politics
Torres announces new funding for Bronx
health centers for COVID vaccines & care
BY JASON COHEN
Bronx residents struggle
with health care and battle
diseases like asthma and diabetes,
but the pandemic has
only exacerbated these problems.
However, on April 9, Congressman
Ritchie Torres announced
that eight community
health centers located
in the Bronx will receive federal
funding from President
Biden’s American Rescue Plan
totaling almost $69 million to
support COVID-19 vaccination
services, deliver preventive
and primary health care
services and expand health
centers’ operational capacity,
including modifying and improving
physical infrastructure
and adding mobile units.
Seven of the eight health
centers were also invited to
participate in Biden’s Health
Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program,
which will provide a direct
supply of vaccines to the
hardest-hit and highest-risk
communities.
The facilities are: Urban
Health Plan, Inc., $17,060,750,
Montefi ore Medical Center,
$1,859,000, Bronx Community
Health Network, Inc.,
$16,116,750, Bronx Health
Integrated Services, Inc.,
$15,077,000, La Casa de Salud
Inc, $1,387,875, Morris
Heights Health Center, Inc.,
$10,663,000, Union Community
Health Center, Inc., $5,786,875
and Vocational Instruction
Project Community Services,
Inc., $877,125.
“The workers you represent
put their lives at risk during
the peak of the pandemic
so the rest of the city could
shelter in place,” Torres said.
“We owe you a huge debt of
gratitude.”
Torres pointed out that the
coronavirus has exposed the
systemic racism in America.
According to the CDC, as of
April 16, race/ethnicity was
known for just over half of the
people who had received at
least one dose of the vaccine.
Among this group, 65 % were
white, 11% were Hispanic,
8% were Black and 5% were
Asian.
Schumer, Bowman claim Co-op City could
secure tens-of-millions for repairs
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A 16 PR. 16-22, 2021 BTR
There is even a disparity
amongst the boroughs as 44 %
of Manhattan has been vaccinated,
compared to only 31 %
of the Bronx.
According to Torres, the
hope is this money from the
American Rescue Plan will
help community health centers
in the borough vaccinate
more people.
“The question that confronts
us as policy makers is
how do we resolve the vaccination
gap”? he asked. “How
do we reach the communities
that are hardest to reach?”
He stressed how important
these community health
centers are. Many Bronx residents
do not have insurance or
the money to go to a hospital,
so are comfortable there, he
explained.
Now this will empower the
health centers and allow vaccinations
to be equitable.
Urban Health CEO Paloma
Izquierdo-Hernandez
and Doug York, CEO of Union
Community Health Center,
Inc. praised Torres and
the government for stepping
up and helping community
health centers.
“Today is a special day,” Izquierdo
Hernandez said. “We
are the recipient of money that
will allow health care centers
to move forward and help vaccinate
thousands.”
She explained that many
people think doing vaccinations
are a simple process. But,
it is much more than that.
Now, with this fi nancial
assistance, Urban can rehire
staff and open up other sites
that will solely be used for vaccinations.
The hope is to vaccinate
8,000 people a week.
York recalled how when
Torres fi rst began his political
career as a councilman he
would visit Union Community
Health and got to know the
staff and clients.
Union Community has
been in the Bronx for a century
and the hope is this
money will help it last another
100 years.
“The American Rescue
Plan could not have come at a
more crucial time in the history
of qualifi ed health centers,”
he said. “This is a safety
system for tens of millions of
patients around the country
who cannot access affordable
high quality health care.”
Congressman Ritchie Torres announces
announced that eight
community health centers located
in the Bronx will receive federal
funding from President Biden’s
American Rescue Plan
Photos by Jason Cohen
BY JASON COHEN
Co-op City, the nation’s largest
cooperative housing development,
has a rare chance via
historically low interest rates
to secure tens-of-millions in
savings to make immediate
repairs and upgrades via a refi
nancing option.
On April 8, Congressman
Jamaal Bowman and U.S. Senator
Charles Schumer reveled
that this money will only come
if the federal government, specifi
cally Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) acts now.
If approved by HUD, Co-op
City would get $100 million
immediately and $800,000 a
year in mortgage savings.
Ultimately, this would keep
the community affordable for
its 45,000 residents and its next
generation in an increasingly
expensive housing market.
Schumer and Bowman also
recently sent a letter to HUD
Secretary Fudge, urging her
to clear a path for a streamlined
refi nance for Co-op City.
“Jamaal and I are not going
to tell them what to do with
the money,” Schumer said at
the press conference. “It’s up
to the Co-op board and cooperators
to decide. What we do
know is that it could save a lot
of people in the Bronx some
tax dollars.”
The Senate Majority Leader
stressed that the hurdle is
HUD releasing the funds. He,
along with Bowman, Senator
Jamaal Bailey and Councilman
Kevin Riley, urged Fudge
to take action.
“This is about bringing resources
to communities that
have historically been ignored,”
Bowman exclaimed.
“In doing it all, we keep Coop
City affordable, safe and
green.”
Linda Berk, president of
Riverbay Board of Directors,
which oversees Co-op City,
praised the lawmakers for
standing up for the residents
and trying to improve the
neighborhood.
“We represent the possibility
to have affordable housing,
a quality of life and nice
things to come home to,” she
stated. “We implore Director
Fudge to continue to close
the loop, connect the dots and
do the right thing we need so
we can continue to take care
of ourselves with the support
other communities get. Director
Fudge please help us.”
Senator Schumer advocates for HUD to release funds for Co-op City.
Photos by Jason Cohen