Upper West Side: "Chavez, friend, the people are with you!"

[Minstrel Boy]

Chavez vows to help U.S. poor

THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: September 18, 2005)

To thunderous applause and chants in Spanish of "Chavez, friend, the people are with you," Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez strode into the United Methodist Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew yesterday on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Chavez told the house packed with peace and anti-globalization activists and community and religious leaders that he would soon start to ship heating oil and diesel fuel at below-market prices to poor communities and schools in the United States.

"I felt a love for the Bronx and New York starting with my visit today," he said as he patted his heart under his red shirt, a symbol of the Bolivarian revolution, during the forum on "Poverty and Justice in a Globalized World."

...

Chavez said that by selling heating oil directly to poor communities in the United States, he could save schools, senior centers, hospitals and apartment buildings in poor communities at least a dollar per gallon.... He said he would also look for ways to donate money or give low-interest loans to public institutions in poor communities.

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050918/NEWS02/509180305/1019/NEWS03

Chavez talks to Congressman Jose Serrano (R) after a visit to The Point Community Center in South Bronx, New York, September 17, 2005

[rndmprsn]

1. impressive...chavez has been.

now if we can get OUR dems to start acting like he and george galloway we might have some hope.

[Missy M]

2. bush must be in a real tizzy over Chavez being in this country...

and receiving warm welcomes everywhere. Imagine the nerve of someone like Chavez attending a forum on "Poverty and Justice in a Globalized World' when the bush and company agenda is "Wealth and Domination in a Globalized World'. I wish Chavez a safe return to Venezuela and thank him for his boldness and ideas on his campaign against poverty.

[chimpymustgo]

3. Do you think he even knows? I would doubt it.

He has to have catastrophies burned onto a CD for him.

[Missy M]

4. I think he may know because the powers that be are probably ...

getting him all riled up so he can start his takeover of Venezuela.

[Team44Car]

5. Viva Chavez!

[OneBlueSky]

6. while he's visiting our country, I'd strongly advise Mr. Chavez . . .

to avoid flying in small planes . . . just a precaution, mind you . . .

[Judi Lynn]

7. What a wonderful photo. So glad to see it looks as if he had his security

with him in New York, after all the _Bush administration did to render him completely unprotected in New York.

I wanted to correct a mistake made in the caption with the photo. Rep. José Serrano is a Democrat, representing the Bronx, 16th District. Excellent Congressman.


http://democrats.house.gov/about/representative_detail.cfm?rep_id=199

[PunkPop]

11. Thanks. An R at his side?

That made no sense whatsoever.

[Tatiana]

8. Looks like he's doing more for our country than our own dimwit President.

Heating and fuel costs will be a huge chunk of low-income families' budgets. This is a direct way to help them.

[donsu]

9. kicking

nt

[im10ashus]

10. I wondered what was going on yesterday.

I saw several convoys of sedans with police escorts all over the UWS last night. Go Chavez!!!