MORRISANIA — Get ready to send your mail from the Herman Badillo Post Office.
President Barack Obama has signed legislation renaming the Morrisania Post Office after the pioneering Puerto Rican politician, meaning the effort to change the building's name is nearly complete.
The only thing left is a celebratory ceremony, which should happen before the end of the year, according to the office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
“Herman Badillo was not only my predecessor and a legend in government and civic life, he was my mentor and friend,” Diaz said. “I was proud to have proposed the renaming of the Morrisania Post Office in honor of Herman Badillo’s Congressional service, and I am even prouder today that President Obama has seen fit to sign this legislation into law.”
Diaz proposed changing the name of the Morrisania Post Office to honor Badillo in his 2015 State of the Borough address in February, and a group of New York politicians announced on July 9 that both houses of Congress had passed legislation to do just that. The bill has now been signed into law by President Obama.
Badillo was the country’s first Puerto Rican congressman and a staple of New York political life for years, serving as Bronx Borough President, Deputy Mayor of New York City and Chairman of CUNY’s Board of Trustees.
He passed away in December at age 85 due to complications from heart failure.
His widow Gail Badillo described the renaming effort as a great way to honor the life's work of her late husband.
"Anything that brings attention to Herman’s name and legacy is very satisfying to me," she said. "He was a great man, and he was a rare politician who really wanted to help people. It wasn’t about him."
