[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             A TRIBUTE IN RECOGNITION OF SANTOS CRESPO, JR.

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 2009

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Santos 
Crespo, Jr., a visionary leader in New York City's labor community.
  Santos Crespo, Jr. was first introduced to the labor movement at the 
age of 10, when his father, a delegate and executive board member of 
Local 6, H.E.R.E. (Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union) 
brought him to meetings where he witnessed the struggles non-unionized 
employees must endure.
  Santos Crespo, Jr. began community organizing at the age of 14 and 
was recognized by the late W. H. Booth, Chairman of the Committee on 
Human Rights under then Mayor John Lindsay. He was a founding member of 
the Black and Puerto Rican Student Union at Bronx Community College and 
was instrumental in introducing Black and Puerto Rican Studies there. 
He has received numerous awards, was named by the Daily News Viva as 
one of New York City's Influential Latinos, and has also served in 
numerous committees related to youth and substance abuse prevention and 
intervention.
  Santos Crespo, Jr. is currently the Executive Vice President of the 
New York City Board of Education Employees Union, Local 372, DC 37, 
AFSCME, the largest local (26,000 members) within DC 37 and also serves 
as one of DC 37's Vice Presidents. He is also a member of the New York 
City Chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement 
(LCLAA), serves on its Executive Board, and also serves on the 
Executive Board of the national LCLAA, representing 1.4 million Latino 
Trade Unionists. He is also a member of many other labor organizations 
such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and the Asian 
Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) along with civil rights 
organizations including the Congress for Puerto Rican Rights and the 
New York NAACP.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Santos Crespo, Jr., a 
champion of New York City's many labor causes.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
Santos Crespo, Jr.

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