Press Office
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Speeches
by
Helen M. Marshall |
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STATE OF THE BOROUGH SPEECH –
JANUARY
23, 2007
GOOD MORNING! WELCOME TO YORK COLLEGE
AND THE 2007 REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE BOROUGH. PLEASE JOIN
ME IN THANKING OUR HOST, DR. MARCIA KEIZS. UNDER HER CREATIVE
LEADERSHIP, THIS COLLEGE IS QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF THE PREMIER
INSTITUTIONS OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
LET'S
TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
WHO HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY:(NAMES) .
2007
HAS JUST BEGUN, AND ALREADY IT IS A VERY EXCITING YEAR.
AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, CONGRESS HAS NEW LEADERSHIP AND FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, OUR HOUSE SPEAKER IS A WOMAN, AND
BETTER YET, A GRANDMOTHER! AT THE STATE LEVEL, OUR
NEW GOVERNOR HAS OUTLINED AN IMPRESSIVE AGENDA OF REFORMS.
AT
THE CITY LEVEL, WE HAVE A FORWARD THINKING MAYOR, WHO IS
NOT ONLY TAKING CARE OF TODAY'S PROBLEMS, BUT IS ALSO PLANNING
FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR GREAT CITY FOR DECADES TO COME.
HERE
IN QUEENS, WE ARE MAKING OUR OWN HISTORY WITH A CONTINUING
FAITH IN THE UNIQUE CHEMISTRY OF WHO WE ARE---THE MOST DIVERSE
COUNTY IN THE NATION. THIS YEAR, WE WILL CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY
OF AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE DISTANT PAST, BUT WHICH
CONTINUES TO DEFINE ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEALS OF OUR
NATION.
LED
BY JOHN BOWNE, 350 YEARS AGO, A GROUP OF CONCERNED FLUSHING
CITIZENS, SENT A LETTER TO THEIR GOVERNOR, PETER STUYVESANT,
PROTESTING HIS INTOLERANCE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. AND SO,
THE FLUSHING REMONSTRANCE, WAS BORN MAKING QUEENS THE BIRTHPLACE
OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM INAMERICA AND SET THE STAGE FOR THE
BILL OF RIGHTS.
THE
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IS HOUSED AT THE STATE LIBRARY IN ALBANY.
SINCE IT WAS WRITTEN IN QUEENS, IT BELONGS IN QUEENS. THAT
IS WHY I HAVE ARRANGED FOR IT TO COME HOME TO THE FLUSHING
LIBRARY FOR DISPLAY DURING THIS ANNIVERSARY YEAR. THIS IS
PART OF MY EFFORT TO BRING IT HOME PERMANENTLY.
ADDITIONALLY,
I HAVE ALLOCATED FUNDING TO MAKE THE MESSAGE OF THE REMONSTRANCE
PART OF THE CURRICULUM IN ALL QUEENS SCHOOLS. AND, JUST AS
JOHN BOWNE OPENED HIS HOUSE TO THOSE NEW AMERICANS - INCLUDING
BLACKS IN SEARCH OF FREEDOM, IRONICALLY, NOW THREE AND A
HALF CENTURIES LATER, QUEENS REMAINS THE GATEWAY TO AMERICA
. I HAVE CREATED THE QUEENS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO EXPLORE THE
RICH EXPERIENCE OF OUR FANTASTIC DIVERSITY. THOSE MEMBERS
INVOLVED TELL ME THAT IT HAS TAKEN THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE TO
ANOTHER LEVEL. THEY HAVE NAVIGATED THE WORLD AT BOROUGH HALL'S
CONFERENCE TABLE. I AM PROUD THAT MY IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE
BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 100 SERVICE PROVIDERS, WHO GUIDE
NEWCOMERS ON THEIR PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.
TO
HELP HONOR THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY IN OUR GREAT COUNTRY, AND
THOSE WHO PROTECT IT, LET US TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THAT
QUEENS HAS LOST 17 OF ITS SONS IN THE WAR IN IRAQ .
(moment
of silence)
WE
PRAY FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THE SAFE RETURN OF THOSE STILL
SERVING. ALSO, WE SALUTE OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS WHO ANSWER
THE CALL TO SERVE. Let's recognize THE 77TH REGIONAL READINESS
COMMAND ARMY RESERVES, REGULARLY DEPLOYED FROM FORT TOTTEN
IN BAYSIDE, MANY OF WHOM DO MULTIPLE TOURS IN IRAQ .
They
join us here today. (pause)
AS
I BEGIN MY SIXTH YEAR AS YOUR BOROUGH PRESIDENT, I AM PROUD
TO REPORT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE PAST YEAR, AND SHARE
MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF QUEENS.
HEALTH
OUR
MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE MORE THAN
27,000 CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN IN QUEENS LAST YEAR AND THEIR
FAMILIES. THAT'S WHY I AM COMMITTED TO ENSURING ACCESSIBLE
QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE.
KNOWING
THAT THE STATE BERGER COMMISSION ON HEALTH CARE WOULD RELEASE
ITS REPORT IN DECEMBER, I HIRED THE RESPECTED FIRM OF PRICE
WATERHOUSE COOPERS ON YOUR BEHALF TO HELP CREATE A VISION
FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM
IN QUEENS.
OUR
STUDY UNCOVERED SOME SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES:
- THERE
ARE NOT ENOUGH HOSPITAL BEDS IN QUEENS TO SERVE OUR POPULATION.
- GAPS
IN SERVICES RESULT IN RESIDENTS LEAVING THE BOROUGH TO SEEK
CARE.SHOCKINGLY, WITH TWO OF OUR NATION'S BUSIEST AIRPORTS,
OUR BOROUGH DOES NOT HAVE A CERTIFIED BURN CENTER. WHEN CIVILIANS,
AND HEROIC FIREFIGHTERS WHO SAVE LIVES, ARE BURNED, THEY
SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATE BURN TREATMENT AND NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL
INTO MANHATTAN. IN FACT, AS I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY, 1400 QUEENS
RESIDENTS ARE LYING IN HOSPITAL BEDS OUTSIDE THE BOROUGH.
IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR US TO BE TOLD, "GO TO MANHATTAN"!
- AND,
THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN QUEENS IS NOT FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE
IN ITS CURRENT
STATE. COUNCILMEMBER HELEN SEARS AND HER WORK ON THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS HELPED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PROBLEM AS WELL.
BUT,
THERE ARE WAYS TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION AND OUR REPORT PROVIDES
FOUR CRITICAL STEPS TO DO IT.
1. PRESENTLY
NEW YORK CITY IS INCORPORATED INTO ONE HEALTH REGION, THOUGH
DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICES IS NOT EVENLY BALANCED AMONG THE
BOROUGHS. THE POPULATION OF QUEENS IS 2.3 MILLION PEOPLE.
WE HAVE 1.4 BEDS PER THOUSAND. MANHATTAN HAS Only 1.5 MILLION
PEOPLE WITH 7.4 BEDS PER THOUSAND. THIS CLEARLY SHOWS THAT
QUEENS SHOULD BE ITS OWN HEALTH REGION.
2. AS
THE BERGER COMMISSION STATED, THERE MUST BE ONE, NEW, STATE-OF-
THE-ART HOSPITAL BUILT IN The ROCKAWAYs. BUT, I SAY ANOTHER
MUST ALSO BE BUILT IN WESTERN QUEENS. BOTH OF THESE AREAS
ARE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES. SOON THERE WILL BE MORE
THAN 10,000 UNITS OF NEW HOUSING BUILT IN THESE TWO COMMUNITIES
ALONE--- AND SORELY NEEDED MEDICAL SERVICES MUST BE PART
OF THAT PLAN.
3. SPECIALTY
PHYSICIANS SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO QUEENS. QUEENS RESIDENTS
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THE BOROUGH FOR MORE COMPLEX PROCEDURES
AND SERVICES.
4. TO
ATTRACT NEW PHYSICIANS TO QUEENS, A CLINICAL CAMPUS FOR THE
SOPHIE DAVIS SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL EDUCATION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED
ON THE CAMPUS AT QUEENS HOSPITAL CENTER. THE NEED IS GREAT
AND THE LAND IS AVAILABLE --- WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
TO
HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS, I AM ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL TASK
FORCE COMPRISED OF HEALTH CARE LEADERS IN QUEENS.
THE
COMMISSION IGNORED ITS OWN REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE's
RECOMMENDATION TO EXPAND CAPACITY AND INCREASE ACCESS TO
NEEDED SERVICES IN WESTERN QUEENS. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE
COMMISSION'S REPORT TO EXPAND MOUNT SINAI OF WESTERN QUEENS,
OR TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR COMPLEX
CARE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS GROWING SECTION OF THE BOROUGH.
I
AM PLEASED THAT THE COMMISSION CALLED FOR 40 ADDITIONAL BEDS
AT QUEENS HOSPITAL CENTER. WHILE THE BERGER COMMISSION GAVE
US THESE ADDITIONAL BEDS HERE, IT PROPOSED THE ELIMINATION
OF MORE THAN 400 BEDS IN FOREST HILLS AND ON THE ROCKAWAY
PENNISULA. LET ME SAY IT EMPHATICALLY - I AM OPPOSED TO THE
LOSS OF ANY HOSPITAL BEDS IN QUEENS.
BUT,
WE HAVE MADE IMPORTANT STRIDES IN HEALTH CARE:
FREE
STANDING HEALTH FACILITIES SUCH AS
- THE
UNIQUE JOSEPH P. ADDABBO FAMILY HEALTH CENTER OPENED ITS
NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY IN FAR ROCKAWAY, CONTINUING
ITS MISSION OF PROVIDING PREVENTIVE CARE FOR THOSE WHO COULD
LEAST AFFORD IT.
- QUEENS
HOSPITAL CENTER OPENED THE DOORS TO ITS NEW AMBULATORY CARE
PAVILION. THE HOSPITAL NOW HAS THE MOST MODERN CAT SCANNER… A
POWERFUL DIAGNOSTIC TOOL.
- THE
RENOVATED
ELMHURST HOSPITAL CENTER CLINIC AT JUNCTION BOULEVARD IN
CORONA PROVIDES FAMILY MEDICINE AS WELL AS PRIMARY CARE.
LAST WEEK THE HOSPITAL PERFORMED ITS FIRST ELECTIVE ANGIOPLASTY.
- JUST
THINK, NOT TOO LONG AGO, A PRIOR MAYOR TRIED TO PRIVATIZE
OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS. I WAS VERY MUCH PART OF THE FIGHT AGAINST
THAT PROPOSAL. LOOK AT HOW THESE FACILITIES HAVE FLOURISHED
AS PREMIER HOSPITALS!
- THIS
SPRING, PENINSULA HOSPITAL CENTER, IN COLLABORATION WITH
ITS AFFILIATE, THE LONG ISLAND JEWISH MEDICAL CENTER, WILL
OPEN THE FIRST CARDIAC CATHERIZATION LAB ON THE ROCKAWAY
PENINSULA.
- MEANWHILE,
MARY IMMACULATE HOSPITAL AND ST. JOHN'S QUEENS HOSPITAL EMERGED
FROM BANKRUPTCY. BOTH HOSPITALS CONTINUE TO PLAY A VITAL
ROLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
HERE
IS SOME MORE EXCITING NEWS
NEW YORK HOSPITAL QUEENS WILL SOON BREAK GROUND ON ITS MAJOR
MODERNIZATION PROJECT. THIS WILL ADD 80 ADDITIONAL BEDS,
A NEW AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER, FIVE NEW OPERATING ROOMS
AND A NEW PARKING GARAGE.
- AS
QUEENS RESIDENTS, WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF LONG ISLAND JEWISH
MEDICAL CENTER BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH LAST YEAR, AS HAVING NEW YORK'S BEST SUCCESS RATE
FOR ANGIOPLASTY. THIS YEAR, LIJ WILL COMPLETE THE FIRST PHASE
OF ITS EXPANSION PROJECT wITH 40 ADDITIONAL BEDS FOR CARDIAC
PATIENTS, AND AN EXPANDED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
- SCHNEIDER'S
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AT LIJ, WAS RANKED AS THE SECOND BEST
PEDIATRIC INSTITUTION IN THE NEW YORK METRO AREA. HOW ABOUT
THAT?
- LAST
YEAR, FOREST
HILLS HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT HAD THE BUSIEST YEAR
IN ITS HISTORY. THIS YEAR, IT WILL ESTABLISH A MUCH-NEEDED
ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL WITHIN ITS FACILITY.
- JAMAICA
HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER IMPLEMENTED A 24/7 EMERGENCY CARDIAC
ANGIOPLASTY PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN ON
A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY TO REPLACE THE OLD TRUMP PAVILION
NURSING HOME.
- FLUSHING
HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER FULLY IMPLEMENTED ITS COMPASSIONATE
HOSPICE PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, IT WILL BEGIN PROVIDING MRI SERVICES
ON SITE.
- THE
MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL OF QUEENS OPENED A NEW IMAGING SUITE
WITH AN MRI AND A POWERFUL CAT SCANNER. THIS YEAR, IT WILL
ADD A MUCH-NEEDED DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY UNIT.
- LAST
YEAR, ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL
HOSPITAL SOUTH SHORE CELEBRATED ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY AND
RAISED FUNDING TO RENOVATE ITS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
IN
THE WAKE OF THE BERGER COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, THE NEW
PARKWAY HOSPITAL IS NEGOTIATING WITH A MAJOR HEALTH SYSTEM
TO CONTINUE ITS MISSION TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO THE RESIDENTS
OF FOREST HILLS.
POLICE/CRIME
KEEPING
OUR CITIZENS SAFE FROM PHYSICAL HARM IS JUST AS IMPORTANT
AS HEALTH CARE. BUCKING THE CITY-WIDE TREND, MURDERS IN QUEENS
DECREASED BY 11% IN 2006. BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO
REDUCE MAJOR FELONY CRIME. IN QUEENS SOUTH, WE NEED TO ADDRESS
THE TROUBLING INCREASE IN ROBBERIES AND RAPES. IN QUEENS
NORTH, FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK NOW HAS THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION
OF BEING THE MOST DANGEROUS PARK IN THE CITY, WITH 44 CRIMES
IN 2006, INCLUDING 12 BRUTAL ATTACKS AND ONE MURDER SINCE
NOVEMBER.
WITH
ITS PREMIER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND WORLD RENOWNED SPORTS
FACILITIES ATTRACTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, A POLICE
PRESENCE IN THE PARK IS LONG OVERDUE.
SINCE
THE CITY HAS CONSISTANTLY REFUSED TO PLACE A PRECINCT IN
THE PARK, I CALL ON THE MAYOR AND POLICE COMMISSIONER RAY
KELLY TO IMPLEMENT THEIR PLAN FOR A NEW POLICE ACADEMY TO
BE IN FLUSHING MEADOWS PARK. WHY NOT?
WE
OWN THE LAND AND IT WOULD GIVE US THE PROTECTION WE DESPERATELY
NEED THERE.
AS
YOU KNOW, LAST NOVEMBER A YOUNG MAN WAS SHOT BY UNDERCOVER
POLICE OFFICERS AND DIED WITHIN HOURS OF HIS PLANNED WEDDING.
WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE DETERMINATION OF A GRAND JURY, WHICH
BEGAN HEARING EVIDENCE YESTERDAY,
WE
MUST ENSURE THAT SEAN BELL'S DEATH WILL RESULT IN MEANINGFUL
CHANGES.
POLICING
IS A TOUGH PROFESSION THAT REQUIRES SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS.
AS SUCH, I BELIEVE THAT THESE LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS ARE
BEST MADE BY OFFICERS WHO ARE WELL TRAINED IN POLICING
AND DIVERSITY. LET'S START TREATING POLICING AS THE PROFESSION
IT SHOULD BE.
IT
IS DISTRESSING TO ME THAT INVARIABLY WHEN I SPEAK TO NEW
RECRUITS WHO WILL PATROL THE STREETS OF AMERICA'S MOST DIVERSE
BOROUGH, I FIND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY ARE NOT CITY RESIDENTS.
WE NEED TO CREATE INCENTIVES THAT WILL INSPIRE MORE CITY
RESIDENTS TO JOIN THE RANKS OF NEW YORK'S FINEST.
THESE
INCENTIVES INCLUDE:
- RAISING
THE ENTRY SALARY FOR POLICE OFFICERS SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO
LIVE HERE.
- RE-ESTABLISHING
THE CUNY CADET PROGRAM AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
THAT PREPARED COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS IN
THE NYPD. THE CUNY CADET PROGRAM ATTRACTED CITY RESIDENTS.
COMBINED WITH THE VALLONE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES
HALF THE COST OF TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS WHO MAINTAIN
AN AVERAGE OF B OR BETTER, THIS PROGRAM ALSO AWARDED ADVANCED
STANDING IN THE NYPD FOR ITS GRADUATES WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR
BEST OFFICERS ON THE STREETS TODAY.
I
BELIEVE THAT POLICE OFFICERS WHO KNOW THE YOUTH, SENIORS
AND MERCHANTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS CAN'T HELP BUT BE MORE
EFFECTVE IN CRIME PREVENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE TIME
TO REESTABLISH COMMUNITY POLICING IS NOW. ACCORDING TO THE
MAYOR'S MANAGEMENT REPORT OF FISCAL YEAR 2006 WE HAVE LOST MORE
THAN 1100 OFFICERS SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2002. OUR POLICE FORCE
HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY CUT. I URGE ALL CITIZENS TO DEMAND NOT
ONLY RESTORATION OF THE POLICE FORCE, BUT AN INCREASE IN
ITS RANKS.
CESAR
BORJA, ONE OF NEW YORK'S FINEST WHO WORKED 16-HOUR SHIFTS
FOR MONTHS AT GROUND ZERO IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT MOUNT
SINAI MEDICAL CENTER WAITING FOR A LUNG TRANSPLANT. HE IS
A BAYSIDE RESIDENT, WHO NEVER MISSED A DAY OF WORK IN 20
YEARS AS A CITY COP. PLEASE, LET'S SPREAD THE WORD THAT OFFICER
BORjA AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS CAN BE SAVED THROUGH ORGAN
DONATIONS.
EDUCATION
--
THE
BEST CRIME PREVENTION TOOL IS A QUALITY EDUCATION. AS A FORMER
EDUCATOR AND NOW AS THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT I CONTINUE TO WORK
TO ENSURE THAT THOSE 27,000 CHILDREN WHOM WE WELCOMED INTO
THE WORLD LAST YEAR, AND THOSE THAT PRECEEDED THEM, WILL
RECEIVE THE QUALITY EDUCATION THAT IS THEIR BIRTHRIGHT.
AMERICA
IS THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD. AND A DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THE PARTICIPATION OF ITS CITIZENS, WITHOUT
WHICH IT CANNOT SURVIVE.
THAT
IS WHY I CREATED THE FIRST PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL WITH A
MISSION TO GIVE EVERY PARENT A MEANINGFUL VOICE IN THEIR
CHILD'S EDUCATION.
DIALOG
TAKES PLACE BETWEEN PARENTS AND EDUCATORS INCLUDING DR. GERALDINE
CHAPEY, THE QUEENS MEMBER OF OUR NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF
REGENTS, WHICH DETERMINES EDUCATION POLICY FOR THE ENTIRE
STATE OF NEW YORK. MICHAEL FLOWERS, MY QUEENS APPOINTEE TO
THE PANEL ON EDUCATION, co-CHAIRS THE COUNCIL with me. GUEST
SPEAKERS HAVE INCLUDED CHANCELLOR JOEL KLEIN -THREE TIMES
AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR OF EDUCATION FOR THE CITY OF NEW
YORK - DENNIS WALCOTT.
LAST
YEAR, WE OPENED THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR CONSTRUCTION TRADES,
ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE WITH ALMOST 1,000 SEATS. UPON
GRADUATION, ITS STUDENTS WILL BE READY LITERALLY TO SHAPE
OUR CITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
WE
ALSO OPENED A SCHOOL ADDITION IN THE CITYLIGHTS
BUILDING AT QUEENS WEST, AND TWO NEW SMALL SCHOOLS THAT OFFER
QUEENS STUDENTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND REACH THEIR
POTENTIAL.
MEANWHILE,
ANOTHER 12,000 SEATS ARE IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. WHEN
I LEAVE OFFICE, EVERY CHILD IN QUEENS WILL EITHER HAVE A
SEAT OR A SEAT ALLOCATED FOR THEM IN THE CITY'S CONSTRUCTION
PLAN. BOY DOES THAT MAKE ME HAPPY!
THE
FIVE CUNY INSTITUTIONS IN QUEENS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITIES TO A VERY DIVERSE STUDENT BODY.
IN
HER FIRST YEAR HERE AT YORK COLLEGE, DR. KEIZS HAS INCREASED
FRESHMAN ENROLLMENT STANDARDS, CREATED THE YORK COLLEGE/FDA
HONORS PROGRAM, AND HAS WON APPROVAL TO INITIATE A BACCALAURATE
OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN AVIATION MANAGEMENT. HOW'S THAT FOR
CREATIVE LEADERSHIP!
AT
QUEENS COLLEGE, I WORKED WITH DR. MUYSKINS TO BOLSTER ITS
PROGRAM FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS SEEKING AN EDUCATION.
RECENTLY, I WORKED WITH COUNCILMEMBER DAVID WEPRIN AND DR.
MARTI TO DEDICATE THE NEW KUPFERBERG HOLOCAUST RESOURCE CENTER
AT QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE GENEROSITY OF THE
KUPFERBERG FAMILY IS STUPENDOUS.
LAST
FALL, I JOINED DR. MELLOW TO OPEN THE NEW YORK DESIGN CENTER
THAT LITERALLY TRANSFORMED A FACTORY BUILDING INTO THE REGION'S
FIRST BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR THE DESIGN INDUSTRY AT LAGUARDIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AT
CUNY LAW
SCHOOL, WE WELCOMED A NEW DEAN, MICHELLE ANDERSON. CONGRATULATIONS
TO HER FOR ALREADY INCREASING THE SCHOOL'S BAR PASSING RATE.
YES,
YOU TOO CAN BECOME A LAWYER - AT CITY COLLEGE TUITION RATES!
I
AM KEEPING MY PROMISE TO THE LATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN PAULINE CUMMINGS
TO ESTABLISH A CUNY PROGRAM IN THE ROCKAWAYS.
ON
MY MANY TRIPS TO THE PENINSULA, I ALWAYS ADMIRED THE BEAUTIFUL
OLD COURTHOUSE AT ITS GATEWAY. AFTER EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITIES,
I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BEGIN TO TRANSFORM
THAT ABANDONED COURTHOUSE INTO CUNY-BY-THE-SEA.
WE
ARE WORKING WITH OUR NEW STATE SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER,
MALCOLM SMITH, ASSEMBLYMEMBER AUDREY PHEFFER, CONGRESSMAN
GREGORY MEEKS, CITY COUNCILMEMBER JAMES SAUNDERS AND DR.
GAIL MELLOW TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.
MEANWHILE,
ALSO UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. MELLOW, WE ARE LAUNCHING
CUNY-ON-WHEELS WHICH YOU PASSED ON YOUR WAY IN TODAY, AND
WHICH I WAS HAPPY TO FUND. IT WILL OFFER INFORMATION ON CREDIT
AND NON CREDIT PROGRAMS, CUNY ADMISSIONS COUNSELING AND registration.
AND YOU CAN TOUR IT TODAY!
LIBRARIES
--
IN
ADDITION TO SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE
QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS THE LARGEST CIRCULATION
IN THE WORLD... WITH 17 MILLION ITEMS.
SINCE
BECOMING BOROUGH PRESIDENT, I HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN 30
MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR OUR LIBRARIES. LAST YEAR ALONE,
I ALLOCATED ALMOST 7 MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE SEVERAL BRANCHES,
INCLUDING FAR ROCKAWAY, REGO PARK, KEW GARDENS HILLS, ELMHURST
AND JACKSON HEIGHTS. WE HAVE OPENED A NEW BRANCH IN CAMBRIA
HEIGHTS EQUIPPED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WITH ITS ARCHITECTURAL
STYLE ENHANCING
LINDEN BOULEVARD. MANY OF OUR BRANCHES NEED TO EXPAND, AND
WE ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH NEW, LARGER FACILITIES.
NEXT
YEAR, WE WILL BREAK GROUND ON THE CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY
CENTER AT THE CENTRAL BRANCH IN JAMAICA . FUNDED WITH 8 MILLION
DOLLARS BY MY OFFICE AND SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION, THIS UNIQUE FACILITY WILL BRING TOGETHER MY GREATEST
PASSIONS -- CHILDREN, SCIENCE AND LIBRARIES.
I
AM DETERMINED TO BUILD A NEW LIBRARY AT QUEENS WEST.
THAT'S
WHY I HAVE TOLD MAYOR BLOOMBERG THAT THE 5 MILLION DOLLAR
PENALTY LEVIED AGAINST METLIFE FOR PULLING JOBS OUT OF QUEENS
MUST BE ALLOCATED FOR THIS LIBRARY.
PARKS --
WHILE
OUR LIBRARIES EXERCISE OUR MINDS, OUR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL
FACILITIES EXERCISE OUR BODIES.
SINCE
BECOMING BOROUGH PRESIDENT I HAVE ALLOCATED 62 MILLION DOLLARS
TO IMPROVE OUR PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS.
THIS
PAST YEAR, I WAS PROUD TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED FUNDS TO UPGRADE
QUEENSBRIDGE PARK IN LONG ISLAND CITY; SOUTHERN FIELD IN
OZONE PARK; MARTIN'S FIELD IN FLUSHING; BROOKVILLE PARK IN
ROSEDALE; CUNNINGHAM PARK IN FRESH MEADOWS AND TO ALLOCATE
FUNDS FOR A NEW BOATHOUSE IN FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK.
WE ARE WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER JIM GENNARO ON VON DOHLEN
PARK IN JAMAICA , COUNCILMEMBER TONY AVELLA ON THE NEW SPORTS
COMPLEX IN COLLEGE POINT, AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS WHITE
ON THE RENOVATION OF BAISLEY PARK IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS. WE
ALSO DEDICATED A NEW FIELD FOR THE BAYSIDE RAIDERS FOOTBALL
CLUB WITHIN THE KISSENA PARK CORRIDOR. I JOINED THE TEAM
AS AN HONORARY MEMBER.
A
NEW CHAPTER WAS WRITTEN IN THE HISTORY OF FORT TOTTEN WHEN
state senator padavan and i OPENED THE RENOVATED HISTORIC
STRUCTURE'S BATTERY. WITH THE HELP OF 850,000 DOLLARS FROM
MY OFFICE, THE FORT'S MUSEUM WILL SOON BE TRANSFORMED INTO
A WELCOME
CENTER. TO TRANSPORT VISITORS AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT
GROUNDS ON THE FORT, I HAVE ALSO PROVIDED $300,000 FOR TWO
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ELECTRICALLY POWERED TRAMS.
RECENTLY,
WE TOPPED OFF THE INDOOR POOL AND RINK IN FLUSHING MEADOWS
CORONA PARK, THE LARGEST RECREATION FACILITY EVER BUILT IN
A CITY PARK. IMAGINE, NINE MONTHS FROM TODAY, QUEENS RESIDENTS
WILL SWIM IN THE PARK'S OLYMPIC SIZE POOL OR SKATE ON ITS
NHL HOCKEY STANDARD ICE RINK. THIS WILL SERVE AS A YEAR-ROUND
RECREATIONAL FACILITY.
WORK
HAS ALSO COMMENCED AT RAINEY PARK LOCATED IN LONG
ISLAND CITY FOR A NEW TODDLER PLAYGROUND. IN LATE SPRING,
WE WILL SEE THE CREATION OF A NEW 3 MILLION DOLLAR SPORTS
COMPLEX AT VICTORY FIELD IN
FOREST PARK.
BUT
THE PROJECT THAT HAS PROBABLY ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION THE
MOST IS THE NEW BALLPARK FOR OUR METS.
"CITIFIELD" WILL BE A SPECTACULAR NEW FACILITY
AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT RACHEL ROBINSON WAS ON HAND AS
IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE STADIUM'S CENTRAL ROTUNDA Will
HONOR THE LEGACY OF HER LATE HUSBAND JACKIE ROBINSON. WE
BROKE GROUND FOR THIS 45,000 SEAT STADIUM IN NOVEMBER AND
I WILL BE THERE FOR THE START OF A CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON ON
OPENING DAY IN 2009!!!
MEANWHILE,
AS CHAIR OF THE CITIFIELD ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I HAVE INVITED
COUNCILMEMBER AND QUEENS DELEGATION LEADER LEROY COMRIE TO
CO-CHAIR THE COMMITTEE WITH ME.
ASSEMBLYMEMBERS
JEFF AUBRY AND JOSE PERALTA, STATE SENATOR JOHN SABINI AND
COUNCILMEMBER HIRAM MONSERRATE ARE ALL PART OF THE TEAM.
OUR
TASK IS TO ENSURE EQUAL PARTICIPATION IN CONSTRUCTION AND
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL SECTORS OF THE QUEENS BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND MINORITIES. WE ARE ALSO WORKING
TO MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES.
HOUSING
--
MY
HUSBAND DONALD AND I MOVED TO QUEENS FIVE DECADES AGO. WE
MOVED TO QUEENS BECAUSE THIS WAS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE
AND RAISE OUR CHILDREN.
TODAY,
QUEENS IS STILL AN AMAZING PLACE DEMONSTRATED BY HOW OUR
POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS.
WE
NEED TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FOR EVERYONE.
FROM
THE VERY BEGINNING OF MY ADMINISTRATION, I HAVE ASKED DEVELOPERS
AND THE CITY TO INCLUDE AFFORDABLE AND MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING
IN NEW PROJECTS. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT MAYOR BLOOMBERG
HAS MADE INCLUSIONARY ZONING HIS PRIORITY. AND THIS IS HAPPENING
IN SEVERAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS.
WE
CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM THE FANTASTIC BEACHFRONT IN THE ROCKAWAYS
INTO THE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY THAT IS TODAY.
FROM
THE BEGINNING, MY REACTION TO THIS SPECTACULAR WATERFRONT
WAS TO DUB IT "
HAMPTONS WEST," BUT IT'S MORE CONVENIENT AND AFFORDABLE
THAN THE HAMPTONS.
"ARVERNE
EAST" IN THE ROCKAWAYS IS MOVING FORWARD WITH 1600 UNITS
OF MIDDLE- INCOME HOUSING AND MORE THAN 500,000 SQUARE FEET
OF COMMERCIAL SPACE.
COMBINED
WITH ARVERNE-BY-THE-SEA, WE WILL HAVE A NEW WATERFRONT COMMUNITY
WITH ALMOST 4,000 UNITS OF NEW HOUSING, NEW COMMERCIAL SPACE,
A HOTEL, SCHOOL, A YMCA AND EVEN A MOVIE THEATER.
AS
BOROUGH PRESIDENT, I REALIZE TIMES ARE OFTEN HARD AND IT
CAN BE DIFFICULT TO MAKE ENDS MEET. PROPERTY TAXES CAN ESPECIALLY
BE TROUBLESOME. I AM PLEASED THAT THE MAYOR WILL SOON MAIL
TAX FORMS TO FAMILIES WHO WERE ELIGIBLE FOR EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS, YET NEVER CLAIMED THEM.
RECENTLY,
I DISCOVERED THAT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 QUEENS PROPERTY OWNERS
HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT
BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE. OUR CALCULATIONS INDICATE THAT QUEENS
RESIDENTS MIGHT BE PAYING MORE THAN 28 MILLION DOLLARS IN
PROPERTY TAXES THAN NECESSARY.
WE'RE
GOING TO HELP!
WE
ARE LAUNCHING A PROPERTY TAX INITIATIVE TO ENROLL EVERY ELIGIBLE
QUEENS HOMEOWNER BEFORE MARCH 15TH IN THE STAR PROGRAM. IT
IS A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS THAT CAN PUT MONEY IN YOUR POCKET SO
DO IT.
APPLICATIONS
ARE IN THE LOBBY -- DON'T FORGET TO PICK ONE UP.
RECOGNIZING
THAT HOMEOWNERS IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS WERE PARTICULARLY TARGETED
BY PREDATORY LENDORS, MY OFFICE HELPED PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES,
LOAN PROGRAMS, COUNSELING AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION. WE HELPED
MANY HOMEOWNERS AVOID FORECLOSURE ON THEIR HOMES.
WE
ALSO ADDRESSED THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT AN ALL-DAY
CONFERENCE AT CITIBANK. SHORTLY AFTER, I JOINED THE MAYOR
FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT NEW YORK CITY WAS PURCHASING 25
ACRES AT QUEENS WEST IN LONG ISLAND CITY TO BUILD UP TO 5,000
UNITS OF MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING.
IN
FLUSHING, I ALSO WORKED TO ENSURE THAT THE HISTORIC MACEDONIA
AME CHURCH WILL BE THE DEVELOPER OF APPROXIMATELY 140 UNITS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS PART OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT
1 DEVELOPMENT.
REDEVELOPMENT
OF THE FORMER JAMAICA FAMILY COURT BUILDING, WITH ITS CREATIVE
DESIGN, WILL PRESERVE THE OLD BUILDING'S FACADE AND CREATE
350 NEW UNITS OF HOUSING. APPROXIMATELY 70 percent OF THESE
UNITS WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR AFFORDABLE AND MIDDLE INCOME
HOUSING.
AT
EDGEMERE, CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN ON THE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT WILL ENABLE THE
BUILDING OF ADDITONAL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN 2008.
WORKING
WITH THE MAYOR, WE WILL DEVELOP A JOB RETENTION AND BUSINESS
RELOCATION PROGRAM AS WE TRANSFORM THE 55 ACRE WILLETS POINT
AREA INTO A VIBRANT ENCLAVE. IT WILL RECONNECT FLUSHING TO
ITS WATERFRONT AND INCLUDE HOUSING, RECREATION, RETAIL, RESTAURANTS
AND A NEW CONFERENCE CENTER, LONG-REQUESTED BY OUR QUEENS
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE'RE
ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LONG AWAITED REDEVELOPMENT OF
THE RKO KEITH SITE, THE GATEWAY TO FLUSHING, WITH 200 RESIDENTIAL
UNITS. THIS PROJECT WILL RESTORE THE LANDMARKED INTERIOR
WHICH WILL BE VISIBLE ON THE SIDEWALK THROUGH A GLASS CURTAIN
WALL. WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH COUNCILMEMBER JOHN
LIU TO ENSURE THE SITE WILL INCLUDE A NEW SENIOR CENTER.
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT --
OUR
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMERCIAL HUBS-- FLUSHING, JAMAICA AND
LONG ISLAND CITY-- ARE UNIFORMLY MARKED BY CONSTRUCTION SITES,
MACHINERY AND SCAFFOLDING. THESE ARE SIGNS OF PROGRESS AND
GROWTH. IT TAKES TIME FOR ZONING CHANGES, MARKET CONDITIONS
AND ECONOMIC IMPERATIVES TO CONVERGE, BUT INDEED, THAT IS
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THESE AREAS.
WE
ARE IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
FOR DOWNTOWN FLUSHING. THE TDC/ROCKAFELLER DEVELOPMENT TEAM
WILL BREAK GROUND NEXT YEAR ON MUNICIPAL LOT #1 TRANSFORMING
IT INTO FLUSHING COMMONS. IT WILL INCLUDE
A ONE-ACRE TOWN SQUARE, A HOTEL, 500 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, COMMERCIAL
SPACE, COMMUNITY RECREATIONAL FACILITiES AND PARKING.
IN
A FEW MONTHS, QUEENS CROSSING, A NEW RETAIL AND OFFICE BUILDING
- INCLUDING COMMUNITY SPACE - WILL OPEN AT MAIN STREET AND
39TH AVENUE. WITH ITS SETBACK DESIGN, IT WILL MAXIMIZE
VISIBILITY OF THE NEW OPEN SPACE AT FLUSHING COMMONS FROM
MAIN STREET.
ON
THE BANKS OF THE FLUSHING
RIVER, MUSS DEVELOPMENT IS PREPARING THE FORMER CON ED SITE
FOR THE
FLUSHING TOWN SQUARE PROJECT THAT WILL INCLUDE 800,000 SQUARE
FEET OF RETAIL, PARKING AND MORE THAN A THOUSAND NEW HOUSING
UNITS.
LONG
ISLAND
CITY IS SEEING RAPID RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
LAST
FALL, WE TOPPED OUT THE SECOND CITICORP TOWER AND SHORTLY,
WE WILL DEDICATE THE NEW U.N. FEDERAL CREDIT UNION BUILDING.
PLANS
ARE ALSO BEING FINALIZED TO TRANSFORM QUEENS PLAZA AND
JACKSON AVENUE INTO ENTICING GATEWAYS TO OUR BOROUGH. WE
CAN THANK CONGRESSWOMAN CAROLYN MALONEY FOR 19 MILLION FEDERAL
DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THIS TRANSFORMATION.
RESIDENTS
OF LONG ISLAND CITY, INCLUDING QUEENSBRIDGE AND RAVENSWOOD
HOUSES, WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR
THEIR BANKING NEEDS. THE FIRST AMALGAMATED BANK WILL OPEN
ON
21ST STREET, IN WHAT IS NOW THE THIRD STATE BANKING DISTRICT
IN QUEENS.
THESE
DISTRICTS REPRESENT AN INVESTMENT OF STATE AND CITY GOVERNMENT
DEPOSITS, ENCOURAGING BANKS TO OPEN IN AREAS NOT PREVIOUSLY
CONSIDERED BANKING AREAS. OUR FIRST STATE BANKING DISTRICT,
WHICH MOVED FORWARD WITH MY APPROVAL, WAS CARVER BANK LOCATED
ON ARCHER AVENUE IN JAMAICA, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DEBORAH
WRIGHT. THE SECOND DISTRICT, UNDER COMMUNITY BANK, LED BY
JOE FICALORA, IS IN CORONA.
THIS
NEW DISTRICT COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE COMBINED
EFFORTS OF MY OFFICE, COMPTROLLER BILL THOMPSON AND STATE
BANKING COMMISSIONER DIANA TAYLOR, AND THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY
BANKING COMMITTEE AT THE TIME, CATHY NOLAN.COUNCILMEMBER
ERIC GIOIA AND BISHOP MITCHELL TAYLOR HAD ALSO BEEN LONG-TIME
ADVOCATES FOR THIS BANK.
NOT
TOO FAR AWAY, SILVERCUP STUDIOS HAS OBTAINED FINAL APPROVAL
FOR ITS PLAN TO BUILD EXPANDED STUDIO SPACE. INCLUDED IN
THIS PROJECT ARE 1,000 UNITS OF NEW HOUSING, COMPLEMENTED
BY COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL SPACE AND A WATERFRONT ESPLANADE.
THE SUNA BROTHERS WILL ALSO PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 150 UNITS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
JAMAICA --
IN
JAMAICA , THE FORMER DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH, NOW KNOWN AS
THE LANDMARK PROJECT, WILL OPEN THIS FALL AS A PREMIER MULTI-USE
PERFOrMING ARTS THEATER, EXHIBITION SPACE AND BUSINESS CONFERENCE
CENTER. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER COMRIE FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS
PROJECT.
THE
INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE MART WILL BE A KEYSTONE PROJECT
IN THE UPGRADING OF THE JAMAICA STATION TRANSIT HUB. THIS
BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL TOWER, WITH AN ATRIUM INTERIOR HOLDING
DISPLAY SPACE FOR WHOLESALERS, IS BEING PLANNED WITH THE
GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
OTHER
PLANS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY TO IMPROVE THE AIRTRAIN/JAMAICA STATION
AREA WITH BEAUTIFUL OPEN PUBLIC SPACES, PUBLIC AMENITIES,
NEW SHOPS, UPDATED LIGHTING AND IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW---
ALL OF WHICH WILL GENERATE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY.
INFRASTRUCTURE
--
ALL
OF THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL REQUIRE THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
OF SEWERS, ROADS AND PARKING. NOT SEXY BUT VITAL. THAT'S
WHY WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED
STORM SEWERS TO RELIEVE THE CHRONIC FLOODING IN THE LOW LYING
AREAS OF SOUTHEAST QUEENS TO TAKE STEPS TO LOWER THE WATER
TABLE WITH INCREASED PUMPING FROM MORE WELLS. THE DRAINAGE
PLANS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AND THE TIME TO ACTUALLY
BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOW.
LAST
WEEK, I MET WITH DEP OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY BOARD REPS FROM
BOARDS 8, 9, 10, 12 & 13. WE LEARNED THAT THIS MAJOR
PROJECT WILL TAKE SEVERAL DECADES AND AN ESTIMATED COST OF
ONE BILLION DOLLARS. I SAID THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
I SUGGESTED THAT WE TAP OUR QUEENS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
TO ASSIST US WITH FUNDING. I CONTACTED THE HONORABLE JOE
CROWLEY, MY CONGRESSMAN, WHO INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO WORK
WITH THE QUEENS DELEGATION IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM.
THIS
DEVELOPMENT WILL REQUIRE ENERGY THE KIND THAT KEEPS NEIGHBORHOODS
LIT 24 HOURS A DAY. THEREFORE, WE ARE WORKING WITH CON EDISON
TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT-CAN-BE-DONE- WILL-BE-DONE
TO AVOID ANOTHER BLACKOUT THIS SUMMER. CON ED REPORTS THAT
IT HAS INVESTED 89 MILLION DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE,
PERMANENT REPAIRS, AND ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LONG ISLAND
CITY NETWORK.
OUR
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES CANNOT ENDURE ANOTHER 10-DAY BLACKOUT.
I
CONGRATULATE MAYOR BLOOMBERG FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT AND
VISION TO INITITIATE THE 2030 PROJECT. AND, I THANK HIM FOR
ANNOUNCing this project IN QUEENS, WHERE ALL THE ISSUES AND
CHALLENGES OUTLINED ARE SO READILY VISIBLE. I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH HIM TO RESTORE OUR ENVIRONMENT, TO IMPROVE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND HOUSE OUR PEOPLE.
THERE
WILL BE MANY CHALLENGES AHEAD. ONE OF WHICH WILL BE HOW TO
LIMIT CARS ON THE EAST RIVER CROSSINGS. SOME HAVE RAISED
THE SPECTER OF CONGESTION PRICING. i BELIEVE WITHOUT ALTERNATIVE
MASS TRANSIT ALREADY IN PLACE, CONGESTION PRICING WILL HAVE
AN UNINTENDED NEGATIVE IMPACT ON QUEENS AND BROOKLYN.
I
ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GREATLY
REDUCE THE VOLUME OF CARS DRIVING INTO MANHATTAN. WE MUST
ENSURE THAT THE SUNNYSIDE RAILROAD STATION, PART OF THE JUST-FUNDED
EAST SIDE ACCESS PLAN, IS MAXIMIZED BY MAKING IT A TRULY
INTERMODAL FACILITY WITH DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO THE NEARBY
SUBWAY LINES.
IF
WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT RELIEVING TRAFFIC CONGESTION BY 2030,
WE MUST FINALLY REOPEN THE MORE THAN 20 STATIONS CLOSED IN
QUEENS BY THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD. THE RAILROAD MUST FINALLY
TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND TO PREVENT
FUTURE TRAGEDIES.
FERRIES
ARE GREATLY UNDERUTILIZED IN NEW YORK CITY. WE FOCUS ON FERRY
SERVICE BETWEEN MANHATTAN AND NEW JERSEY, BUT NEGLECT TO
TAP THE WATERFRONT RESOURCES RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.
WHEN IS THE CITY FINALLY GOING TO HEED THE CALL FROM MYSELF
AND COUNCILMEMBER JOE ADDABBO AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN AUDREY PHEFFER
TO APPROVE FERRY SERVICE FROM THE ROCKAWAYS TO MANHATTAN?
THE
RESIDENTS OF THE PENNISULA HAVE BEEN WAITING ON THE PIER
FOR MORE THAN A GENERATION! WE ALSO NEED OUR FERRY SERVICE
FROM LONG
ISLAND CITY TO MANHATTAN RESTORED.
AVIATION
--
THE
BOROUGH OF QUEENS IS A TRANSPORTATION HUB FOR THE ENTIRE
world. OUR TWO AIRPORTS PROVIDE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE,
AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF JOBS. ALONG WITH THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS
COME SOME COSTS, INCLUDING, AIR POLLUTION, NOISE AND TRAFFIC
CONGESTION. WITH A NEW GENERATION OF AIRCRAFT ON THE HORIZON,
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES now.
AS
A MEMBER OF THE CITY'S AIRPORT BOARD, MY POSITION IS CLEAR.
WE NEED AIR MONITORING AT THE AIRPORTS, A RESIDENTIAL SOUND
PROOFING PROGRAM, AND IMPROVED AIRPORT ACCESS. WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY AND THE CITY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
ADDITIONAL HELP WILL COME FROM THE 100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR
QUEENS PROJECTS FROM THE RE-NEGOTIATED LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY AND THE PORT AUTHORITY.
OUR
AIRPORTS CONTINUE TO SEE MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. AT KENNEDY,
OUR QUEENS-BASED NEIGHBOR JETBLUE AIRWAYS IS CONSTRUCTING
A NEW 26-GATE PASSENGER TERMINAL BEHIND THE LANDMARKED TWA
FLIGHT CENTER, WHOSE UNIQUE WING DESIGN MANY OF YOU REMEMBER.
AT
LAGUARDIA, AIR TRAFFIC WILL NO DOUBT BE MORE EFFICIENT AND
SAFER WHEN WE BREAK GROUND THIS YEAR FOR ITS NEW AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROL TOWER, THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESSMAN JOE
CROWLEY.
ALSO,
A 15 MILLION DOLLAR STUDY WILL BEGIN THIS YEAR TO PLAN IMPROVEMENTS
AT THE AIRPORT. FAR FROM ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN 1939, LAGUARDIA
HANDLED MORE THAN 25 MILLION PASSENGERS LAST YEAR.
COMMERCIAL
CORRIDORS --
KEEPING
OUR STREETS ATTRACTIVE AS PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO SHOP
IS IMPORTANT TO ME. THAT IS WHY I CREATED MY COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR
PROGRAM. UNDER THE PROGRAM, MORE THAN 1,000 TREES HAVE BEEN
PLANTED ALONG WITH OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING LIGHTING
AND LANDSCAPING ALONG MAJOR SHOPPING THOROUGHFARES THROUGHOUT
THE BOROUGH.
WORKING
WITH COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN AND THE QUEENS DELEGATION,
GREENSTREETS HAVE BEEN CREATED IN DOUGLASTON, ALONG BEACH
CHANNEL DRIVE AT 71ST STREET, CROSS BAY BOULEVARD AND NEW
ENTRIES TO QUEENS AND YORK COLLEGES.
WE
HAVE PLANS TO DO SIMILAR WORK IN SUNNYSIDE, BAYSIDE AND RIDGEWOOD.
AND,
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PETER VALLONE JR. FOR YOUR RELENTLESS
PURSUIT OF GRAFFITI VANDALS.
IN
2006, REZONINGS FOR SEVEN QUEENS NEIGHBORHOODS WERE APPROVED.
AS WE SPEAK TWO MORE REZONINGS ARE NEARING FINAL APPROVAL.
MY
ZONING TASK FORCE WILL CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING UNTIL EVERY
QUEENS NEIGHBORHOOD IS ZONED APPROPRIATELY.
AT
THE SAME TIME, WORK ON THE JAMAICA REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IS
UNDERWAY.
THE
368 BLOCK PLAN INCLUDES THE AIRTRAIN STATION, THE COMMERCIAL
CORRIDOR OF DOWNTOWN JAMAICA , AND SEVERAL LOWER DENSITY
NEIGHBORHOODS.
TOGETHER
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING, WE
WILL ENSURE THAT ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BE APPROPRIATE,
COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND PROVIDE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INCREASED ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY.
PHYSICAL
IMPROVEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT. BUT, I AM ALSO GLAD TO SUPPORT
THE EFFORTS OF SOME OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WORK SO HARD TO MAINTAIN THEIR COMMERCIAL AREAS.
CULTURAL/TOURISM
OUR
BOROUGH IS BLESSED WITH A WIDE SPECTRUM OF CULTURAL VENUES,
UNIQUE PLACES OF INTEREST, AND VISITOR ATTRACTIONS. INDEED
OUR MANTRA IS "VISIT QUEENS AND SEE THE WORLD."
I
AM PROUD THAT QUEENS HAS BECOME A PROMINENT TOURIST DESTINATION
CAPTURING A BIGGER SHARE OF THE RECORD 44 MILLION TOURISTS
WHO CAME TO NEW YORK CITY LAST YEAR.
EVENTS
SUCH AS THE U.S. OPEN, THE METS PLAYOFF SERIES, JAMAICA JAMS,
THE HONG KONG DRAGON BOAT RACES AND THE ROCKAWAY KITE FESTIVAL
CONTINUE TO ATTrACT INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES AS WELL AS LOCAL
FANS.
OUR
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS CONTINUE TO ATTRACT TOURISTS. THE NEW
YORK HALL OF SCIENCE SET A RECORD FOR ITS ATTENDANCE LAST
YEAR. IT IS NOW THE CITY'S LARGEST PROVIDER OF GRADUATE,
PROFESSIONAL AND METHOD COURSES IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
WITH A 2.7 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM MY OFFICE, THE HALL
IS PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON A SCIENCE PLAYGROUND
FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS.
ANOTHER
12 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM MY OFFICE WILL ALLOW THE QUEENS
BOTANICAL GARDENS TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF ITS SUSTAINABLE
LANDSCAPES AND BUILDINGS PROJECT. WITH ITS WATER RECAPTURE
AND RE-USE FEATURES, CRAIN'S NAMED THE GARDEN "AN INTERNATIONAL
LEADER IN GREEN BUILDINGS."
QUEENS
MUSEUM OF ART, WITH THE SUPPORT OF A 21 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT
FROM MY OFFICE, RELEASED ITS SPECTACULAR DESIGN PLANS FOR
ITS LONG-AWAITED EXPANSION THAT WILL LITERALLY DOUBLE ITS
SIZE. THE MUSEUM'S WORLD-FAMOUS PANORAMA IS SET TO REOPEN
AFTER UNDERGOING AN UPGRADE THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE WAY VISITORS
EXPERIENCE THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND TREASURE. iF ANYONE HERE HAS
NOT SEEN THE PANAROMA, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SEE THIS UNIQUE
MODEL OF NEW YORK CITY WHERE YOU CAN EVEN FIND YOUR OWN HOME.
THE
HISTORIC HOUSE TRUST MUSEUMS IN QUEENS HAD A VERY ACTIVE
YEAR. KING MANOR IN JAMAICA AND KINGSLAND HOMESTEAD IN FLUSHING
INTRODUCED NEW EVENTS. QUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM DREW CROWDS
OF ALMOST A HALF MILLION PEOPLE. OPERATING SINCE 1697, THIS
SITE IS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY FARMED PARCEL OF LAND IN
THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW YORK.TO PRESERVE ITS PAST AND PROTECT
ITS FUTURE, MY OFFICE IS WORKING WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS
TO FUND ITS MASTER PLAN.
THE
TRUST IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH MY OFFICE TO BRING THE HOME
OF NOTED AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTOR, LEWIS H. LATIMER, WHO
WORKED WITH THOMAS EDISON TO INVENT THE LIGHT BULB FILAMENT,
UNDER ITS UMBRELLA. THE TRUST WILL ALSO BRING THE JOHN BOWNE
HOUSE IN FLUSHING, UNDER ITS UMBRELLA, AS WE RENOVATE IT
AND OPEN IT AS A MUSEUM.
WHILE
IT PLANS ITS MAJOR EXPANSION PROJECT, THE MUSEUM OF THE MOVING
IMAGE LAUNCHED ITS OPEN COLLECTION DATABASE THAT WILL PUT
THE MUSEUM'S ENTIRE 125,000-ARTIFACT COLLECTION ONLINE. DID
YOU KNOW THAT BEN HUR'S CHARIOT IS ONE OF THOSE ARTIFACTS?
FLUSHING
TOWN HALL BEGAN ITS PROGRAM THAT EXCHANGES DANCE COMPANIES
AND VISUAL ARTISTS WITH TAIWAN. THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
HAS CHARACTERIZED THIS PROGRAM AS A "NATIONAL MODEL
FOR BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH ART."
QUEENS
THEATRE IN THE PARK CELEBRATED THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS
LATINO CULTURAL FESTIVAL. THE THEATRE, WHEN EXPANDED NEXT
FALL, WILL FEATURE A FULL SERVICE CAFE, EXPANDED PERFORMANCE
SPACE, AND A SPECTACULAR NEW LOBBY WITH THE SUPPORT OF AN
8.6 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM MY OFFICE. QTIP WILL RIVAL
ANY BROADWAY THEATER!
P.S.1
CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER CELEBRATED ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY.
ALSO WITH A GRANT FROM MY OFFICE, IT IS PLANNING A NEW VISITORS
CENTER THAT WILL ALSO MARKET THE MANY ARTS VENUES IN LONG
ISLAND CITY.
QUEENS GENERAL
ASSEMBLY/IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE –
AS
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TAKEN GREAT PRIDE IN CREATING A QUEENS GENERAL
ASSEMBLY WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONS CAN LEARN ABOUT ONE
ANOTHER AND THEIR CULTURES. MY QUEENS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS
GROWN TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 70 CIVIC LEADERS OF DIVERSE RACIAL
AND RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS WHO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES ABOUT
LIVING IN THE MOST MULTI-ETHNIC COUNTY IN THE WORLD.
I
AM PROUD THAT MY IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE BRINGS TOGETHER MORE
THAN 100 SERVICE PROVIDERS, WHO GUIDE NEWCOMERS ON THEIR
PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.
SENIORS/YOUTH/HUMAN
SERVICES --
THE
SACRIFICES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR SENIORS HAVE HELPED TO
BUILD OUR GREAT BOROUGH. SO WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PROGRAMS
THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR OLDER RESIDENTS. I HAVE ONCE AGAIN
PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT OUR SENIOR
CENTERS, ADULT DAY CARE PROGRAMS, TRANSPORTATION, MEALS-ON-WHEELS
AND OUR SENIOR FILM SERIES AT THE MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE--
A PROGRAM THAT GREW OUT OF MY TOURISM SUMMIT BETWEEN OUR
SENIOR DIRECTORS AND THE DIRECTORS OF OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.
AND
WITH A FUNDING BOOST FROM MY OFFICE, THREE SENIOR CENTERS
WILL BEGIN EXPANSION PROJECTS THIS YEAR - - SNAP OF
EASTERN QUEENS IN GLEN OAKS, ELMCOR IN EAST ELMHURST, AND
THE PETER CARDELLA SENIOR CENTER IN RIDGEWOOD.
WHILE
WE PROTECT AND EXPAND SERVICES FOR SENIORS, WE ALSO FOCUSED
ON OUR YOUTH-- 22% OF OUR POPULATION AND 100% OF OUR FUTURE.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE INITIATED THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT'S YOUTH
BOARD, COMPRISED OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE BOROUGH.
THEY PUT TOGETHER OUR FIRST YOUTH CONFERENCE, AND DEVELOPED
AN AGENDA TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR THEIR PEERS, ESPECIALLY
IN THE SCHOOLS. IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!
THE
CHILD CENTER OF NEW YORK, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY OFFICE,
RECEIVED A HALF MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE STATE FOR MY
YOUTH INITIATIVE IN QUEENS. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE WILL LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD AND PROVIDE A VENUE
FOR COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER QUEENS TEENS.
WE
ARE WORKING WITH OUR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE
DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING. I AM WORKING
WITH THE CITY TO BRING A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS TO QUEENS TO
PUBLICIZE WAYS TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FUNDING FOR
YOUTH PROGRAMS. QUEENS IS THE HOME OF 17 PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
ONE
WAY THAT WE CONTINUE TO BETTER THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
IS THROUGH SPORTS AND EDUCATION. MY TENNIS PROGRAMS AT NYCHA,
TOGETHER WITH SCOUTING PROGRAMS, TEACH CHILDREN THE VALUES
OF TEAMWORK, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.
AND, TO MAKE PLAYING TENNIS A FREE, YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITY FOR
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, I HAVE ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR A TENNIS BUBBLE
OVER THE COURTS AT ROY WILKINS PARK.
THIS
SUMMER, OUR BOROUGH WILL BE PROUD TO HOST THE AMERICAN TENNIS
ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. THIS IS THE COUNTRY'S
OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN SPORTS ORGANIZATION AND THEY WILL
MEET RIGHT HERE IN QUEENS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1946!
IN
ROCKAWAY, I HELPED FUND AND BREAK GROUND FOR THE NEW YMCA
THAT WILL GIVE CHILDREN FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY A NEW FACILITY
IN WHICH TO EXERCISE THEIR MINDS AND BODIES.
WE
ARE WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER MELINDA KATZ TO EXPAND THE
JEWISH CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION IN FOREST HILLS. WE ARE ALSO
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER DENNIS GALLAGHER TO TRANSFORM
THE CATALPA "Y" INTO A MODERN FACILITY FOR RECREATION.
PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES
LAST
YEAR, I EXPANDED MY ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
WITH NEW COMMITTEES ON EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION
AND PUBLIC INFORMATION.
LAST
OCTOBER, MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED MY ANNUAL DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE CONFERENCE. THAT CONFERENCE, HELD HERE AT YORK,
FOCUSED ON THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON
CHILDREN. I THANK JEAN PHELPS, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES
AT YORK, FOR HER DEDICATED SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS ON THIS
EFFORT. AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DISTRICT ATTORNEY RICHARD
BROWN, PERHAPS THE MOST RESPECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE
NATION.
FORTUNATELY,
THE QUEENS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER, A PLACE FOR CHILDREN WHO
HAVE BEEN VICTIMS, IS FULLY OPERATIONAL. I AM PROUD TO HAVE
PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THIS IMPORTANT FACILITY. tHIS FACILITY
IN A CHILD FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE, ENABLES THE CHILD TO
NOW SPEAK OF THEIR TRAUMA ONLY ONCE -- INSTEAD OF NINE TO
TEN TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, WHICH HAD BEEN
THE PREVIOUS PRACTICE.
AND,
OUR INNOVATIVE QUEENS COURTS, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ADMINISTRATIVE
JUDGE LESLIE LEACH, HAVE EXPANDED ITS SPECIALTY COURTS.
THE
NEW QUEENS MENTAL
HEALTH COURT WORKS WITH DEFENDANTS WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES
AGAINST THEM WHO ARE CLEARLY AFFLICTED WITH MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES -- OFFERING THE ALTERNATIVE OF MEANINGFUL
TREATMENT IN PLACE OF INCARCERATION.
THIS
YEAR, WE WILL WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO CREATE THE
FIRST FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER IN QUEENS TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED
LEGAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE
ARE DOING OUR PART AT BOROUGH HALL TO BRING GOVERNMENT CLOSER
TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES. THANKS TO A GRANT FROM CON EDISON,
EVERY COMMUNITY BOARD IN QUEENS WILL SOON HAVE A WEB SITE
WITH INFORMATION ABOUT MEETINGS, AGENDAS, LAND USE AND BUDGET
ISSUES, THAT ANYONE WITH ACCESS TO A COMPUTER CAN VISIT.
SINCE
COMING INTO OFFICE, I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT QUEENSBOROUGH
HALL IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. I HAVE WORKED HARD TO MAKE IT
USER-FRIENDLY. THAT IS WHY TODAY I AM HAPPY TO UNVEIL THE
PLANS TO CONSTRUCT AN ADDITION TO BOROUGH HALL THAT WILL
SERVE AS A CENTER OF CIVIC ACTIVITY. IT WILL PROVIDE A MULTI-PURPOSE
SPACE IN THE HEART OF QUEENS. THIS INNOVATIVE PROJECT - TO
BE KNOWN AS THE FORUM - WILL PROVIDE A 21ST CENTURY
VENUE FOR LARGE PUBLIC MEETINGS, COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES,
CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC EXHIBITIONS, PUBLIC HEARINGS
AND ETHNIC CELEBRATIONS.
AWARDS
--
AS
WE PURSUE OUR GOALS, IT IS ALSO GOOD TO PAUSE AND PAY RESPECT
TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR BOROUGH.
THIS YEAR I WANT TO HONOR TWO INDIVIDUALS WITH QUEENS LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS:
THE
FIRST IS:
-CECIL
WATKINS - - A KOREAN WAR VETERAN AND FORMER LONG-TIME
PARK ADMINISTRATOR WHO TURNED OUR CITY PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
INTO A TRAINING GROUND FOR FUTURE ATHLETES. HE WENT ON
TO FOUND ELMCOR YOUTH AND ADULT ACTIVITIES. ONE CANNOT
MOVE TOO FAR AROUND THE CITY WITHOUT FINDING SOMEONE
WHOM CECIL HAS HELPED. TODAY, THEY ARE LAWYERS, THEY
ARE TEACHERS OR THEY ARE MAKING GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO
OUR CITY. AND CECIL WENT ON TO CREATE AND BECOME PRESIDENT
OF THE 26 NBA/PRO-AM CITY LEAGUES ACROSS THE NATION.
CECIL, YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY USED YOUR TIME, ENERGY AND
TALENT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. IT IS A
TRIBUTE TO CECIL THAT LOU CARNESECA, ST. JOHN'S LEGENDARY
BASKETBALL COACH, IS HERE TODAY. ALSO HERE IS BERNARD
RENCHER, A PROTEGE OF CECIL. ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE
OF QUEENS, I TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN PRESENTING THIS QUEENS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO MY LONG-TIME FRIEND AND
PARTNER IN MANY VENTURES - CECIL WATKINS. I WOULD LIKE
LOU CARNESECA AND BERNARD RENCHER TO JOIN ME AND SAY
A FEW WORDS ABOUT HOW CECIL AFFECTED THEIR LIVES.
-GRACE
NIERENBERG, YOU HAVE DEDICATED YOUR PROFESSIONAL
LIFE TO OUR SENIORS, PROVIDING HOUSING AND SERVICES TO
THOSE IN NEED ACROSS THE BOROUGH THROUGH THE SELF HELP
COMMUNITY SERVICES ORGANIZATION. YOUR INNOVATIVE AND
CREATIVE APPROACH TO SERVICES AND PROGAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS
HAS MARKED YOUR LIFE-LONG DEDICATION TO THE INDEPENDENCE
AND DIGNITY OF SENIORS. ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF QUEENS,
AND ITS 375,000 SENIORS, I TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN PRESENTING
THIS QUEENS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO YOU.
CITIZENS
OF DISTINCTION
WILL
THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS PLEASE JOIN US AS I CALL YOUR NAME.
AIDA
BARTOLME: IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION FOR
FILIPINO ARTISTS, A FOUNDING DELEGATE ON THE BOROUGH
PRESIDENT'S QUEENS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND A MEMBER OF
COMMUNITY BOARD 2. SHE HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO PRESERVING
THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY.
ERNEST
CURY: A BUSINESSMAN AND LONG-TIME ADVOCATE FOR
SCHOOL CHILDREN AND EDUCATION. HE HAS BEEN MY APPOINTEE
ON THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT 24 SINCE
ITS INCEPTION AND HAS SERVED WITH DISTINCTION. HE IS
ALSO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
HARBACHAN
SINGH: HE HAD A DISTINGUISHED CAREER AT THE UNITED
NATIONS AND ALSO FORMED THE SIKH AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP
FOUNDATION. HE SERVES AS AN ALUMNI DELEGATE TO THE QUEENS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AS A MEMBER OF COMMUNITY 8, AND AN
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF THE HOLOCAUST RESOURCE CENTER
AT QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
LAMONT
BAILEY: AN ATTORNEY HERE IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS
WHO LENDS HIS TIME AND EXPERTISE PRO BONO TO MANY PROJECTS
AIMED AT IMPROVING THIS COMMUNITY.
CONCLUSION
--
IN
CONCLUSION, LET'S REMEMBER THAT 350 YEARS AGO IN THE LITTLE
VILLAGE OF FLUSHING A GROUP OF CITIZENS WROTE AS PART OF
THE REMONSTRANCE,
THAT "WE
ARE BOUND BY THE LAW OF GOD AND MAN TO DO GOOD TO ALL AND
EVIL TO NONE."
TODAY
WE MUST CONTINUE TO PUT THESE WORDS INTO PRACTICE --- BECAUSE
WE ARE NOT ONLY THE DESCENDANTS OF THESE WISE CITIZENS, BUT
ALSO THE ANCESTORS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR BOROUGH PRESIDENT.
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall
(right) is joined by Marcia V. Keizs after
delivering the 2007 State of the Borough Address, Jan. 23, 2007 at York College.
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