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Herman Badillo Post Office One Step Closer to Reality

By Eddie Small | June 16, 2015 5:12pm
 The House of Representatives passed legislation to name the Morrisania Post Office after Herman Badillo on Monday.
The House of Representatives passed legislation to name the Morrisania Post Office after Herman Badillo on Monday.
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Bronx Borough President's Office/DNAinfo

MORRISANIA — The Morrisania Post Office just moved one step closer to bearing the name of late former congressman Herman Badillo.

On Monday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to rename the building at 442 E. 167th St. after Badillo, the first Puerto Rican congressman and a longtime fixture of New York City political life who died late last year.

The legislation was introduced by Reps. Jose Serrano, Charles Rangel and Joseph Crowley, and now only needs to be approved in the Senate.

Badillo passed away at age 85 in December due to complications from heart failure. In addition to his career in Congress, he also served as deputy mayor of New York City, chairman of CUNY's Board of Trustees and Bronx Borough President.

"Herman Badillo was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, and many of us in Bronx politics would not be where we are today if it weren’t for his leadership and support," Serrano said in a statement. "His work was instrumental in Puerto Ricans’ civic participation, both at the local and national level, and helped bring attention to issues of concern to the community."

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has been an enthusiastic supporter of naming the Morrisania Post Office after Badillo and was pleased Congress was working toward doing so.

"We must always keep his name on our lips, and his memory in our hearts," he said in a statement. "We must always remember, and celebrate, the work of Herman Badillo.”