RIVERDALE PRESS INTERVIEW

I was recently interviewed by the Riverdale Press.



State Sen. Efrain Gonzalez Jr. - Exclusive Interview from N. Clark Judd on Vimeo.

STELLA D'ORO WORKERS STRIKE

I recently spoke at a rally in the Bronx where Stella D'Oro workers are on strike. Negotiations are not going well. I fully support those workers. Before I became a State Senator, I was a union representative. Thus, I feel very strongly about worker's rights and the fair wages that they are entitled to.

When I am re-elected, I will continue to fight on for the people of my district. Many of whom are black and Latino. As I stated in the video below, if the workers suffer, the cookies will also.

Somos unidos y venceremos!

BRONX HEALTH CARE

I have always been a strong proponent of better health care for my constituents. The system, as it exists has not treated us fairly. I will continue to speak out and propose legislation for improved benefits and equitable care. Health is wealth.

DOMINICAN DAY PARADE BRONX STYLE

I was proud to take part in the Dominican Day parade in the Bronx on Sunday. It was a great day for Dominican pride and a festival where everyone could feel welcome. Somos unidos!

OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

I have always been a strong advocate for education. It is the key to success and impacts your life and your family also. The W.R. Grace Institute offers a wonderful opportunity for young women to learn skills. The tuition is free. I urge you to avail yourselves of this golden opportunity.

The following is a message from the W. R. Grace Institute.

Come to Grace today. Change your life tomorrow.For over 100 years, Grace Institute has been helping women succeed. Grace women learn valuable career skills and discover they can achieve more than they ever thought possible. We want you to be a part of a long history of Grace students who are taking advantage of this TUITION-FREE opportunity and changing their lives!

Whether you are a recent high school graduate, looking to change careers or ready to advance in your current position, Grace offers training in a variety of subjects. Grace Institute provides students with a lasting bridge to the working world and a foundation for continuous education and training. With the advantage of professional networking opportunities and extensive alumnae connections, Grace's learning experience does not end in the classroom. Graduates receive career development skills and job placement assistance in top businesses in New York City.

Grace graduates have been hired by companies including Citigroup; Forbes; J.P. Morgan Chase; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York University School of Medicine; The American Museum of Natural History; and Fordham University. The close-knit environment at Grace brings women of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures together with a common desire for professional, academic, and personal success and self-improvement. What is more, the learning experience continues outside the classroom through interaction among students, faculty, staff, and alumnae.Please call us at 212-832-7605 or email info@graceinstitute.org for more information.We look forward to meeting you!

THE COST OF GOING GREEN

Earlier this week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a photo op with three hybrid taxis. Bloomberg has been advocating hybrid cabs for the past year. He has issued a mandate that all NYC Black cars, (those that ferry executives), must be hybrid by 2010. He also states that yellow cabs should take the initiative to "go green." The problem is that many yellow cab drivers simply cannot afford the cost of a hybrid car.

Yellow cab drivers, many of whom live in the 33rd., have asked Bloomberg for a $1 surcharge.

The surcharge would cover the cost of the rising price of gasoline. However Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the TLC are opposed to the surcharge, saying the drivers have gotten two raises in the past four years. "I don't think that at this point you need a fuel surcharge on taxis," Bloomberg said. "We need a surcharge on automobiles." The TLC claims the average driver earned about $290 a day in June, between $13.40 and $16 an hour depending on whether they have a hybrid car. But drivers state the opposite.

Several drivers said they had to work longer hours to make ends meet.
Victor Salazar, an owner-operator who drives a 2007 Toyota Sienna, and who took part in the protest, said, “To fill up the gas tank, I spend almost $80 per shift. My shift now is about 14 hours. I have to work more hours to compensate. I work six shifts a week. Actually it’s more like six and a half, because on my day off, I have to go out.”

Although "Going Green" is a necessary cause, it is difficult for the poor and the working class. For example, the cost of an energy efficient light bulb starts at $3.00. The price of a hybrid car is approximately $31,000. In the final analysis, money is saved and the environment is spared.

But, the initial cost needs to be subsidized for those who cannot afford it.
New York City enjoys a brisk tourist trade. Perhaps one of the highest ever experienced in NYC history. Thus, a $1 taxi surcharge is not unreasonable to ask. For a European tourist, this is the equivalent of .50 cents. And for the average taxi riding public, the $1 burden is a lot less cumbersome than the cost of living for a cab driver.

Mayor Bloomberg continues to appease the white collar contingent, overlooking the working class. In fairness, he has made great strides in the Black and Latino communities. However, " Going Green" means considering the Black and Brown also.

I call upon the City to grant a $1 surcharge to taxi drivers and to aid citizens with subsidies in the pursuit of creating a better environment for all New Yorkers.

6th Annual Mount Hope Jazz-Fest

Once again, it was wonderful attending and seeing friends at the Mount Hope Housing Company 6th Annual Jazz Festival. Watch the video and enjoy!