“When he visited, President Chavez offered a new type of program to the people of the Bronx.
He had harnessed the power of his nation’s oil resources and was using their profits—through Citgo—to enact social spending programs.
Now he offered people in the Bronx that were struggling economically the same deal.
He would provide home heating oil at a huge discount, provided the savings were reinvested in programs that benefited the underserved and underprivileged.
I am proud to report that we have benefited from that program ever since, with millions invested in our community through this program and through a grant program he set up.