[NYTr] Venezuela's CITGO Has Given $3.3 Million to Poor in South Bronx
 
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 11:37:58 -0500 (CDT)


Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
New York Daily News - August 8, 2007
http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/bronx/2007/08/08/2007-08-08_serrano_joins_hundreds_in_public_thanks_-2.html

Serrano joins hundreds in public thanks for Chavez oil

By Jess Wisloski

Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez - and the U.S. oil company that pumps
his nation's oil - got a big "Gracias!" this week from the South Bronx.

The thanks was for $3 million in donations to various nonprofit borough
groups.

Hundreds gathered at the Hunts Point Riverside Park Monday to welcome
and thank the ambassador from the U.S.'s fourth-largest oil-providing
nation, and executives from Citgo, the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela's
state-run oil company.

"For all intents and purposes, this is an American company. Ninety
percent of its employees are here, they pay taxes here, they are held
accountable here," said Rep. Jose Serrano, who worked with Venezuelan
Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez to provide the grants.

"The only difference is they're putting money back into the communities
they get their money from," he said.

The three-year grants will go to nine community-based organizations
devoted to social justice and environmental change in the Bronx.

The idea is one of many by Venezuela's firebrand president, Hugo
Chavez, and part of his "Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas."

But his largesse also is easily seen as a dig at President Bush, whom
Chavez famously called "the devil" in a speech at the UN.

Serrano (D-South Bronx), who hosted Fidel Castro on a Bronx visit more
than a decade ago, struck up a relationship with Chavez after he
visited the borough two years ago and earmarked 25 million gallons of
Citgo's home heating oil to be sold at a 40% discounted rate to poor
Americans. Three Bronx non-profits helped distribute it to 8,000
impoverished residents.

Serrano defended the political implication of the new funding from
Citgo.

The grant recipients are Casa Atabex Ache, GreenWorker Cooperatives,
Mount Hope Housing, Servicios de EducaciC3n BC!sica, Sistas on the Rise
and the new South Bronx Food Coop, as well as environmental
organizations Rocking the Boat, The Point and Youth Ministries for
Peace and Justice.

They did not seem to mind the political implications.

"This is allowing us to do more demonstration projects than we were
able to before, and community projects," said Alexie Torres-Fleming,
executive director for Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, which
educates communities about the damage of pollution.

                                     ***
El Universal - August 7, 2007
http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/08/07/en_eco_art_pdvsa-grants-usd-3.3_07A911727.shtml

Pdvsa grants USD 3.3 million to Bronx communities

Citgo, a subsidiary of state-run oil holding PetrC3leos de Venezuela
(Pdvsa) based in the United States, entered into multiple agreements
with some organizations in South Bronx, a New York City's borough,
awarding them USD 3.3 million for three years, for community
development programs.

Democratic Congressman JosC) Serrano, Venezuelan ambassador to
Washington Bernardo Clvarez, and Citgo new CEO Alejandro Granado headed
the ceremony at the headquarters of Rocking The Boat, one of the
recipients, Efe reported.

This initiative follows the sale of discount heating oil as part of a
program implemented by the subsidiary in 2005 on behalf of the
communities of the 16th congressional district in South Bronx, the
poorest in the nation and the one represented by Serrano. Later that
year, the program extended up to 142 million liters and 380 million
liters last winter. Venezuelan President Hugo ChC!vez visited Bronx in
2005. At that time, he was welcomed by Serrano and promised to help the
underprivileged communities. The aid started in November 2005 with the
sale of the fuel. Granado estimated that this winter, a total of
200,000 poor households in 23 US states will get benefit from this
program.

According to the Citgo CEO, the initiative was at the request of the
organizations. A total of nine agencies that provide services to women
and children, engaged in out-of-school activities, English and computer
lessons, environmental protection, education, healthy food and housing
will be the first beneficiaries in New York and the northeastern part
of the United States.

 
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