BP Diaz: Rename Bronx Post Office for Herman Badillo

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has issued a letter to the United States Congress proposing that the United States Post Office’s Morrisania branch, located at 442 East 167th Street, Bronx, NY, 10456, be renamed in honor of former U.S. Congressman and Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo, who passed away last year.

“Congressman Herman Badillo was a trailblazer in government,” said Bronx Borough President Diaz. “He was an early advocate for bilingual education programs in the country as well as a crusader for worker’s rights during his tenure in Congress. I am proud to have gotten to know him and call him my dear friend.”

Borough President Diaz first mentioned the proposal in his annual “State of the Borough” address last week.

Herman Badillo was the first Latino to be appointed as a Commissioner of New York City, the first Latino to be elected to serve as a Borough President in New York City, the first Latino to be a Deputy Mayor for any New York City Mayor, the first Puerto Rican to serve as the Chairman of the City University of New York and the first Puerto Rican to be elected to the United States Congress as a voting member.

During his time serving in Congress, Badillo was one of the five Latino members of Congress to establish the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and helped create job training for unemployed non-English speaking citizens under the “Comprehensive Manpower Act of 1973” bill. As a member of the Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee and the Small Business Committee, Badillo supported legislature that fought against discrimination in employment – including discrimination based on age and marital status.

Bronx Borough President Diaz believes that renaming the Morrisania branch of the United States Post Office, a facility acknowledged by National Register of Historic Places and one of the borough’s most significant federally-owned buildings, would be a fitting tribute for a true pioneer like Herman Badillo.

Borough President Diaz’s letter to Congress can be found at http://on.nyc.gov/1ExUIhP.