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Senator Serrano's Testimony to the Governor's Economic Security Cabinet:

Governor's Cabinet holds a Town Hall in Harlem during its tour of the state

I would like to thank the Cabinet for coming to Northern Manhattan to discuss the important matter of economic security. I represent the 28th State Senate district, which is composed of parts of East Harlem, the South Bronx, and Roosevelt Island.

With a majority of households living on less than half of the AMI, the 28th District is one of the most disadvantaged Senate districts in the state, and thus an important part of the discussion of economic security for low-income families.

In the 28th District we are seeing a variety of developments that are sending the cost of living in our neighborhoods ever upwards. Real estate developers and speculators have bought and warehoused parcels all over the district in an attempt to turn a large profit, often to the detriment of the residents and the fabric of the community. In an attempt to combat this warehousing of properties, I recently partnered with Assemblyman Farrell and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to pass a bill to use the tax code to encourage the development of affordable housing. The Governor recently signed this bill into law, and I am excited to see the results unfold.

As wealthier residents move in and the affordable housing stock dwindles, many long-term residents have been forced out the neighborhoods they grew up in. We are talking about a district that is the opposite of economically secure at the most fundamental level. With rents going up every year, we are continuing to see families with less and less money to spend on essentials such as food and medicine. We need to reaffirm our commitment to affordable housing with more funding for the preservation and creation of affordable housing and a fully funded NYCHA. I want to applaud the Governor for the recent $357 million for affordable housing construction, and look forward to working with a Governor who has a strong commitment to affordable housing.

In addition to housing, the cost of staples such as bread, milk and eggs have soared in the past year. According to the Department of Labor, milk prices rose 26 percent over the past year and egg prices have risen 40 percent. Many families are having to choose between paying the rent and having enough to eat. My office has also been working on addressing the problem of supermarkets that have closed in the 28th District because of high rents. Again, lack of access to the essentials has increasingly begun to characterize my district.

It is important to recognize the value of local supermarkets when discussing job development, another issue I would like to discuss. Local super markets not only offer  affordable and nutritious products in an area where fast-food would otherwise be the affordable option, but they also provide job opportunities for a number of local residents.

We also have many small businesses that provide jobs that teach workers specialized and marketable skills. Some businesses provide 'green-collar' job opportunities and others give young professionals useful training in techniques that will benefit them today and in the future. These are careers and not just jobs behind cashiers.

Small businesses have been integral to building these communities and they are struggling. We must continue reaching out the small businesses owners and ensuring that they are not left out of the third largest state economy in the United States.

When discussing job development and educational employment opportunities, I believe it is also important to focus on the employment agencies, organizations, and institutions of higher education in my district that have worked tirelessly to help members of the community prepare themselves for a competitive world.

I should point out the good work of Hostos Community College, who has helped various low-income students and adults to train for jobs through their Women's Scholarship Program and the COPE program which trains students and helps to place them in their chosen field of study. It is essential that we as elected officials continue to work to help these community colleges, organizations, and businesses improve their training and education programs so that low-income individuals have the skills they need to find good living-wage jobs and a long-term place in today's workforce.

Last, but most certainly not least, we must ensure that a strong safety net exists for those who fall through the cracks. As the economy slows down and the rolls of unemployed individuals increases, we must do a better job of extending aid to those who need our help. I applaud Governor Paterson for recently extending unemployment benefits.

There is also a need to ensure that those programs that are available are well publicized and people who are eligible know that  help is out there. Currently New York City is entitled to 500 million dollars in federal food stamps benefits that it is not claiming. This is a benefit that could help thousands of families make ends meet, and yet is not being fully realized.

This is both due to the over-stringent guidelines in force here in the city as well as a lack of knowledge among many working people that they are entitled to these benefits. We must do a better job of helping people to take advantage of this fundamental program.

Once again, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to come to Northern Manhattan and listen to the community. We look forward to working with you and the Governor to tackle these important problems.

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