Puerto Rico celebra confirmación de Sotomayor

06 de Agosto de 2009, 06:40pm ET

SAN JUAN (AP) - El gobierno de Puerto Rico, así como otros líderes políticos y juristas celebraron el jueves la confirmación de Sonia Sotomayor como la primera juez hispana de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos.

La votación fue de 68-31 a favor de Sotomayor, la primera postulada por el presidente Barack Obama a la magistratura. Es la tercera mujer que llega a la Corte Suprema.

"En Sonia Sotomayor, vemos un ejemplo a seguir para toda la ciudadanía. La confirmación de Sotomayor es un orgullo para todos los puertorriqueños... cuenta con toda la preparación y experiencia para asumir tan honorable nombramiento", destacó el gobernador Luis Fortuño en declaraciones escritas.

"Hoy es un día histórico. La Corte Suprema ahora cuenta con la aportación de la primera mujer hispana, y confiamos que dará lo mejor de sí al ocupar tan respetable puesto", añadió.

Pedro Pierluisi, delegado de la isla en el Congreso estadounidense, destacó que la confirmación de Sotomayor al máximo foro judicial estadounidense "es motivo de regocijo para todos, desde Florida hasta Alaska y desde Nueva York hasta Hawai".

"Sonia Sotomayor es la protagonista de una historia americana inspiradora. Hija de puertorriqueños, criada en un residencial público del Bronx, alcanzó los más altos niveles de excelencia tanto en su carrera académica como en la judicial", indicó el Comisionado Residente también en declaraciones escritas.

"En Puerto Rico, particularmente

estamos sumamente orgullosos de que una boricua, orgullosa de sus raíces, pinte de gala esta historia", sostuvo.

Sotomayor, de 55 años, se formó en universidades privadas de elite del noreste de Estados Unidos antes de seguir una carrera legal exitosa y 17 años en un puesto federal.

El presidente del opositor Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) y portavoz cameral, Héctor Ferrer, elogió "la integridad, dedicación y el esfuerzo de esta gran mujer puertorriqueña la convierten en la primera hispana que es confirmada al alto foro judicial de los Estados Unidos".

El portavoz del PPD en el Senado, José Luis Dalmau, expresó que "la juez Sotomayor representa lo mejor de cada uno de los hijos de esta tierra: soñadora, justa, y de voluntad inquebrantable. Celebro con ella su gran logro. Sé que podrá hacer justicia como sólo una mujer puertorriqueña puede hacer", sostuvo.

En tanto, el presidente del Tribunal Supremo local, Federico Hernández Denton, elogió la carrera judicial de Sotomayor.

New York City Housing Authority Journal: Special Edition August 2009

Justice Sotomayor Never Will Say Goodbye
to the People of Public Housing

(l to r) Congressmember Nydia Velazquez, Justice Sonia Sotomayor,
Board Member Magarita López
Photo credit: Courtesy of Magarita López

Newly confirmed Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who grew up in Bronxdale Houses, is the first Latina, first NYCHA resident, and the third woman to hold this honor.

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Board Member Margarita López represented Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg along with the residents and employees of the nation's largest public housing authority at the August 12th White House reception that celebrated the confirmation of Justice Sotomayor's appointment to the United States Supreme Court. 

At the reception Board Member López said, "Both President Barack Obama and Justice Sotomayor spoke about the future of the nation and how every child, no matter where they grow up, or what background they come from, deserves to have opportunities." She also mentioned that Justice Sotomayor along with the President, spoke about "how our country is moving to the future with a clear path of inclusion."

As Justice Sotomayor was preparing to leave the reception, Board Member López asked her to say goodbye to the people of public housing, as she snapped her photo. In response to this request, Board Member López said, "Justice Sotomayor turned around and said, 'I will never say goodbye to the people of public housing!'"

Board Member López, who was thrilled to be invited to participate in this historic occasion concluded by saying, "I told the Justice, there wasn't a single resident or employee of public housing that didn't experience her triumph as their own."

By Eileen Elliott
August 13, 2009

STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ON CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE LOWER CONCOURSE AND FORDHAM REZONINGS

Lower Concourse Plan Will Help Revitalize South Bronx Gateway with 3,100 New Housing Units and Create 3,400 Permanent Jobs as Part of the City’s Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan

“Today's approval of City Planning's rezoning for 30 blocks of the lower Grand Concourse will revitalize the transit-rich neighborhood, create opportunities for new housing development on underutilized and vacant land and loft buildings and facilitate the redevelopment of the waterfront with new housing, commercial uses and open spaces.

“While retaining viable light manufacturing uses, the plan will create opportunities for some 3,100 units of new housing, including more than 500 affordable units, nearly 3,400 jobs, and a publicly accessible new waterfront esplanade and park.

“This fulfills a key commitment we made to the many stakeholders who participated in our South Bronx Initiative, and will be transformative for the area and those neighborhoods surrounding it.

“In addition to the Lower Concourse rezoning, the Council also today approved the plan to facilitate the expansion of Fordham's Lincoln Center Campus. The project contemplates construction over time of new buildings that will solidify Fordham’s long-term viability in the Lincoln Square neighborhood as well as the City’s global competitiveness and economic well-being.  It will also create new construction jobs during development as well as hundreds of permanent jobs.  I commend the City Council for approving this critical plan.