Rep. Gillen Introduces Legislation to Rename Oceanside Post Office in Honor of 9/11 Hero NYPD Detective Luis G. Alvarez

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) introduced bipartisan legislation to rename the United States Post Office at 80 Atlantic Avenue in Oceanside, New York, as the "Detective Luis G. Alvarez Post Office", honoring Luis Alvarez, an NYPD officer who passed away from cancer linked to his search and rescue work at ground zero following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

"Detective Luis Alvarez bravely answered the call on September 11th in the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack on American soil, searching for survivors amongst the toxic rubble," said Rep. Gillen. "His bravery, selflessness and sacrifice reflect the very best of our nation. It is our duty to strengthen programs like the World Trade Center Health Program, for which Detective Alvarez was a lead advocate, and ensure we continue to support 9/11 first responders like him. I am proud to lead this legislation with the entire New York delegation in the House and to honor Detective Alvarez for his heroism."

"I am so moved by Congresswoman Gillen's efforts to honor my husband and ensure his bravery lives on," said Lainie Alvarez, widow of Det. Alvarez. "Oceanside is our home and where we raised our kids. Renaming our local post office after Lou will ensure his courage and bravery on 9/11 and fighting for the WTCHP in the decades that followed is never forgotten. I am thankful to Congresswoman Gillen for introducing this legislation and helping preserve his legacy".

Luis Gustavo Alvarez was born in October 1965 in Havana. After graduating from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in 1983 in the East Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, he served in the United States Marine Corps and studied at the City College of the City University of New York (CUNY). He joined the New York City Police Department in 1990 and moved to Oceanside, New York in the Fourth Congressional District in 1998. Alvarez began his tenure in the NYPD by working uniform patrol in the 108th Precinct in Long Island City. He then transferred, working undercover for the Narcotics Division as a Police Detective. In 2004, joined the elite Bomb Squad. Mr. Alvarez was recognized five times for excellent police work before his retirement in 2010.

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Detective Alvarez spent three months at the site of the toppled World Trade Center towers in Lower Manhattan, searching for survivors and for remains of his fellow officers on nearby rooftops and in the toxic rubble at ground zero.

As a result of his exposure to ground zero, Mr. Alvarez received a diagnosis of colorectal cancer in 2016. Alvarez was a staunch advocate for 9/11 first responders, urging Congress in 2019 to permanently replenish the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. After a long battle against cancer, Detective Alvarez passed away on June 29, 2019, on Long Island. A month after his death, on July 29, President Donald Trump signed into law the "Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund," to guarantee funding for 9/11 victims and their families. In 2021, Nassau County inaugurated Detective Luis G. Alvarez Memorial Park in his hometown of Oceanside, New York.

Rep. Gillen's bill is supported by the Alvarez family and cosponsored by the entire New York House of Representatives delegation, including Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY-05), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Rep. George Latimer (D-NY-16), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), Rep. Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), Rep. John Mannion (D-NY-22), Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY-25) and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26). Upon enactment, the U.S. Postal Service will implement the official renaming at the Oceanside facility and update federal references accordingly.

The full bill text can be found here.

###