an additional $250 million dollars of his own Capital Budget for these stations.

You should also know that the Bronx has been able to significantly reduce unemployment from 14.8% when the Borough President began to 7.8% now.  This is in a large part because of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s intervention and efforts through sending and opening a New York State Department of Labor office in conjunction with the Bronx Overall Economic Development (BOEDC).  Because of this, more than 20,000 more Bronx residents are working.

You can also see how successful Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr. was in obtaining  support from Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Transportation to help widen the lanes on I-95 and mitigate the congestion at the Bay Plaza Mall.

After Superstorm Sandy, Governor Andrew Cuomo allocated tens of millions of dollars to Bronx County for the restoration of our waterfronts.

And now Governor Andrew Cuomo is back again, helping us in response to Bronx County’s outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease.

My dear reader, you might be surprised to hear this praise for Governor Andrew Cuomo coming from me. I have been one of the worst critics of this Governor – but because of my religious beliefs, I now have to recognize Governor Andrew Cuomo’s intervention in helping us all in Bronx County. 

The Bible says: Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person. [Romans 13:7]

This is why I must give credit to the Governor for coming to help Bronx County so many times, to the Bronx Borough President for having such a vision and dedication for Bronx County, and to the Bronx legislative delegation for working together on behalf of the people of the Bronx.

Hoorah for the Bronx!

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