FreshDirect to Open New Headquarters in the Bronx

Company Will Invest $112 Million and Employ Nearly 3,000 Workers

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., today announced that FreshDirect, a leading fresh food internet grocer, will invest $112.6 million to build its new headquarters and operations center at Harlem River Yards, retaining nearly 2,000 existing jobs and creating almost 1,000 new jobs.

The construction of the new facility will also result in the creation of approximately 684 construction jobs in the City.

“FreshDirect is a home-grown success that will now continue to grow and create jobs in New York,” Governor Cuomo said.

“Creating almost a thousand new jobs is a real victory for the Bronx and a clear sign that leading New York companies see this state as the place to start, stay and strengthen their businesses.”

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg noted, “Making sure that companies like FreshDirect can grow and invest in New York City is a key part of our strategy to rebuild and diversify our economy. A thousand new jobs at the Harlem River Yards is great news for the Bronx and a welcome boost to our City’s economy.”

“I welcome FreshDirect to the Bronx with open arms. This iconic company will not only stay in New York where it belongs thanks to this deal, they will bring 1,000 new jobs with them to our borough. More and more companies are discovering that the Bronx is a great place to do business, and FreshDirect’s move to our borough is a major positive step forward for our economy,” stated  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

FreshDirect Chief Executive Officer Jason Ackerman added, "From day one, New York has been our home, and we are grateful for the support of Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg in making New York a place FreshDirect wants to stay and grow in, and for Bronx Borough President Diaz welcoming us. With significant growth in our customer base, we need to expand our operations. A new state-of-the-art facility at the Harlem River Yard in the Bronx would allow us to operate more efficiently, maintain our relationships with NYS vendors, local farmers and purveyors and continue our long track record of growth and job creation in New York.”

FreshDirect, founded in 1999 and currently based in Long Island City, New York, purchases produce, meat and dairy from over 60 New York State-based farms and serves a customer base of over 100,000 people with 97 percent of their employees coming from New York State.

To meet the needs of its rapidly growing customer base, FreshDirect will invest $112.6 million to construct a state-of-the-art 500,000 square foot facility on a 16 acre parcel at Harlem River Rail Yards in the Bronx. From its new headquarters and operations, the company will dramatically expand its service area to regions surrounding New York City, as well as New Jersey, Connecticut, and Philadelphia.

To encourage FreshDirect to retain and expand their operations in New York City, a package of state and city incentives valued at over $100 million is being provided to augment the company’s private investment including: New York State: $18.9 million in Excelsior tax credits (ESD), $9 million capital grant (ESD), $4 million in energy grants and incentives (NYPA/NYSERDA), $1 million loan (ESD), and up to $1 million in vouchers for the purchase of electric vehicles (NYSERDA).

New York City incentives include: Approximately $74 million in sales tax exemptions, mortgage recording tax deferral, and real estate tax exemption spending approval (NYCIDA), $9.5 million to acquire assets to be used at the new facility at Harlem River Rail Yards pending approval (NYCIDA), $4.9 million in energy benefits (NYCEDC), and $1 million loan (NYCEDC).

The Bronx Borough President's incentive includes a $1 million capital grant, and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation would receive a $3 million loan and a $500,000 capital grant.

FreshDirect plans to purchase 10 electric refrigerated electric trucks from Smith Electric Vehicles, and five additional electric refrigeration units that can be placed on existing trucks.

Smith Electric is a leader in zero-emission, all-electric commercial vehicles, which – through a federally-funded program and with assistance provided by New York City and State - recently announced plans to establish a clean technology manufacturing facility in the South Bronx that will create more than 100 new direct jobs.

A number of city officials praised the decision and expressed full support for the economic plan. They include the following: 

"Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s leadership, a true New York success story is staying in New York. This is another strong signal of how the Governor’s efforts to create a better business environment are paying off in the form of more jobs for New Yorkers." - Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams.

“While New York City is the home to some of the most innovative companies in the world, there are few that have impacted the daily habits of New Yorkers like FreshDirect. Over the next decade, this project will lead to significant investment in the South Bronx, creating thousands of jobs for New Yorkers, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in overall economic activity, and ensuring that this hometown success story is able to continue its tremendous growth right here in the five boroughs where it belongs.” -  New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky

“FreshDirect’s decision to expand in the Bronx is a strong statement of confidence in New York City's future. Today’s announcement is the latest sign that more and more businesses want to be in New York City.” -  NYC Deputy Mayor Robert K. Steel.

“FreshDirect's move to the Bronx will bring much needed jobs to the borough, along with additional business opportunities here and across the region for companies of all types. I look forward to working with them to expand the borough’s economy for years to come.” -  Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation President Marlene Cintron

Image courtesy of http://www.prlog.org

In Memoriam.... Army Specialist Koran P. Contreras and Private 1st Class Douglas J. Jeffries, Jr.

From the Executive Chamber of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, September 20 in honor of two Fort Drum soldiers who died on September 8.

Army Specialist Koran P. Contreras and Private 1st Class Douglas J. Jeffries, Jr. died of wounds suffered when their unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort Drum. Specialist Contreras was from Lawndale, California, and Private 1st Class Jeffries, Jr. was from Springville, California.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers of Specialist Contreras and Private First Class Jeffries," Governor Cuomo said.

"We will mourn these Fort Drum soldiers and we will honor their sacrifice.”

From The G-Man would like to honor Army Specialist Koran P. Contreras and Private 1st Class Douglas J. Jeffries, Jr., their love of country, and their service with the following video tribute. May they rest in peace.

Video uploaded to YouTube by moderatepopulist

MLK Memorial Reveal Marks Last One on America’s Lawn

The MLK Memorial was revealed on the National Mall Monday morning, and will be the last memorial to ever be revealed on America's front lawn.

Sources:Christian Science MonitorFox NewsMSNBC

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

By Emily Spain

Anchor: Emily Spain

Video provided by Newsy.com

MediSys Pulls Out of Peninsula Hospital Deal

Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway, New York

Key Hospital Source Tells 'From The G-Man' Contract May Not Have Been Valid

A FROM THE G-MAN EXCLUSIVE

On July 27, 2011, From The G-Man reported that the management of Peninsula Hospital Center (PHC) and the MediSys Health Network Inc. have been working with the New York State Department of Health and other parties to try and find a workable solution to the deep financial crisis facing Peninsula Hospital Center.

Peninsula has been struggling financially for several years prior to its sponsorship by MediSys, the Queens and Brooklyn based network that has attempted to make Peninsula financially viable in the current difficult economic market.

A series of meetings were held recently that included discussions with St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Local 1199, and State officials, among others, to develop approaches to meet the health care needs of the Rockaway communities. Without a long-term solution that puts Peninsula Hospital Center on the path to fiscal recovery, an organized closure may be the only option.

"Everything possible is being done in the best interest of the communities’ healthcare needs and we will continue to work with the State DOH and other parties during this process," said Ole W. Pedersen, Vice President of Public Affairs for Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is a part of the MediSys Health Network.

According to information cited on the MediSys website, a recent Consumer Reports Health (CRH) report stated that Peninsula Hospital Center is the only hospital in the entire metropolitan area to successfully prevent patients from acquiring an infection while in the hospital, particularly a bloodstream infection, which is a problem faced by many facilities across the country.

Hospital employees contacted From The G-Man to note that they were at a loss to explain why more was not being done to save the financially-distressed facility, especially in the wake of the CRH report. Moreover, on August 9, a key source inside Peninsula Hospital Center expressed grave concerns regarding the validity of the contract and/or deal between MediSys and PHC.

The source also stated that many employees, including emergency room staff, were unclear as to whether or not the hospital was still allowing patients to be admitted into the emergency room. From The G-Man spoke to an emergency room staff member about whether or not patients were still being admitted or if a mandate had been issued to shut its doors.

"As far as I know, we're still admitting them. Now, if we're supposed to be admitting them, that's a really good question," said the staff member, who chose to remain anonymous.

In effort to obtain clarity, the following email was sent to the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center's (JHMC) public relations department, which is listed as the primary contact on the MediSys website.

from Gary Toms fromthegman@gmail.com to NATIFIA GAINES date Wed, Aug 10, 2011 at 11:38 AM subject Re: Jamaica Hospital the Only Facility in Queens to Offer New Asthma Treatment mailed-by gmail.com Images from this sender are always displayed. Don't display from now on.

hide details Aug 10 (4 days ago)

Got it! (Smiles) I'll post this on my news site today and send you think link to share with executives and staff.

Now, having said that, I need you to do something for me. I received a call from a trusted source inside Peninsula Hospital Center, which as you know is slated to close. The source informed me of two things:

1. Members of the hospital's staff and Board feel blindsided by the closure because none of them were privy to the contract with Medisys or the fact that the agreement was officially signed by the hospital and Medisys executives.

Therefore, many in the hospital are unclear as to who actually runs it. Can you comment on who runs the facility and whether or not everyone on the Peninsula Hospital Board was made aware of the contract stipulations?

2. Reports within the hospital claim patients are not being admitted, but one doctor is vowing to keep admitting them as long as they're coming in. Has a directive actually been issued? If so, who gave the order to stop admitting patients to the ER?

If at all possible, please provide comments by 5 pm today. If you will need more time, please email me indicating so.

Thanks!

From The G-Man was informed, by two different PHC sources -- that an emergency meeting took place between MediSys and PHC Board of Directors on Thursday, August 11. According to the sources, a PHC Board member emerged from the meeting and stated that MediSys would no longer be involved with the PHC deal.

On Friday, August 12, From The G-Man placed calls to the JHMC/MediSys public relations department and the CEO of Peninsula Hospital, Robert Levine, to confirm the MediSys deal had been terminated and to obtain an explanation for the decision. Calls were not returned by Levine, but Ole W. Pedersen, Vice President of Public Affairs for JHMC/Medisys submitted the following statement shortly before this article was published.

"The Peninsula Hospital Center Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. During that meeting they voted to rescind their original letter to the New York State Department of Health, which had informed them of the hospital's closure. As a result of this decision by the Peninsula Board, The MediSys Health Network convened on emergency meeting on Wednesday, August 10th and approved the following actions: Effective 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 22, the MediSys Health Network will withdraw as the sole corporate sponsor of Peninsula Hospital Center and its affiliated nursing home. In addition, MediSys will terminate, as of that date, the provision of all administrative and shared services. MediSys will continue to work with the New York State Department of Health and all other concerned parties throughout this process."

In March of 2011, Crain's New York and other news outlets reported that MediSys had fired its CEO, David Rosen, over bribery and corruption charges involving the late New York State Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio. State Senator Carl Kruger and Assemblyman William Boyland, Jr. were indicted in the case.

Read the story here:
http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10611:medisys-board-finally-fires-ceo-who-was-charged-with-bribery-in-2008&catid=155:nonprofit-newswire&Itemid=986

In an unrelated story, but one that has a MediSys link, several shots were fired at the vehicle of Assemblyman Boyland on the evening of August 10, the same day that From The G-Man sent its email to MediSys.

The New York Times reported the following:

"The shooting occurred about 6 p.m. while Mr. Boyland, who was returning from a barber shop, was driving near the intersection of Saratoga and Sutter Avenues in Brownsville, the authorities said. After hearing several shots ring out, Mr. Boyland pulled over and called the police, Inspector Royster said, adding that initially, Mr. Boyland, 40, did not know that the vehicle he was driving, a 2009 G.M.C., had been struck."

Read the story here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/nyregion/boylands-suv-was-hit-by-random-shot-police-think.html?_r=1

News Icon and 'Like It Is' Host Gil Noble Suffers Stroke

Doctors Say Stroke Was Very Serious, But Noble in Stable Condition

Details provided in the following article that was published in the August 4 edition of the New York Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/08/04/2011-08-04_wabcch_7s_like_it_is_host_gil_noble_hospitalized_for_serious_stroke_but_in_stabl.html

From The G-Man wishes the legendary journalist a full and speedy recovery.

Photo and copyright owned by https://picasaweb.google.com/nationaljericho

In Memoriam....Army Specialist Rafael A. Nieves, Jr.

From the Executive Chamber of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Thursday, July 14 in honor of a soldier from Albany who was killed in action in Afghanistan on July 10.

Army Specialist Rafael A. Nieves, Jr. died of wounds suffered when small arms fire and a rocket propelled grenade struck his vehicle during a mounted patrol in Paktika province. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I express my sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers of Specialist Rafael Nieves, Jr.," Governor Cuomo said.

"We join them in mourning the death of this New York soldier and we will honor his service to our nation."

From The G-Man would like to honor Army Specialist Rafael A. Nieves, Jr., his love of country and his service with the following video tribute. May he rest in peace.

Video uploaded to YouTube by moderatepopulist

President Attends National Action Network 20th Anniversary Celebration

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

AT THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK ANNUAL GALA

Sheraton New York Hotel

New York, New York

6:01 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good to be in New York City. Let me begin by acknowledging some very, very special guests. Dr. Richardson, thank you. Charlie Rangel, for your outstanding work on behalf of your constituents. Mayor David Dinkins. (Applause.) Governor David Paterson is here. (Applause.) State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. DiNapoli, excuse me. This is another one that’s hard to pronounce: Stevie Wonder. (Laughter.) Martin Luther King III. (Applause.) All the Keepers of the Dream honorees with us tonight, and the National Action Network.

It is wonderful to be here as you celebrate your 20th anniversary. Some things have changed a lot since 1991. I told Reverend Al backstage he’s getting skinnier than me. (Laughter.) He’s getting skinnier than Spike. (Laughter.) But he hasn’t lost his sense of style. The other thing that hasn’t changed is the National Action Network’s commitment to fight injustice and inequality here in New York City and across America. And that’s not only a testament to Reverend Sharpton. It’s a testament to all of you who are here tonight. I want to commend you for the work that you’ve done over the last two decades to lift up not only the African American community but the broader American family. That’s what you’re about. (Applause.)

The last time I came was in April of 2007, four months ago -- four years ago this month. Back then I had fewer supporters. Most of you couldn’t pronounce my name, so Tom, don’t feel bad. (Laughter.) I had a lot fewer gray hairs. I was looking at some pictures -- I looked really young back then. (Laughter.) I said that we were facing extraordinary challenges in this country, but that what was stopping us from solving them wasn’t a lack of policies; it wasn’t a lack of plans. What was stopping us was a broken politics. A broken politics in Washington -- a politics that was all about the next election instead of the next generation; that was all about what we disagreed about instead of what we had in common; a politics that made us cynical about our ability to change this country.

And I said that if you stand with me and believe in what we can do together, if you do what civil rights groups like the National Action Network have always done, if you put your shoulder to the wheel of history, then we can move this country toward the promise of a better day. I told you at the time I wasn’t a perfect person, I wouldn’t be a perfect President, but what I could commit to was always telling you the truth even when it was hard, and I would spend each and every day thinking about you.

And because you made our campaign your own, because you believed in our ability to shape our own destiny, we won that chance to bring about real change. And I said on inauguration night in Chicago that that was simply the end of the beginning, and that now the real business started.

Because I didn’t run and so many of you didn’t support me just to win an election. We won the election so that we could then actually get moving on all the work that had been left undone. Even though we understood, of course, the magnitudes of the challenges we faced, we didn’t fully realize until late in the game, probably the last month of the campaign, that we would be facing the worst recession in generations -- a recession that was leaving millions of Americans without a home, without a job, without hope for the future.

And as Reverend Al said, some folks have amnesia about this. Where are we two years later? Our economy has started to grow again. The recovery is gaining momentum. People are finally starting to get hired back. We had to make some tough choices in between. You remember when we decided we had to move to save the American auto industry and everybody said, that can’t happen. And then two weeks ago, GM just announced that it’s going to hire back every single worker that has been laid off and every U.S. automaker is making a profit. (Applause.) But that wasn’t popular. That wasn’t popular.

A while back, I visited a small trucking business, and its owner Stephen Neal is one of our country’s African American business leaders. And he told me that because of the uptick in our economy, he was buying new equipment and adding more workers. And that’s what’s happening all across America. In the first three months of this year, we’ve added nearly half a million private sector jobs -- nearly 2 million jobs in the last 13 months.

So we’re making progress, but we’re not there yet. And I want you to know that so long as there are Americans who cannot find work I will be fighting for jobs, and so long as the gap between the wealthiest few and everybody else keeps on growing I will be fighting for opportunity. And I know you’ll be right there alongside with me. (Applause.)

We are going to keep fighting until every family gets a shot at the American Dream. That’s our North Star. That’s the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. That’s the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night -- the hopes and dreams of people who work hard every single day, look after their families, take care of their responsibilities, and just need a little bit of help to make it.

Now, there are Americans of all colors and creeds who are struggling to live out those dreams today. That’s part of what our campaign was about, was reminding ourselves that everybody is in this together. Now, what’s also true, though, is the unemployment rate for African Americans is almost double what it is for other groups. It’s also true that those with the least have been sacrificing the most during this recession. What’s also true is that even before the recession hit, too many communities were marked by structural inequalities in health and education and employment that made it profoundly difficult for too many people to get ahead.

You understood that. I understood that. That’s part of the reason I ran for President, because I’ve seen the frustration and the wounded pride in the eyes of folks who’ve lost their jobs or a father who has to go home and tell his kids that we might not have enough this month, might be losing our apartment this month. I’ve heard the stories of struggling families who are doing everything right and still at the end of the month don’t quite have enough to pay the bills. I did not start hearing those stories when I became President. Those are stories that led me to run for President in the first place. (Applause.)

As Reverend mentioned, I got my start tackling the problems of joblessness and hopelessness that afflict so many of our cities and rural communities. I got my start working to bring opportunity to neighborhoods that were full of boarded-up houses and shuttered stores, fighting to keep kids off the street, fighting to get them into school, fighting to make sure that they went on to college, fighting to make real the promise of justice in our judicial system.

And these causes of justice and equality and opportunity, they aren’t just what led me into politics, they’re what led ordinary people to sit down at the front of the bus, to cross that bridge in Selma, to heed a King’s call to perfect our union. They’re the heart of what makes us Americans. That’s who we are. And because of your support, they’re the causes that I’ve been carrying since I’ve been in the Oval Office.

With the help of folks at the grassroots, we passed historic health insurance reform that will not only extend coverage to 30 million more Americans and give Americans more affordable choices, but will narrow the cruel health disparities between African Americans of different backgrounds. That was because of your work. (Applause.)

We passed Wall Street reform that will protect consumers from the kind of predatory lending practices that helped cause this recession. We’re rewarding work with an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. We’re tackling poverty with Promise Neighborhoods that build on the great work of Geoffrey Canada up in Harlem. We’re making sure our civil rights and anti-discrimination laws are enforced. And if you’re interested in learning more, if you want to spread the word about what we’re doing not just in the African American community but all across the country, go to our website and it will give you a long list of what we’ve done over the last two years -- promises made and promises kept.

That’s what we’ve tried to do over these past couple years -- advance the causes that make us who we are. But we’ve still got more work to do. If we’re serious about opening up opportunity and making sure America prospers in the 21st century, we’re going to have to up our game as a nation. I was talking to Magic right before we came out -- I was talking about the Bulls, of course. (Laughter.) He’s still picking the Lakers, but he made the point, a young man Derek Rose upped his game, worked hard, and is having an MVP season. Well, we have to do that in classrooms, we have to do that in the workplaces, we’ve got to do that in our communities and our neighborhoods. (Applause.) Our fathers got to up their games.

If we want to attract new jobs and new opportunities to our shores, we’ve got to make sure America can out-compete the rest of the world. That’s what we mean when we say we got to win the future. It means we got to rebuild our crumbling transportation networks with high-speed rail, upgrade our communications networks with high-speed Internet. It means we’re investing in cutting-edge research and technology like clean energy -- and most of all, making sure we are giving every one of our children the best possible education. (Applause.) The best possible education is the single most important factor in determining whether they succeed. But it’s also what will determine whether we succeed. It’s the key to opportunity. It is the civil rights issue of our time.

I know education is important to everybody here, especially Reverend Al. In fact, a while back, he stopped by the White House to talk about education. He was joined by the great mayor of this city, Mike Bloomberg. He was also joined by Newt Gingrich. Newt -- hmm. (Laughter.) Newt said he and Reverend Sharpton were “the original odd couple.” That’s an understatement. (Laughter.)

But I welcomed them to the White House because I don’t think there’s anything odd about the two of them coming together around the importance of education. When there is an achievement gap between students of different races and backgrounds, that’s not a Democratic problem, that’s not a Republican problem -- that is an American problem that we have to address. (Applause.) When too many of our schools are failing our children, too many of our kids are dropping out of school, that’s not a black or white or brown problem -- that is an American problem. We’re going to have to solve that problem. We are all responsible for the education of all of our children.

That starts with parents making sure that we’re doing right at home, staying engaged in our child’s education, setting high expectation. Without parental responsibility, nothing else we do will matter. But we also know that each of us has a responsibility not just as parents, but as civic leaders, as Americans, to do a better job of educating our children.

And that’s why, two years ago, we started something called Race for the Top. We’re saying to states, prove you are serious about improving education not just for some kids, but for all kids. And if you do, we will show you the money. And for less than 1 percent of what our country as a whole spends on education each year, Race to the Top has led 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning and student achievement, and developed plans for some of the schools that are underperforming the worst. And all this was done not in Washington. It was developed by Republican and Democratic governors across the country.

We’re going to have to take same approach when it comes to fixing No Child Left Behind. Instead of measuring students based on whether they’re above or below some arbitrary test, we need to make sure our students are graduating from high school ready for a career, ready for college. That’s what we need to do. (Applause.) Instead of labeling our schools a failure one day -- instead of labeling our schools a failure one day and then throwing up our hands and walking away, we’ve got to refocus on the schools that need help the most. In the 21st Century, it’s not enough to just leave no child left behind. We’ve got to help every child get ahead. (Applause.) That’s our goal -- get every child on a path to academic excellence.

And we need to make sure that that path leads to a college degree. That’s why we ended a system where we were subsidizing banks in the student loan program. They were taking billions of dollars out of the student loan program. We said, why don’t we give that to the students directly? That would make sense. (Applause.) So we made college more affordable for millions of students. Millions of students across the country are now getting student loans that they weren’t getting before and more loans than they were getting before. That’s why we’re making it easier to repay student loans so kids don’t graduate, like Michelle and I did, with massive loan payments each month. It was more than our mortgage for 10 years. It’s one of the things I try to remember -- I try to remind people when they say, well, you’re President now. You’re out of touch. I said, listen, it was only a few years ago I was still paying off my student loans. (Applause.) And it’s true, I don’t pump gas now, but I remember what it was like pumping gas. (Laughter.) I remember. I remember the end of the month. (Laughter.) I remember that. (Applause.)

We appreciate all of you buying the book, Michelle and I. (Laughter.) That’s the college fund right there. (Laughter.) That was not a given. That’s why we’re reinvesting in Historically Black Colleges and Universities. (Applause.) That’s why we are -- that’s why we’re upgrading our community colleges that prepare so many working families to succeed in this economy. And by taking all these steps, I’m confident we are going to meet a goal that I set when I took office that I announced in my first State of the Union: By the end of this decade, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. That is something that we can achieve. That’s something we can achieve. (Applause.)

That’s how we can out-educate countries around the world. That’s how we will out-compete. That’s how we will win the future in the 21st century.

Now, one thing we won’t be able to win is -- if some of our people are falling behind, we will not win the future. The only way for America to prosper is for all Americans to prosper. We’ve seen that in the census that just came out. The face of America is changing. You can’t get away with having a third of our children, half of our children, not doing well. Not today, not in the 21st century. All of us -- black, white, Latino, Native American, Asian American, men, women, disabled, non-disabled -- in America, we rise and fall together.

An America where the American Dream is within reach of everybody, that’s what we’ve been fighting to build over the last two years. That’s what the National Action Network has been fighting to build over the past two decades. I know that there are times where the work is frustrating. I know there are times where it is hard. There are times when change can seem painfully slow to come by. There are times when some of you may have said, I don’t know what Obama is doing there. There are times where you lose hope, times when folks in Washington focus on scoring points instead of solving problems. And some of you may just put up your hands and say, politics is too tough.

But in those moments when we start asking ourselves if change is possible, you’ve got to remember what we’ve done together over the past few years. Remember all the children who will graduate from high school ready for college and beyond. Remember all the Americans who will no longer have to worry about going bankrupt because they got sick. Remember all the families who will no longer be exploited by insurance companies or a credit card company or a mortgage lender.

I’m not asking you to think about what we’ve already done so you can be satisfied with our progress. I know this isn’t the National Satisfaction Network. This is the National Action Network. (Laughter and applause.) But I am asking you to draw inspiration from the fact that we know change is possible. I am living testament that change is possible. (Applause.) We know we have the ability to put our shoulders to the wheel of history and steer America towards the promise of a better day. We know that we stand on other shoulders and step by step, inch by inch, we make progress.

That’s what we’ve been doing. And if you’re as committed as I am to continuing to change this country for the better, if you feel the same determination that I do to tackle the problems that haven’t yet met, if you’re still willing to believe in what we can do together, I am absolutely confident we will do what you’ve been doing for the last 20 years. We will build an America where the ideals of justice and equality and opportunity are alive and well, and we will reclaim the American Dream in our time. So thank you. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Thank you.

END 6:24 P.M. EDT

NBC Owes America an Apology

Robert Downey, Jr. and wife Susan pictured at the Academy Awards in 2010.

Gervais Also Needs to Issue Public Apology to
"Iron Man" Star & Recovering Addicts

Dear NBC Executives,

Unfortunately, the antics of your Golden Globes host became the focal point of the show -- as many in attendance and watching at home wondered what he would say or do next. Gervais and his comments overshadowed the heralded event, which is not what you want as an NBC executive or the director or producer of the Golden Globes. Few are talking about the show, in general, but everyone is talking about Gervais.

Secondly, anyone that has a friend or family member that is battling -- or has died as a result of -- drug addiction should be furious at Gervais. They should also hold the NBC network accountable because it hasn’t even bothered to issue anything in the way of an apology to those who may have been offended by comments made by the host, like the family, friends and supporters of Robert Downey, Jr.

Messages are being posted all over the Internet in support of Gervais citing his "comedic brilliance" and right to attack "a bunch of arrogant and hypocritical individuals that take themselves way too seriously".

After carefully examining a number of them, it became clear to me that the comments were solely based on a deep-seated hatred of Hollywood and celebrities. If these people were to put that bitterness and disdain aside for just one minute, and look at the larger issue, they would realize Gervais did something that was beyond shameful and goes against what this country is trying to accomplish in the wake of the Arizona shootings, which is tone down the rhetoric, nastiness and viciousness that has gripped our nation. If Robert Downey, Jr., a recovering addict that has made tremendous progress, felt Gervais was “hugely mean-spirited”, we would be well advised to listen to him.

The quip about Robert Downey, Jr's stint at the Betty Ford Clinic and the Los Angeles County jail was extremely insensitive, tasteless, uncalled for and unwarranted. Robert Downey, Jr., like millions of addicts in this country, fights an ongoing battle to remain sober. Some make it, while others succumb to their addiction -- leaving family and friends grieving for years. There isn't a goddamn thing funny about that, and you need to remind Gervais of this fact!

Every drug abuse counselor in America will tell you that addicts need all the support they can get, and they certainly don’t need to be publicly humiliated, ridiculed or torn down. To call someone out for past criminal behavior or addiction in a small setting is one thing, but to call them out amongst an audience of millions is extremely dangerous, reckless and the worst thing you could do to a recovering addict.

Now, I’m a fierce proponent of free speech, so I wouldn’t go as far as to say Gervais shouldn’t be invited back to host next year’s Golden Globe awards. However, his return should be predicated on Gervais agreeing to issue a formal, public apology to the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Robert Downey, Jr., recovering addicts all over the country and the family and friends of addicts that died while battling substance abuse.

I'll close with a special message for the controversial comedian. If you have something to say to me or about this commentary, Gervais, I'm not a hard man to find. I'll be waiting for you. Trust me on that.

This commentary is from the heart and…From The G-Man.

Photo source: United States Army

Photo credit: United States Army

Permission: Public Domain