GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! THANK YOU CHRISTINE QUINN, THE GREAT SPEAKER OF THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL. LET ME SAY SOMETHING ABOUT CHRIS QUINN. SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVERY BUSINESS IN OUR CITY. THANKS TO HER, SOME 550 RESTAURANTS HAVE OPENED AND EMPLOYED 6,000 JOB-SEEKERS, USING THE SERVICES OF THE NEW BUSINESS ACCELERATION TEAM. THAT’S JUST ONE OF HER SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES. THANK YOU!

AND THANK YOU DR. MUYSKENS FOR WELCOMING US ONCE AGAIN TO MY ALMA MATER AND THIS GREAT VENUE, THE COLDEN AUDITORIUM OF QUEENS COLLEGE. CHARLES COLDEN WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS INSTITUTION. BORN ON A FARM IN WHITESTONE IN 1885, WHEN QUEENS HAD NO MUNICIPAL COLLEGE, HE HAD A VISION THAT RESULTED IN THIS INSTITUTION OPENING ITS DOORS. SINCE THEN, AND NOW UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. MUYSKEN, THIS SCHOOL HAS CONTINUED TO SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS. LAST YEAR ALONE, IT WAS THE RECIPIENT OF A 1.2 MILLION DOLLAR FEDERAL GRANT TO TEACH CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.

AND NOW, LET ME INTRODUCE, TO SING OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE, THE UNITED VOICES OF QUEENS—AND THAT MEANS- ALL OF US. SO PLEASE RISE AND JOIN TOGETHER TO SING THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER. THANK YOU.

I AM SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE OUR PROGRESS AND SET THE COURSE FOR THE YEAR AHEAD. AS I BEGIN THE THIRD YEAR OF MY THIRD TERM, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE HONOR TO HAVE ALLOCATED MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE PAST DECADE TO IMPROVE OUR BOROUGH.

WITH 143 MILLION DOLLARS FOR PARKS, 106 MILLION DOLLARS FOR LIBRARIES AND 116 MILLION DOLLARS FOR OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND HISTORIC HOUSES, I HAVE WORKED HARD TO PUT OUR BOROUGH ON A FIRM FOOTING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND, NINE MILLION DOLLARS FROM MY OFFICE BOUGHT THE LATEST EQUIPMENT THAT WILL HELP OUR HOSPITALS KEEP PACE WITH THE MEDICAL NEEDS OF OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS.

2011 WAS A TOUGH YEAR. IT BEGAN WITH THE REMNANTS OF A BLIZZARD AND 2012 BEGAN WITH A SERIES OF FIRE-BOMBINGS IN QUEENS THAT GENERATED OUTRAGE. WITH GREAT WORK BY THE NYPD, AN ARREST WAS MADE IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS.

WE HAD HURRICANE IRENE, AN EARTHQUAKE AND ONE OF THE WETTEST YEARS WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN NEW YORK CITY. BUT IT WAS ALSO A YEAR IN WHICH OUR NATION LEARNED THAT U.S. FORCES PUT AN END TO OSAMA BIN LADEN’S EVIL DEEDS. AND ONE IN WHICH, THE U.S. MILITARY OFFICIALLY PULLED OUT OF IRAQ, ENDING THE LONGEST ARMED CONFLICT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. WE MARKED THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACKS. IT WAS ALSO ONE IN WHICH, ANDREW CUOMO, A SON OF QUEENS, WAS SWORN IN AS OUR 56TH GOVERNOR. WHAT A MAGNIFICENT JOB HE IS DOING! AND EARLIER THIS MONTH, ANOTHER SON OF QUEENS, JACOB LEW, WAS NAMED AS THE NEW WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF! IT WAS A YEAR IN WHICH OUR CITY CELEBRATED LIFE WITH THE NEWS THAT A BABY BORN HERE TODAY HAS A CHANCE OF LIVING LONGER THAN IN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE ENTIRE NATION. BUT IT WAS ALSO A YEAR IN WHICH, DESPITE THE GREAT WORK OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOROUGH, WE WERE SEVERELY UNDERCOUNTED IN THE CENSUS. ONE IN WHICH OUR CITY ATTRACTED A RECORD NUMBER OF TOURISTS, AND HERE IN QUEENS, A YEAR IN WHICH WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN A COMBINED EFFORT TO FINALLY SAVE A HOSPITAL FROM CLOSURE!

WE ALSO MOVED FORWARD ON THE CREATION OF TWO NEW QUEENS COMMUNITIES AT WILLETS POINT AND HUNTERS POINT SOUTH. AND THE RACINO AT AQUEDUCT HIT A TRIFECTA… WITH 16 HUNDRED NEW JOBS, GENERATING MORE THAN 50 MILLION DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION IN NEW YORK STATE SINCE ITS OPENING IN OCTOBER. AND, UNDER GOVERNOR CUOMO’S BOLD PROPOSED PLAN, THE SITE WILL BE THE NEW HOME OF AMERICA’S LARGEST CONVENTION CENTER. UNDER MAYOR BLOOMBERG’S BOLD PLAN, OUR CITY WILL BE THE HOME OF A NEW APPLIED SCIENCES CAMPUS ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND THAT WILL HELP REDEFINE OUR ECONOMY. AND, I AM HAPPY TO SEE FROM MY BOROUGH HALL WINDOW, THE PROGRESS ON THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE THE KEW GARDENS INTERCHANGE SAFER. AND WITH THE PASSAGE OF STATE MARRIAGE EQUALITY LEGISLATION, BOROUGH HALL’S WEDDING CHAPEL FINALLY WELCOMED SAME SEX COUPLES FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. SOON, WE WILL CREATE NEW PUBLIC SPACE AT BOROUGH HALL FOR MEETINGS, CONCERTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. LAST YEAR, MILLIONS OF VISITORS WHO CAME TO THE CITY SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS RIGHT HERE IN QUEENS PROVIDING JOBS AND BOOSTING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF A THRIVING ECONOMY IS A QUALITY EDUCATION. EDUCATION IN APRIL, NEW SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR DENNIS WALCOTT CAME ON BOARD WITH A STEADY HAND TO GUIDE THE SYSTEM WITH HIS EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION AND CITY GOVERNMENT. HE CAME ABOARD WITH NEW HOPES AND READY TO FACE NEW BATTLES, INCLUDING PERSISTENT SCHOOL OVERCROWDING. IT IS NO SECRET THAT MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS LIKE PS 19 IN CORONA, AND PS 96 IN SOUTH OZONE PARK ARE SEVERELY OVERCROWDED. AND SCHOOL DISTRICT 24 CONTINUES TO HOLD THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF BEING THE MOST OVERCROWDED ONE IN THE ENTIRE CITY. BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. WORKING WITH LORRAINE GRILLO AT THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY, AND MY APPOINTEE TO THE PANEL FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY, DMYTRO FEDKOWSKYJ, QUEENS OPENED FOUR NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS WITH MORE THAN 17 HUNDRED NEW SEATS LAST SEPTEMBER. AND, OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE EXPECT TO ADD ANOTHER TEN SCHOOLS WITH ALMOST 6,000 NEW SEATS. MEANWHILE, MANY OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS STILL REMAIN ON DOUBLE AND TRIPLE SESSIONS WITH FRANCIS LEWIS HIGH SCHOOL HAVING ONE OF THE HIGHEST UTILIZATION RATES IN THE CITY. NOT ACCEPTABLE --- AND SO THE BATTLE CONTINUES.

WHILE BRICKS AND MORTAR PROVIDE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN, AS A FORMER TEACHER AND A PARENT, I KNOW THAT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS THE KEY ELEMENT IN A STUDENT’S SUCCESS. IT IS PARENTS WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTING THEIR CHILDREN. YOU CAN'T RUN A STRUCTURE WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS. THAT’S WHY MY PARENT ADVISORY BOARD CONTINUES TO MEET AT BOROUGH HALL TO MONITOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY. AND WHY I JOINED MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT SCOTT STRINGER’S TASK FORCE TO IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCILS. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY HERE, QUEENS IS A VICTIM OF ITS OWN SUCCESS. OUR COUNTY ATTRACTS NEW RESIDENTS AND IMMIGRANTS EVERY YEAR - BUT NOT THE FEDERAL AID NEEDED TO BUILD LOCAL SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS TO CARE FOR THEM… AND, THEN, ADDING INSULT TO INJURY, AS I SAID BEFORE, WE WILL LOSE EXISTING AID AND REPRESENTATION IN WASHINGTON BECAUSE WE WERE UNDERCOUNTED IN THE CENSUS. BUT I DIGRESS.


TODAY, SEVERAL QUEENS HIGH SCHOOLS, ARE THREATENED WITH THE LOSS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS UNDER THE TITLE 1 PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. BAYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL ALONE STANDS TO LOSE 1.7 MILLION DOLLARS UNDER THE CITY’S NEW THRESHOLD FOR TITLE 1 AID. THIS WILL ALSO AFFECT FUNDING ELIGIBILITY FOR MANY OF OUR BEACON SCHOOLS. IT’S AN UNFAIR FORMULA - AND WE WILL FIGHT AGAINST IT. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE NO STRANGERS IN BUDGET BATTLES FOR FAIRNESS. IN MAY, HUNDREDS OF PARENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS JOINED ME AT A BOROUGH HALL RALLY TO SAVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. TODAY, PROPOSED CUTS ON THE HORIZON THREATEN SEVEN BEACON SCHOOLS IN QUEENS, SERVING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.

AND SO, THE FIGHT CONTINUES! AT THE SAME TIME, WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT VITAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. FROM THE ARVERNE BY THE SEA YMCA IN ROCKAWAY-WHICH WILL OPEN NEXT YEAR, TO THE SOUTH QUEENS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN RICHMOND HILL, WE ARE BUILDING FACILITIES WHERE NEW TALENTS WILL BE DISCOVERED AND HORIZONS BROADENED FOR THOUSANDS OF YOUNGSTERS. I WAS HONORED TO OPEN THE NEW RIDGEWOOD YMCA AND HUMBLED WITH ITS DEDICATION OF THE NEW HELEN MARSHALL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER. WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE OUT 2 PLAY ORGANIZATION TO CONVERT NEGLECTED OUTDOOR SCHOOL SPACES INTO VIBRANT PLAYGROUNDS LIKE THIS. AND JUST LAST MONTH, I HELPED THE SAFE SPACE ORGANIZATION OPEN ITS NEW MEDIA CENTER FOR TEENS IN JAMAICA.

CUNY

WHEN IT COMES TO HIGHER EDUCATION, OUR CITY UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO PREPARE TODAY’S STUDENTS FOR TOMORROW’S ECONOMY. WHETHER IT IS A YOUNG SERGEANT RETURNING HOME FROM WAR, A SINGLE PARENT WHO LOST HER JOB, OR A RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE-CUNY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A PATH TO SUCCESS. FOR INSTANCE, THE QUEENSBOROUGH VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE ON HOW TO ACCESS BENEFITS. LAST YEAR, THE COLLEGE ALSO DEDICATED “REMEMBRANCE GROVE” TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR ARMED FORCES. CONGRATULATIONS TO CUNY LAW, GETTING READY TO MOVE INTO ITS NEW CAMPUS IN LONG ISLAND CITY. IT AGAIN RANKED THE #1 PUBLIC INTEREST LAW SCHOOL IN THE NATION. AND ITS UNIQUE CLINICAL PROGRAM SERVES MORE THAN A THOUSAND OF OUR RESIDENTS EACH YEAR WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE NO ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION. THEY TRAIN THE PEOPLE’S LAWYERS. MEANWHILE, “LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE 10,000 SMALL BUSINESSES” PROGRAM IS PART OF A NATIONAL FIVE-YEAR INVESTMENT TO UNLOCK THE GROWTH AND JOB CREATION POTENTIAL OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE U.S. HUNDREDS OF ENTREPRENEURS LIKE THESE HAVE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM. HERE AT QUEENS COLLEGE, WE ARE PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON MAJOR RENOVATIONS IN THIS VERY AUDITORIUM. AND, THE GOLDSTEIN THEATRE PROMISES TO MAKE THE KUPFERBERG CENTER FOR THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS ONE OF THE BOROUGH’S LEADING CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS, THANKS TO THE EXTRAORDINARY GENEROSITY OF THE KUPFERBERG FAMILY. WE ARE ALL SORRY TO HEAR OF SELMA KUPFERBERG’S RECENT PASSING. ADDITIONALLY, LOOK FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY AT THE BENJAMIN ROSENTHAL LIBRARY. AT YORK, WE ARE CAPITALIZING ON THE COLLEGE’S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ON-CAMPUS FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO OFFER A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES.

HEALTH

IN THE HEALTHCARE FRONT, WE FINALLY HAVE AN IMPROVED PROGNOSIS. MEDICAL CARE IN THE ROCKAWAYS WAS RESCUED FROM THE CRITICAL LIST BY --"REVIVAL HOME HEALTH CARE"-- THAT SAVED PENINSULA HOSPITAL FROM CLOSING IN SEPTEMBER. PENINSULA HOSPITAL’S DIRE FISCAL DEFICITS – UPWARDS OF 60 MILLION DOLLARS– MADE THE SITUATION CRITICAL. MEANWHILE, THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WAS WORKING DILIGENTLY BEHIND THE SCENES AND AGAINST THE CLOCK, WITH MY OFFICE AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS TO RESCUE THE HOSPITAL. TODAY, I AM HAPPY TO SAY THE HOSPITAL IS OPEN AND ITS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO, TODD MILLER, HAS INDICATED THAT HIS BOARD IS NOW INTERESTED IN PLANNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART, ACUTE CARE FACILITY ON THE EXISTING CAMPUS. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE PRIME RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN A STUDY I COMMISSIONED SEVERAL YEARS AGO ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN QUEENS. IN OTHER GOOD NEWS, NORTH SHORE-LIJ IS OPENING A 300 MILLION DOLLAR, GLASS TOWER THAT FEATURES THE KATZ WOMEN’S HOSPITAL, AND THE ZUCKERBERG PAVILION. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE KATZ WOMEN’S HOSPITAL WILL ADMIT ITS FIRST PATIENT? TOMORROW! THIS BUILING IS THE LARGEST NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF THE NORTH SHORE-LIJ SYSTEM. MEANWHILE, CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON THE NEW COHEN CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH WILL OPEN NEXT YEAR. MOUNT SINAI QUEENS HAS FILED AN APPLICATION WITH THE STATE TO MODERNIZE AND EXPAND ITS FACILITIES IN ASTORIA. THIS 100 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, WILL CONSTRUCT A FOUR-STORY ADDITION, THAT WILL TRIPLE THE SIZE OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM, BUILD A NEW AMBULANCE BAY AND TRIAGE AREA, CREATE SINGLE BEDDED ICU AND GENERAL ROOMS, AS WELL AS NEW OPERATING ROOMS. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THE DAMIAN FAMILY CARE CENTERS OFFICIALLY OPENED - THE FIREHOUSE HEALTH CENTER IN JAMAICA. IT PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF PRIMARY CARE SERVICES IN A MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY. IT IS THE SIXTH FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER IN QUEENS, AND IS A DIRECT RESULT OF OUR OBTAINING STATE HEAL NEW YORK FUNDS TO HELP FILL THE GAP IN MEDICAL CARE CREATED BY HOSPITAL CLOSURES. WE DON'T GIVE UP EASILY. ADDITIONAL HEAL NEW YORK FUNDS HAVE ENABLED NEW YORK HOSPITAL QUEENS TO CONSTRUCT NEW URGENT CARE AND DENTAL EMERGENCY UNITS THAT WE WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN IN TWO DAYS. THE PROJECT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR AN EMERGENCY ROOM EXPANSION WITH 10 ADDITIONAL BEDS. IN MAY, WITH THE HELP OF A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS FROM MY CAPITAL BUDGET, WE UNVEILED A NEW, DIGITAL MAMMOGRAM UNIT AT ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL HOSPITAL IN ROCKAWAY. IN OCTOBER, I JOINED WITH THE CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE AND HEALTHTRANS TO ANNOUNCE THE BIG APPLE RX PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH PRIMARILY DESIGNED FOR THE UNINSURED, IT ALLOWS ANY CITY RESIDENT, REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, TO USE THE CARD AT ANY PARTICIPATING PHARMACY TO SAVE AN AVERAGE OF 47% ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. TODAY, THERE IS A TABLE IN THE LOBBY WHERE YOU CAN PICK UP THE CARD OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM. LET ME SPEAK HERE DIRECTLY TO THE SENIORS TODAY WHO ARE CAUGHT IN THE SO-CALLED “DONUT-HOLE PERIOD” OF MEDICARE PART D. USE THIS CARD TO REDUCE YOUR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. NOW MORE THAN 20 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE. HERE IN QUEENS, ALL OF OUR DIALYSIS CENTERS ARE OVER-UTILIZED. MANY OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY. SO, IN OCTOBER, I WAS GLAD TO JOIN WITH COUNCILMAN DAN HALLORAN AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO OPEN THE NEW AUBURNDALE DIALYSIS CENTER, OPERATED BY THE ROGOSIN INSTITUTE. THIS MUCH-NEEDED FACILITY WILL SERVE MORE THAN 230 PATIENTS EVERY DAY. IN NOVEMBER, I JOINED ELMHURST HOSPITAL AND TIM JACCARD FROM THE A.M.T. CHILDREN OF HOPE FOUNDATION TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE SAFE HAVEN PROGRAM. IT HELPS TO PROTECT INFANTS UP TO 30 DAYS OLD WHO ARE IN DANGER OF BEING ABANDONED IN ALLEY WAYS OR ON THE STREETS. THE FOUNDATION HELPED TO INITIATE SAFE HAVEN LAWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ALLOWS AN OVERWHELMED PARENT TO LEGALLY LEAVE THEIR INFANT AT A FIREHOUSE, POLICE STATION OR HOSPITAL. MOTHERS CAN STAY IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY CAN GET NEEDED MEDICAL HELP AND HOPEFULLY BOND WITH THEIR BABY. SENIORS APPROXIMATELY 387,000 PERSONS 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER RESIDE IN QUEENS. THE CITY’S SENIOR POPULATION TODAY IS 1.3 MILLION - AND IT IS EXPECTED TO GROW BY 46% OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS. THAT’S WHY IN MARCH, I HELD A RALLY ON THE STEPS OF BOROUGH HALL TO PROTEST PROPOSED REDUCTIONS BY THE STATE IN THE FLOW OF FEDERAL TITLE 20 FUNDING. IF IMPLEMENTED, 27 QUEENS SENIOR CENTERS WOULD HAVE CLOSED. OUR STATE LEGISLATORS JOINED THE PROTEST AND RESTORED THE FUNDING. THANKFULLY, THE GOVERNOR AGREED AND WE AVERTED A POTENTIAL DISASTER. HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY HAD PROPOSED CUTS IN EXCESS OF 63 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND, ONCE AGAIN, THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR AGING WAS ELIMINATED. SIX SENIOR CENTERS WOULD HAVE CLOSED AND FOUR ADULT DAYCARE CENTERS WOULD HAVE CEASED OPERATIONS, LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DRASTICALLY REDUCED. A TOTAL OF 67 QUEENS SENIOR PROGRAMS ACROSS THE BOROUGH WOULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED OR ELIMINATED. OUR RALLY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! THANKS AGAIN TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SPEAKER QUINN, THOSE VITAL PROGRAMS WERE SAVED. UNDER THE CITY DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING’S INNOVATIVE SENIOR CENTERS INITIATIVE - USING A COMBINATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS - TWO QUEENS CENTERS OPENED EARLIER THIS MONTH-- SELF-HELP BENJAMIN ROSENTHAL SENIOR CENTER IN FLUSHING, AND SNAP IN QUEENS VILLAGE. THESE CENTERS ENCOURAGE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, OFFER FLEXIBLE AND EXPANDED HOURS AND ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.

PARKS
HAS EVERYONE NOTICED HOW POPULAR CRICKET HAS BECOME HERE IN QUEENS? LAST YEAR BYJIMINY WE OPENED TWO CRICKET FIELDS, ONE IN BAISLEY POND PARK, SURROUNDED BY 130 NEW TREES, WITH 650 THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM MY OFFICE. ANOTHER ONE OPENED IN IDLEWILD PARK WITH 1.7 MILLION DOLLARS FROM MY OFFICE, WHICH HELPED PAY FOR THE NEW FIELD, BLEACHERS AND LANDSCAPING. JUST LAST MONTH, I WAS HAPPY TO OPEN THE SECOND RENOVATED PLAYGROUND AT JUNIPER PARK IN MIDDLE VILLAGE, ANOTHER PROJECT FUNDED BY MY OFFICE. THE FIRST PHASE WAS FUNDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ELIZABETH CROWLEY. AS HALLOWEEN DAWNED, I HAD A SPECIAL TREAT WHEN I JOINED WITH PARK COMMISSIONERS ADRIANE BENEPE AND DOROTHY LEWANDOWSKI, AND CITY COUNCILMAN JAMES GENNARO TO OPEN THE NEWLY- RENOVATED BOATHOUSE AND DOCK ON MEADOW LAKE IN FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK. THIS 1939 STRUCTURE, BUILT WHEN MAYOR FIORELLO LAGUARDIA WAS IN OFFICE AND GONE WITH THE WIND WAS ON THE SILVER SCREEN, HAS FINALLY RECEIVED ITS LONG-AWAITED MAKEOVER. AND NOW, TODAY’S USERS: ROW NEW YORK, WHICH CONSISTS OF HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WHO AT THE SAME TIME RECEIVE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, TASCA, WHICH TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO SAIL, AND THE POPULAR HONG KONG DRAGON BOAT RACES HAVE A NEW AND EFFICIENT HOME. YOU KNOW, FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK IS ONE OF OUR CITY’S FLAGSHIP PARKS. THAT’S WHY I AM PROUD TO HAVE INVESTED ALMOST 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO IMPROVE THIS WORLD-FAMOUS PARK. OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS HOSTED TWO WORLD FAIRS PROVIDED THE FIRST HOME FOR THE UNITED NATIONS WELCOMED A POPE AND THE BEATLES AT SHEA STADIUM... IT IS ALSO THE HOME OF WORLD-CLASS TENNIS DURING THE US OPEN TOURNAMENTS AND, OF COURSE, THE 1969, 1986 AND WHO KNOWS? MAYBE AT CITIFIELD IN 2012—THE WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK METS! KEEP THE FAITH!! MEANWHILE, OUR OTHER PARKS BENEFITTED AS WELL. AT OAKLAND LAKE PARK RAVINE - WITH 1.1 MILLION DOLLARS FROM MY OFFICE - WE WILL PROVIDE A BOARDWALK-STYLE WALKWAY WITH RAMPS THAT CIRCLE THE ENTIRE LAKE. AT ROY WILKINS PARK IN JAMAICA, JOHN McENROE JOINED ME AND BILL BRIGGS FROM YOUTH AND TENNIS TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE NEW TENNIS BUBBLE THAT NOW PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND TENNIS PROGRAMS FOR ASPIRING YOUNGSTERS AND SENIORS.
IN SUNNYSIDE, COUNCILMAN JIMMY VAN BRAMER AND I FUNDED THE REVITALIZATION OF LOU LODATI PARK.
THE PARK WILL INCLUDE NEW FIELDS, ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AND A NEW DOG RUN. IN ELMHURST, TWO ICONIC GAS TANKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A SPECTACULAR NEW PARK. WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF MAYOR BLOOMBERG, NATIONAL GRID, THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE COMMUNITY, THIS SIX-ACRE PARK IS A WELCOME URBAN OASIS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH LITTLE GREEN SPACE. THIS YEAR, LOOK FOR MORE NEW PARKS AND IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE BOROUGH. FROM THURSTON BASIN NEAR KENNEDY AIRPORT TO KISSENA PARK IN FLUSHING AND FROM ASTORIA PARK IN WESTERN QUEENS TO ALLEY POND PARK IN EASTERN QUEENS, WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND PASSIVE GREEN SPACE. JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE GOT THE FINAL GO-AHEAD TO RECONSTRUCT LAURELTON WEST PLAYGROUND WITH A 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM MY OFFICE.

YOU KNOW I AM HIGHLIGHTING MANY OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS TODAY. BUT I ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IT IS YOUR TAX DOLLARS THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

QUEENS HAS ENDURED ITS SHARE OF THE GLOBAL RECESSION. HOWEVER, WE MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND DIVERSE ECONOMY BASED ON OUR UNIQUE STRENGTHS--- A RESILIENT WORKFORCE AND A UNIQUE PATCHWORK OF MOM-AND-POP TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE BOROUGH. OUR PROGRESS ON REZONING HAS UNLEASHED THE POTENTIAL TO BUILD A PROGRESSIVE FUTURE USING NEW TECHNOLOGIES. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN OUR BOROUGH’S COMMERCIAL HUBS, DOWNTOWN FLUSHING, DOWNTOWN JAMAICA AND LONG ISLAND CITY. LONG ISLAND CITY
LONG ISLAND CITY IS IN THE MIDST OF ENORMOUS GROWTH. IT NOW RANKS AS THE 4TH LARGEST CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IN THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA AND WILL BE THE NEW HOME OF JETBLUE’S HEADQUARTERS. WITH NEW HOUSING, NEW GREEN SPACES, TOP-RATED HOTELS AND NEW OFFICE SPACE, IT IS QUICKLY REACHING ITS FULL POTENTIAL OF BEING ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE MIXED-USE DISTRICTS, AND THANKS TO CONGRESSWOMAN CAROLINE MALONEY, A GRAND NEW GATEWAY TO THE BOROUGH AT QUEENS PLAZA. AT NEARBY ROOSEVELT ISLAND, QUEENS WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE NEW MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR CORNELL UNIVERSITY AND TECHNEON APPLIED SCIENCES CAMPUS. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PRESIDENT SETH PINSKY TO MAXIMIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY. THE NEW CAMPUS, WHICH WILL ACCOMMODATE 2,500 STUDENTS, WILL GENERATE UP TO 20,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND 8,000 PERMANENT ONES, AS WELL AS 23 BILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. CORNELL AND TECHION WILL ALSO CREATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR 10,000 NEW YORK CITY STUDENTS AND 200 TEACHERS ANNUALLY – A PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL BEGIN THIS FALL. NOW, LONG ISLAND CITY AND WESTERN QUEENS ARE INTEGRAL COMPONENTS OF THIS PLAN. AS TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES ARE BORN FROM THIS INITIATIVE, THEIR SPACE NEEDS WILL BECOME ACUTE. LONG ISLAND CITY AND WESTERN QUEENS ARE POSITIONED FOR THIS NEW GROWTH. I AM HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE ALREADY MET WITH CORNELL REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THESE BENEFITS TO QUEENS. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE OUTREACH IN WESTERN QUEENS, MEETING WITH THE LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP, THE QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE QUEENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE EAST RIVER DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE. DOWNTOWN FLUSHING
IN RECENT YEARS, DOWNTOWN FLUSHING HAS ATTRACTED MANY MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE ADDITION OF SKYVIEW CENTER, THE PROPOSED FLUSHING COMMONS, AND QUEENS CROSSINGS. COMPLEMENTING THIS DEVELOPMENT IS THE IMPROVEMENT IN TRAFFIC PATTERNS, IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WITH INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, MY OFFICE AND COUNCILMAN PETER KOO. PLANS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY TO REZONE THE WATERFRONT TO ENABLE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC OPEN SPACE ACCESS, HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES. AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF THE AREA, LED BY MY FRIEND AND PREDECESSOR CLAIRE SHULMAN, IS HELPING TO PAVE THE WAY. DOWNTOWN JAMAICA IN DOWNTOWN JAMAICA, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING MADE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC PATTERNS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ALSO PROVIDE A NEW GATEWAY INTO DOWNTOWN JAMAICA THAT INCLUDES THE SUTPHIN UNDERPASS WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED IN MARCH; THE ATLANTIC AVENUE EXTENSION AND STATION PLAZA WHICH WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR. THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING MADE WITH THE COOPERATION AND SUPPORT OF THE GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE CITY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. GOVERNMENT ALONE CANNOT SOLVE THE CITY’S FINANCIAL CRISIS, BUT WE ARE PREPARING THE LOCAL ECONOMY FOR FUTURE GROWTH BY LEVERAGING FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND PRIVATE DOLLARS. MY OFFICE CREATED THE ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE THAT LINKS RESOURCES TO SMALL BUSINESSES BY SUPPORTING CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND JOB READINESS PROGRAMS. IT ALSO HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES TO GROW WITH DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE. WE ARE CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND BUSINESSES TO PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND MUCH-NEEDED CAPITAL. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE SUPPORT, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND JOB READINESS ARE KEY TO MAKING SURE QUEENS RESIDENTS ACQUIRE TRAINING AND CAREER ADVICE. A BETTER PREPARED WORKFORCE IS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO QUEENS. SO WHETHER IT’S PUBLISHING RESOURCE GUIDES, HOSTING JOB FAIRS OR SEMINARS, OR LINKING QUEENS RESIDENTS TO CONSTRUCTION JOB TRAINING THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS OR ENCOURAGING GREEN JOBS BY PROVIDING CAPITAL FUNDING TO PROJECTS THAT BUILD LEED - CERTIFIED BUILDINGS.

WE ARE NOW ON THE MOVE! LET ME TAKE A MOMENT HERE TO THANK MAYOR BLOOMBERG FOR JOINING ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SHELDON SILVER TO PUSH FOR AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE. AND LET ME ALSO THANK SPEAKER QUINN AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO WORK TOWARDS A BALANCED LIVING WAGE BILL ON CITY SUBSIDIZED PROJECTS. WITH 36 PERCENT OF QUEENS RESIDENTS REPORTING DIFFICULTY IN PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE, IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO THIS -- AND QUICKLY! TALK ABOUT PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE-HAVE YOU BEEN TO FAIRWAY IN DOUGLASTON? CAN YOU SAY CHEESE? ON A SERIOUS NOTE, THANK YOU FAIRWAY FOR COLLECTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE SLAIN POLICE OFFICER PETER FIGOSKI SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
AND TO HELP LOCAL, WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES GROW, WE ARE LINKING THEM AND QUEENS RESIDENTS WITH MAJOR BUILDING PROJECTS. FOR INSTANCE, 70 PERCENT OF THE WORKERS AT THE NEW RACINO AT AQUEDUCT ARE QUEENS RESIDENTS. MY QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, LINKS BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE BOROUGH, WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS LIKE KENNETH ADAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT AND CITY COUNCIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR, KAREN KOSLOWITZ. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TO MAINTAIN GROWTH FOR THE FUTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL COMMUNITIES, WE MUST BALANCE THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING COMMUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES. SINCE BECOMING BOROUGH PRESIDENT, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE QUEENS DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JOHN YOUNG, TO REZONE 43 NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING SOUTH JAMAICA AND SUNNYSIDE-WOODSIDE LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR, WE ARE WORKING ON EAST ELMHURST, WITH COUNCILWOMAN JULISSA FERRERAS, AND BELLEROSE, FLORAL PARK AND GLEN OAKS WITH COUNCILMAN MARK WEPRIN. HOUSING IN NOVEMBER, I WROTE TO GOVERNOR CUOMO, URGING HIM TO CONTINUE THE NEW YORK STATE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM THAT HELPS FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY NEGOTIATING SETTLEMENTS WITH BANKS AND OTHER LENDERS. WHILE IT HAD BEEN DUE TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT - FUNDING HAS BEEN RESTORED. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNOR FOR ANNOUNCING PLANS FOR A STATE FORECLOSURE RELIEF UNIT WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES. THIS UNIT WILL PROVIDE COUNSELING AND MEDIATION SERVICES TO HELP RESIDENTS KEEP THEIR HOMES. AT THE SAME TIME, WE CONTINUE TO CREATE MUCH-NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES AND SENIORS. THE LARGEST INFUSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE ENTIRE CITY – HUNTERS POINT SOUTH – IS MAKING STEADY PROGRESS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, SANITARY, STORM SEWERS, CURBS AND SIDEWALKS WERE INSTALLED AND SUBSTANTIAL WORK COMPLETED ON AN 1100-SEAT SCHOOL. WE WILL BREAK GROUND IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE FIRST 1,000 OF AN EVENTUAL TOTAL OF 5,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS. THESE MUCH-NEEDED APARTMENTS IN PHASE 1 WILL BE COMPLETED IN TWO YEARS, ALONG WITH A FIVE-ACRE PARK AND MUCH-NEEDED RETAIL SPACE. STAY TUNED BECAUSE MARKETING OF THESE UNITS BEGINS WHEN CONSTRUCTION IS 50 PERCENT COMPLETE.
ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT IN NEARBY ASTORIA, HALLETS POINT IS ON THE DRAWING BOARDS. IT WOULD CREATE NEW RESIDENTIAL TOWERS, RETAIL SPACE INCLUDING A MUCH-NEEDED SUPERMARKET, A NEW WATERFRONT PARK WITH CONNECTIONS TO ASTORIA HOUSES AND ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS. THIS 1 BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT WOULD CREATE 14 HUNDRED CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND 300 PERMANENT JOBS.
JUST LAST MONTH, WE BROKE GROUND FOR A 50 MILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT WILL PAVE THE WAY TO TRANSFORM WILLETS POINT INTO A MAJOR, NEW, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. THIS YEAR, A DEVELOPER WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOR THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH INCLUDES 400 UNITS OF MIXED-INCOME APARTMENTS, RETAIL SPACE, A HOTEL AND TWO ACRES OF OPEN SPACE -- ALL THIS WILL GENERATE 18 HUNDRED PERMANENT JOBS AND MORE THAN 4,500 CONSTRUCTION JOBS. AND LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER AT WILLETS POINT. IT IS MEANT TO COMPLEMENT THE JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER. AND NOW, IT CAN COMPLEMENT THE CONVENTION CENTER AT AQUEDUCT. BECAUSE OF WILLETS POINT UNIQUE PROXIMITY TO LAGUARDIA AIRPORT, MAJOR THOROUGHFARES AND MASS TRANSPORTATION TO LONG ISLAND, EASY CONNECTIONS TO MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX, THE CASE FOR A MID-SIZE CONVENTION CENTER AT WILLETS POINT CONTINUES TO MAKE SENSE. IN SEPTEMBER, THE ARKER COMPANIES BROKE GROUND ON ITS 182-UNIT RICHMOND PLACE AND RICHMOND HILL SENIOR LIVING RESIDENCE. COMPLETION IS SCHEDULED BY YEAR’S END. THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HANAC, OFFICIALLY OPENED THIS 184 - UNIT GEORGE DOURIS, SENIOR RESIDENCE IN ASTORIA. THIS FALL, HANAC WILL COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION ON ITS NEARBY PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR RESIDENCE. CATHOLIC CHARITIES’ 93 UNITS OF HOUSING FOR SENIORS AND THEIR ADULT CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN HOWARD BEACH JUST RECEIVED THE “GO-AHEAD” FROM THE CITY. IN JUST THREE WEEKS, MET COUNCIL WILL OPEN ITS SENIOR HOUSING ON THE GROUNDS OF POMONOK HOUSES A FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE. IN THE FALL, THE ALLEN NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL OPEN ITS 65 UNIT SENIOR RESIDENCE IN FAR ROCKAWAY. AND TODAY, EDC IS ASKING FOR IDEAS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD ROCKAWAY COURTHOUSE - A FOCUS OF MY OFFICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, COUNCILMEMBERS JAMES SANDERS AND ERIC ULRICH TO MAKE THIS HIDDEN GEM SHINE. MEANWHILE, THE MACEDONIA DEVELOPMENT IS SHOVEL-READY FOR ITS 135 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN FLUSHING. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AS WE BUILD FOR THE FUTURE, WE ARE ADDRESSING HISTORICAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS, NEWTOWN CREEK HAS BEEN FLANKED BY INDUSTRIAL SITES, INCLUDING OIL REFINERIES AND CHEMICAL PLANTS. TOXIC SUBSTANCES HAVE BEEN DUMPED INTO THE CREEK—ALONG WITH STORM WATER RUNOFF AND COMBINED SEWER OUTFALLS. LAST FALL, INVESTIGATIVE FIELD WORK BEGAN ON THIS SUPERFUND SITE. ULTIMATELY, A CLEAN-UP PLAN WILL BE PUBLICLY REVIEWED. FUNDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS. AND, WE WILL SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WILL RECOMMEND WORTHY PROJECTS. MEANWHILE, AS GOVERNOR CUOMO PURSUES THE CREATION OF AN ENERGY HIGHWAY FROM UPSTATE TO DOWNSTATE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CON EDISON’S 185 MILLION DOLLAR SMART GRID PROJECT THAT WILL IDENTIFY AND FIX PROBLEMS QUICKLY TO AVOID BLACKOUTS. EARLIER THIS MONTH, IN TESTIMONY DELIVERED TO THE STATE D.E.C., I CALLED ON THE STATE TO DELAY HYDROFRACKING PERMITS UNTIL WE ARE 100% CERTAIN THAT OUR CITY’S DRINKING WATER WON’T BE THREATENED BY THE PROCESS. THERE IS MOUNTING EVIDENCE, THAT THIS PROCESS HAS RELEASED HARMFUL CHEMICALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES INTO THE GROUND THAT COULD ULTIMATELY CONTAMINATE OUR DRINKING WATER. AND, WE CANNOT RISK THAT. AVIATION IN AVIATION, WE ALL AGREE THAT JFK AND LAGUARDIA AIRPORTS ARE POWERFUL ECONOMIC ENGINES. TOGETHER THEY PROVIDE 319,000 JOBS AND GENERATE MORE THAN 42 BILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. BUT, WE BEAR THEIR IMPACTS AS WELL. THAT IS WHY I CONTINUE TO CALL ON THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO EXPEDITE ITS AIRSPACE REDESIGN AND NEXT-GEN PROGRAMS, WHICH CAN UTILIZE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INSTRUMENTS TO DIRECT PLANES TO FLY AT HIGHER ALTITUDES OVER MORE POPULATED AREAS, OR, WHEN POSSIBLE, FLY OVER NON-POPULATED AREAS, SUCH AS THE OCEAN OR A RIVER. THE ENTIRE PROGRAM MIGHT NOT BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL 2020, BUT THE FAA TELLS US NOW THAT WE ARE ALREADY SEEING SOME OF NEXT-GEN’S INTENDED BENEFITS, INCLUDING ENHANCED SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY, AS WELL AS A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN AVIATION’S OVERALL IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT. LAST MONTH, DELTA AIR LINES ANNOUNCED IT IS BOOSTING FLIGHTS OUT OF LAGUARDIA AND INVESTING 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO EXPAND ITS TERMINALS. AND, AT JFK, DELTA’S 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS REBUILDING OF TERMINAL 4 IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY 2015. AND, TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES, WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THE QUEENS AIR SERVICES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO LINK QUEENS BUSINESSES WITH AVIATION OPPORTUNITIES.

NYPD
BACK ON THE STREET, NEW YORK’S FINEST ARE KEEPING US SAFE. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP HERE IN QUEENS OF PATROL BOROUGH CHIEFS JAMES SECRETO AND DIANA PIZZUTI, WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS. THEY ARE HERE TODAY, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OF OUR PRECINCT COMMANDING OFFICERS. I ASK THEM TO PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN SALUTE YOU.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO CONVICTION RATES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THERE IS NO ONE BETTER AT THE HELM THAN OUR OWN DISTRICT ATTORNEY RICHARD BROWN. HE IS NOW THE LONGEST SERVING DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY. DISTRICT ATTORNEY BROWN, PLEASE STAND.
THE CHALLENGES THAT THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS FACED OVER THE PAST YEAR HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL.
FROM THE 100TH PRECINCT IN THE ROCKAWAYS, WHICH HAD A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN CRIME, TO THE 114TH PRECINCT IN ASTORIA, RESOURCES HAVE BEEN STRAINED. BECAUSE OF THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN CRIMES IN ROCKAWAY, I HAVE ASKED COMMISSIONER KELLY TO INCLUDE THE PENINSULA IN OPERATION IMPACT- A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL OFFICERS TO THE AREA. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE QUEENS DELEGATION AND CITY COUNCILMAN PETER VALLONE, CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY IN QUEENS. TO TRAIN OUR NEW OFFICERS, THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NEW ONE BILLION DOLLAR POLICE ACADEMY IN COLLEGE POINT IS UNDERWAY. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PARTNERING WITH DISTRICT ATTORNEY BROWN, MY OFFICE HAS SECURED MORE THAN EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS. THIS YEAR ALONE, WE OBTAINED ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO STREAMLINE PROSECUTIONS AND HELP VICTIMS. TO MARK DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH, MY TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD MALTREATMENT AND ELDER ABUSE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR VICTIMS TO FILE A POLICE REPORT WHENEVER AN INCIDENT OCCURS. THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE ONLY START TURNING WHEN A COMPLAINT IS FILED. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WHEN FIRES BREAK OUT OR EMERGENCIES OCCUR, NEW YORK’S BRAVEST RESPOND. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF QUEENS BOROUGH COMMANDER JOHN SUDNIK, AND EMS DIVISION CHIEF MARY LOU AURRICHIA, RESPONSE TIMES HAVE IMPROVED ACROSS THE BOARD. LAST YEAR ALONE, OUR QUEENS FIRE COMPANIES SAVED THE LIVES OF 60 BOROUGH RESIDENTS BY PROVIDING CPR ON THE SCENE. JOB WELL DONE! CHIEFS PLEASE STAND. IN OCTOBER, I WATCHED A DEMONSTRATION OF THE MOBILE TRAINING VEHICLE, WHICH MY OFFICE FUNDED. THE VEHICLE ALLOWS FIREFIGHTERS TO TRAIN AT THEIR FIREHOUSES RATHER THAN TRAVEL TO MANHATTAN’S RANDALL’S ISLAND TRAINING FACILITY. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, FIREFIGHTERS CAN CRAWL THROUGH A SMOKE-FILLED SMALL SPACE, AND SCALE DOWN FROM THE ROOF. IT WAS A POWERFUL DEMONSTRATION. NOW I MUST ADMIT… I POLITELY DECLINED CHIEF KILDUFF’S INVITATION TO EXPERIENCE THE TRAINING FIRST-HAND ON THE TRUCK.

CULTURE
AS WE STAY SAFE, WE ALSO NEED TO GROW AND EXPAND OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS COME TO OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ACROSS OUR BOROUGH.
THE NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE RECENTLY WON A 3 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO CREATE CLASSROOM SCIENCE GAMES TO MAKE UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE FUN.
AND, A WILDLY POPULAR TRAVELING SMITHSONIAN EXHIBITION OF JIM HENSON’S MUPPETS IS DRAWING CROWDS AT THE MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE. THERE’S SO MUCH YOU CAN DO ENJOY SOME GREAT JAZZ AT FLUSHING TOWN HALL.
SEE BROADWAY QUALITY SHOWS AT QUEENS THEATER.
MEANDER ON THE PATHS OF THE QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDENS OR VISIT THE QUEENS ZOO. HOLD AN EVENT AT THE JAMAICA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
CATCH SOME BEAUTIFUL DANCING AT THALIA SPANISH THEATER… VISIT THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE IN CORONA, THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU CAN PICK UP A UNIQUE 10-CD SET OF SELECTIONS FROM A CAREER THAT SPANNED 60 YEARS… OR, TAKE AN EASY HIKE ALONG THE APEC TRAILS IN DOUGLASTON. MEANWHILE, THE QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD ON ITS EXPANSION PLAN THAT WILL LITERALLY DOUBLE ITS SIZE BY NEXT YEAR. YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY SOME OF THE WORLD-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT AT PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS AT ANY OF OUR CUNY COLLEGES. AND DID YOU KNOW THAT LAST YEAR, QUEENS HELD ITS FIRST WORLD FILM FESTIVAL? HISTORIC PRESERVATION YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST AT ANY ONE OF OUR BOROUGH’S HISTORIC TREASURES. THE FUTURE OF THE OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN QUEENS HAS BEEN SECURED. WITH 1.1 MILLION DOLLARS PROVIDED BY MY OFFICE, RENOVATIONS ARE UNDERWAY AT THE HISTORIC CONGREGATION TIFERETH ISRAEL OF CORONA, WHERE ESTEE LAUDER AND HER PARENTS ONCE WORSHIPED. AT THE QUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM IN GLEN OAKS, WE ARE PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE OLDEST WORKING FARM IN NEW YORK STATE. AT THE POPPENHUSEN INSTITUTE IN COLLEGE POINT, WE ARE RESTORING THE SITE WHERE THE FIRST FREE KINDERGARTEN IN THE UNITED STATES BEGAN IN 1870 AND CONTINUES ITS MISSION OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION TODAY. SO WHETHER RESTORING THE WINDOWS AT THE KINGSLAND HOMESTEAD…. THE ROOF AT RUFUS KING MANOR MUSEUM IN JAMAICA
OR FIXING THE SIDING AT LATIMER HOUSE IN FLUSHING
WE ARE KEEPING THE STORY OF OUR PAST ALIVE. TOGETHER WITH THE HISTORIC HOUSE TRUST, LED BY FRANK VAGNONE, WE ARE ENSURING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN BE INSPIRED BY LEWIS LATIMER, SON OF FUGITIVE SLAVES, WHO WENT ON TO WORK WITH THOMAS EDISON TO HARNESS THE POWER OF ELECTRICITY. WE ARE ENSURING THAT OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL ALSO KNOW THE POWER OF ONE HUMAN BEING LIKE RUFUS KING OF JAMAICA, AN OUTSPOKEN OPPONENT OF SLAVERY, WHO WENT ON TO BECOME A DELEGATE OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AND A SIGNER OF THE US CONSTITUTION. AT THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE, WE ARE ADDING A 15 MILLION DOLLAR GREEN VISITOR’S CENTER THAT WILL HELP INCREASE AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST JAZZ ARTISTS AND HIS MESSAGE OF GOOD WILL. THAT GOOD WILL IS CARRIED ON AT THE HOLOCAUST RESOURCE CENTER. ITS MISSION IS TO EDUCATE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF UNBRIDLED PREJUDICE, RACISM AND STEREOTYPING. SOME OF THE EARLIEST ROOTS OF GOOD WILL AND TOLERANCE IN OUR COUNTRY CAN BE TRACED TO THE HISTORIC BOWNE HOUSE IN FLUSHING WHERE JOHN BOWNE, ADVOCATE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND THE SPOUSE OF A QUAKER, HELPED TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM NOW PROTECTED BY OUR NATION’S BILL OF RIGHTS. JOHN BOWNE SUFFERED FOR HIS BRAVERY YET HE HELPED SPUR THE BEGINNINGS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN OUR COUNTRY. IT TOOK ONE MAN—ONE PERSON—TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AS WE MOVE AHEAD ON ITS RESTORATION AND THE BUILDING OF A NEW VISITOR’S CENTER, THE CLARION CALL OF JOHN BOWNE’S FLUSHING REMONSTRANCE, WRITTEN IN 1657, HAS JUST BEEN REITERATED. A PLEDGE TO TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING IS HELPING TO ENSURE THAT THE ENDURING MESSAGE IS NOT FORGOTTEN IN TODAY’S ECONOMIC AND WORLD STRUGGLES. AS YOU LEAVE TODAY, PLEASE PICK UP A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL BOWNE REMONSTRANCE AND THE NEW PLEDGE, WRITTEN BY MICHAEL NUSSBAUM AND BRIAN RAFFERTY. YOU CAN ALSO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL WHO STAND FIRM IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE BONDS THAT TIE US TOGETHER ARE NEVER BROKEN.

IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS
THOSE BONDS ARE NOWHERE MORE IMPORTANT THAN HERE IN QUEENS, WHERE EVEN THAT EXTREMELY FLAWED CENSUS DATA I MENTIONED EARLIER SHOWS THAT WE ARE THE MOST ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COUNTY IN THE NATION.
A COUNTY WHERE ALMOST 200 LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS ARE SPOKEN AND 47 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION IS FOREIGN-BORN – THAT’S EQUAL TO THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF DALLAS, TEXAS! NOW THAT’S MORE EXCITING THAN A KISS FROM LADY GAGA ON NEW YEAR’S EVE!!! DR. JOSEPH SALVO FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING HAS PROVIDED THE DETAILS OF THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF QUEENS. HE IS WORKING WITH MY OFFICE TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE NEW FACE OF OUR BOROUGH. AND, IT’S FASCINATING. DID YOU KNOW: HALF OF ALL ASIAN AMERICANS WHO CALL NEW YORK CITY HOME LIVE IN QUEENS? SO, LET ME SAY IN HONOR OF CHINESE NEW YEAR, “GUNG HOY FAT CHOY.” OR THAT 57 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION SPEAKS A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME? OR THAT THE HISPANIC POPULATION OF QUEENS IS MORE THAN 600,000. THAT’S EQUAL TO THE POPULATION OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA! THAT’S WHY I AM PROUD TO SPONSOR EVENTS LIKE THE JEWISH MUSIC UNDER THE STARS CONCERT SERIES.

KWANZAA CELEBRATIONS, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH,
AND OUR ANNUAL RAMADAN EVENT, WHERE PARTICIPANTS BREAK BREAD TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE INTERFAITH LEADERS IN THE QUEENS-BASED MUSLIM COMMUNITY. AS ALWAYS SAY, VISIT QUEENS AND SEE THE WORLD. MY QUEENS GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUED ITS COMMUNITY DIALOGUE PROJECT LAST YEAR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY BOARD 5. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE TO BRING TOGETHER OUR NEWEST NEIGHBORS WITH LONGTIME RESIDENTS, TO LEARN ABOUT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WILL HELP THEM TO BUILD THEIR AMERICAN DREAM. HELPING THIS EFFORT CITYWIDE IS QUEENS COUNCILMAN DANNY DROMM, CHAIR OF THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION, AND WHO REPRESENTS SOME OF OUR NATION’S MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITIES RIGHT HERE IN QUEENS. ALSO HELPING IS THE NEW U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES SHIFT OF MANY OF ITS OPERATIONS TO QUEENS BY OPENING A FULL-SERVICE FIELD OFFICE IN LONG ISLAND CITY LAST FRIDAY.

LIBRARIES
A GREAT RESOURCE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS IS OUR LIBRARIES. WHILE NOT RECEIVING ITS FAIR SHARE OF FUNDING, OUR SYSTEM, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TOM GALANTE, IS A MODEL OF EXCELLENCE THAT CONTINUES TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SERVE AMERICA’S MOST DIVERSE POPULATION IN 59 LANGUAGES. I AM PROUD TO REPORT THAT, THE HELEN MARSHALL CHILDREN’S LIBRARY DISCOVERY CENTER OPENED IN JAMAICA IN SEPTEMBER. IT IS A WORLD-CLASS CHILDREN’S LIBRARY THAT INCLUDES HANDS-ON LEARNING. THE TOUCH-FRIENDLY EXHIBITS WERE DESIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. AS A LONG-TIME FIGHTER FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NATIONAL TREASURE RIGHT HERE IN QUEENS. I WAS SO HAPPY; I EVEN DANCED WITH THE ROBOT TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING! AND THE BUILDING, PRIMARILY FUNDED WITH MORE THAN 16 MILLION DOLLARS FROM MY OFFICE, WON A DESIGN AWARD FROM THE QUEENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND TOGETHER WITH COUNCILMAN LEROY COMRIE, WE ARE RENOVATING THE CENTRAL LIBRARY BRANCH NEXT DOOR. IN ELMHURST, I ALLOCATED ALMOST 23 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY THAT PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE BUSIEST LIBRARIES IN THE BOROUGH WHEN IT OPENS NEXT YEAR. NOT FAR AWAY, IN EAST ELMHURST, WE WILL BREAK GROUND NEXT FALL TO EXPAND THE LIBRARY AND ENHANCE ITS COMMUNITY SPACE. IN FAR ROCKAWAY, DESIGN IS UNDERWAY FOR A NEW BRANCH WITH 20 MILLION DOLLARS FROM MY OFFICE. THE HUNTERS POINT LIBRARY WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR ON A NEW EAST RIVER ICON. WE ARE DOING THIS TOGETHER WITH ASSEMBLYWOMAN CATHY NOLAN, COUNCILMAN JIMMY VAN BRAMER AND A WORLD-RENOWNED ARCHITECT, STEVEN HOLL.
THE FINISHING TOUCHES ARE UNDERWAY FOR A SPECTACULAR NEW GLEN OAKS BRANCH. AND NOW, TOGETHER WITH COUNCILWOMAN KAREN KOSLOWITZ, WE ARE FOCUSING ON A NEW REGO PARK BRANCH. IN MARCH, CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN ON THE AWARD-WINNING DESIGN FOR THE RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF THE KEW GARDENS HILLS LIBRARY. THIS WAS A PROJECT NEAR AND DEAR TO THE LATE CIVIC ACTIVIST PATRICIA DOLAN. PAT’S LEGACY WILL BE HONORED IN THE LIBRARY WITH A PERMANENT PLAQUE THAT PAYS TRIBUTE TO HER LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO THE PROJECT. IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO LOSE PAT AND SO MANY OTHER QUEENS HEROES, INCLUDING RICHARD ITALIANO, DISTRICT MANAGER OF COMMUNITY BOARD 4, WHO DIED ON THURSDAY. THEY ALL LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST-NEVER SITTING DOWN WHEN PUBLIC SERVICE CALLED THEM. LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THEM. THEIR EXAMPLE LIVES ON IN THE SPIRIT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO INSPIRE US AND ARE IN THIS AUDITORIUM TODAY. OUR COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MY DEPUTY BOROUGH PRESIDENT BARRY GRODENCHIK, ARE EVERYDAY HEROES, WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE YEAR-ROUND. THEY ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE HEART AND SOUL OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. I ASK THEM TO STAND SO WE CAN APPLAUD THEIR DEDICATION. MY STAFF AT BOROUGH HALL WORKS HARD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THEY ARE A WONDERFUL TEAM OF PUBLIC SERVANTS AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIRELESS DEDICATION. NOW LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A HERO WE DISCOVERED WORKING AMONG US. WE JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT HIS AMAZING STORY. ONE OF MY OFFICE VOLUNTEERS, ARNO HELLER, A NATIVE OF GERMANY, CAME TO THE U.S. SHORTLY BEFORE WORLD WAR 2. HE IS A COMBAT VETERAN, WHO RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT IN A MATTER OF DAYS HE WILL RECEIVE THE BRONZE STAR AT THE AGE OF 91, AFTER EARNING IT MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AGO. ARNO ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY AND SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN NORTH AFRICA AND SICILY, AND PARTICIPATED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE NORMANDY INVASION. HE IS A RECIPIENT OF THE FRENCH LEGION MEDAL OF HONOR. HE IS A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL OUR WORLD WAR 2 VETERANS. ARNO, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS DECLARATION OF HONOR OF YOUR SERVICE. ARNO’S SPIRIT OF HEROIC SERVICE CAN ALSO BE SEEN IN INDIVIDUALS LIKE FIREFIGHTER RONALD DALY, A MEMBER OF RESCUE 4 IN WOODSIDE. IN NOVEMBER, MEMBERS OF RESCUE 4 AND ENGINE COMPANY 292 WERE AMONG THE FIRST COMPANIES TO RESPOND TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT DESTROYED ONE HOME AND DAMAGED TWO OTHERS. THE FIRE TRAGICALLY RESULTED IN A FATALITY, AND FIVE INJURIES. UPON ARRIVAL, FIREFIGHTER DALY WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE STILL PEOPLE IN THIS HOUSE. DESPITE HEAVY FIRE, HE ENTERED THE REAR OF THE HOME AFTER PRYING OFF WINDOW BARS AND PULLED OUT AN UNCONSCIOUS 63-YEAR-OLD MAN AND HIS DOG. RON’S COMPANY OFFICER, CAPTAIN JOSEPH GANDELLO, SAID IT WAS – “ONE OF THE MOST COURAGEOUS ACTS I’VE SEEN IN MY 27 YEARS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT”. FIREFIGHTER DALY, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR GRATITUDE AND THIS DECLARATION OF HONOR FOR YOUR HEROIC ACT.
LET ME REMIND -EVERYONE- PLEASE: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WORKING SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR IN YOUR HOME. NOW, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT DETECTIVE CHARLES LO PRESTI SAVED THE LIFE OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT, WHO SWALLOWED A BOTTLE OF PILLS IN AN APPARENT SUICIDE ATTEMPT. HER MOTHER, WHO LIVES IN HONOLULU, MADE SEVERAL CALLS BEFORE GETTING DETECTIVE LO PRESTI WHO RACED TO HER DAUGHTER’S BUILDING IN KEW GARDENS – AND LOCATED HER APARTMENT THROUGH THE SOUND OF HER RINGING TELEPHONE, WHICH HER MOTHER WAS CALLING. I WAS PROUD TO HONOR HIM AT MY BOROUGH CABINET MEETING THIS PAST SEPTEMBER AND PRESENT HIM WITH A LETTER OF APPRECIATION AND MEDALLION FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN HONOLULU. BUT HIS DEDICATION DIDN’T END THERE. REMEMBER THE FIRE BOMBINGS LAST MONTH THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER? WELL, GUESS WHAT? IT WAS DETECTIVE LO PRESTI, ALONG WITH HIS PARTNER, DETECTIVE RICHARD JOHNSON, WHO WENT BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AND AFTER FOLLOWING A HUNCH, A LONG SURVEILLANCE PAST THEIR NORMAL TOUR, COLLARED THE SUSPECT IN THOSE ATTACKS. DETECTIVES, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS DECLARATION OF HONOR TO YOU.
NOW, SANITATION WORKERS JOSEPH MANEGGIO AND SEMI KNOZI, AREN’T CALLED “NEW YORK’S STRONGEST” FOR NOTHING. LAST MONTH, WHILE ON COLLECTION DUTY SHORTLY AFTER 6 A.M., THEY NOTICED A HOUSE FIRE IN FAR ROCKAWAY AND IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED. AFTER CALLING 911 THEY MANAGED TO SAVE AN ENTIRE FAMILY BY YELLING “JUMP INTO MY ARMS.” THOSE STRONG ARMS CAUGHT FIVE CHILDREN AND THEIR MOTHER FROM 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. IN RECOGNITION OF THESE LIFESAVING CATCHES, I’VE ASKED TWO SPECIAL GUESTS TO PRESENT JOE AND SEMI WITH A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION.
THANK YOU MISTER MET AND SANITATION COMMISSIONER JOHN DOHERTY, ONE OF OUR CITY’S FINEST PUBLIC SERVANTS. THESE ACTS ARE JUST A SAMPLE OF THE COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT YOU FIND ON STREETS ACROSS OUR BOROUGH. I AM PROUD OF OUR DIVERSITY BUT WE ALSO HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON. WE WANT TO LEARN FROM YESTERDAY, HAVE HOPE FOR TODAY AND BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN. IN THE WORDS OF CAROL BELLAMY, FORMER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND UNICEF DIRECTOR, “IN SERVING THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN, WE SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL HUMANITY”. CHILDREN REMIND US TO CHERISH AND CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF LIFE. AND HERE TO HELP US DO THAT ARE STUDENTS FROM PS 99 IN KEW GARDENS UNDER MUSIC DIRECTOR EVELYN ZERNER. THANK YOU! WASN’T THAT WONDERFUL! WHAT BETTER WAY TO END TODAY’S CELEBRATION THAN TO SEE THESE TALENTED CHILDREN INSPIRE US ALL TO CELEBRATE LIFE, HOPE AND EACH OTHER. GOD BLESS THE BOROUGH OF QUEENS, THE GREAT CITY OF NEW YORK, THE EMPIRE STATE AND, GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

THANK YOU AGAIN!