BP MARKOWITZ PRESENTS FINAL STATE OF THE BOROUGH ADDRESS, HOSTS "BROOKLYN TONIGHT" AT BARCLAYS CENTER
Co-host Cat Greenleaf ("Talk Stoop"), Tony Danza, Larry King, Jimmy Kimmel, Miss America Mallory Hagan, NY1's Pat Kiernan, singer Jay Black among special guests
BP Markowitz announces agreement to build covered seasonal amphitheater in Coney Island, date for Parachute Jump relighting; extravaganza includes tribute to Sandy volunteers
On April 11,Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was joined by Deputy Borough President Sandra Chapman, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, State Senator Eric Adams, other elected officials, more than 2,000 guests and honorees and co-host Cat Greenleaf (NBCNewYork's Talk Stoop) for the 2013 State of the Borough Address at Barclays Center, proud home of the Brooklyn Nets and future home of the Islanders.
The Address—themed, in part, after a late night talk show and called "Brooklyn Tonight"—featured performances by the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan and star entertainer Jay Black, as well as appearances from Brooklyn native Tony Danza; NY1's Pat Kiernan; Top Chef contestant and owner of Park Slope restaurant Talde, Chef Dale Talde; Food Network host Sunny Anderson; Travel Channel host Samantha Brown; Brooklyn Brewery co-founder and president Steve Hindy; Wine Spectator editor Tom Matthews; Oprah Book Club author Ayana Mathis and, via video, legendary talk show host Larry King and late night television host Jimmy Kimmel.
In this year's State of the Borough Address, BP Markowitz took a fond look back at the last twelve years and toward the final eight months in office and beyond. "As Brooklynites, we are all truly blessed because we live in a city where we have the opportunity to make our dreams come true," BP Markowitz told the gathering. "All my life the one job I dreamed of—and aspired to—was Brooklyn Borough President. How truly blessed are those who achieve the goal of their professional life, and I'm so proud of everything we've accomplished. If I made you prouder to be a Brooklynite, if I improved your lives in Brooklyn even just a little, and if I put a smile on your face, then I accomplished everything I set out to do."
Among the major highlights of the 2013 State of the Borough Address:
- Coney Island Seaside Amphitheater: BP Markowitz announced an agreement with City Hall, the City Planning Department and iStar Financial to build a 5,000-seat covered seasonal amphitheatre. Within a few years, concerts will be enjoyed—rain or shine—at the venue to be located at the Boardwalk and West 21st Street.
- Parachute Jump Relighting: BP Markowitz announced Parachute Jump relighting, tentatively set for June 21, weather permitting. With the help of Zamperla USA and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Brooklyn is going to re-light Coney Island's "Eiffel Tower" with—as BP Markowitz likes to say—so much "bling" that it will be visible from outer space!
- Bedford-Union Armory: Announcement of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to convert the Bedford-Union Armory into a community asset. BP Markowitz formed the Bedford-Union Armory Task Force to gather community input and transform the building into a valuable community center that enriches the lives of the residents of Crown Heights.
- Chinese Arch in Sunset Park: Beijing's Chaoyang District has agreed to donate a beautiful arch that will be placed in Brooklyn's Sunset Park—America's fourth largest Chinatown—to celebrate Brooklyn's vibrant Chinese community, the fastest growing ethnic group in New York City.
- Superstorm Sandy Volunteer Tribute: BP Markowitz thanked Sandy volunteers and heroes for their hard work and dedication in helping Brooklyn rebuild, rebound and recover.
2013 State of the Borough Address (As prepared)
HELLO BROOKLYN! AND WELCOME TO BARCLAYS CENTER!
THANK YOU FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION MISS AMERICA 2013, MALLORY HAGAN, A PROUD FIVE-YEAR RESIDENT OF WINDSOR TERRACE BY WAY OF OPELIKA ALABAMA – POPULATION 27,000 – ABOUT THREE BLOCKS IN BROOKLYN.
LIKE SO MANY YOUNG AMERICANS, MALLORY COULD HAVE LIVED ANYWHERE, BUT SHE CHOSE BROOKLYN BECAUSE SHE RECOGNIZED THAT THIS IS WHERE LEGENDS ARE MADE AND DREAMS COME TRUE.
AND LET'S GIVE ANOTHER BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING BROOKLYN TABERNACLE CHOIR – WHO PERFORMED FOR THE ENTIRE NATION AT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S INAUGURATION.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY FELLOW BOROUGH PRESIDENTS JOINING US TONIGHT – HELEN MARSHALL OF BROOKLYN NORTHEAST (AKA QUEENS) AND PRESIDENT RUBEN DIAZ JUNIOR FROM BROOKLYN UPSTATE (AKA "DA BRONX"). WELCOME TO BROOKLYN, WHERE NEW YORK CITY BEGINS – AND YOU KNOW IT.
NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A MAN WHO'S DONE IT ALL – FROM PROFESSIONAL BOXING TO STARRING IN TELEVISION SHOWS LIKE TAXI AND WHO'S THE BOSS – MOVIES LIKE ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD AND CRASH – AND BROADWAY SHOWS LIKE THE PRODUCERS.
AND EVEN BECOMING A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR WITH HIS BOOK I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO EVERY TEACHER I EVER HAD – WHICH I'VE READ – AND IT'S A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO TEACHES OR WHO ASPIRES TO TEACH.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR EAST NEW YORK'S OWN TONY DANZA!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU TONY. AT LAST YEAR'S BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL, WE LEARNED THAT YOU HAD A HIDDEN TALENT. WOULD YOU MIND WOWING US WITH SOME OF YOUR RAPPING SKILLS ONCE AGAIN?
[TONY DANZA PERFORMS]
THANK YOU TONY, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN'T DO?!
THIS IS MY FINAL STATE OF THE BOROUGH ADDRESS – MAKING THIS A BITTERSWEET OCCASION – SO LET'S REFLECT ON HOW FAR WE'VE COME OVER THE LAST DECADE AND THANK SOME OF THE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELPED BROOKLYN ACHIEVE SO MUCH.
WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2001, MANY BROOKLYNITES DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A BOROUGH PRESIDENT WAS, SO I PLEDGED TO MAKE IT THE MOST RELEVANT OFFICE TO BROOKLYNITES. AND I PROMISED THAT BROOKLYN WOULD NEVER BE IN THE SHADOW OF ANY OTHER CITY IN AMERICA, AND THAT WE'D BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO MOVE TO – NOT FROM.
TO PARAPHRASE MAYOR ED KOCH – OF BLESSED MEMORY – HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'?
WITH THE HELP OF GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, THE VISIONARY MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, HIS ADMINISTRATION, SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN, MY DEAR FRIEND AND THE NEW HEAD OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY FRANK SEDDIO, CRAIG EATON, WHO ABLY CHAIRS THE BROOKLYN REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION REPRESENTING BROOKLYN, AND ALL 2.6 MILLION BROOKLYNITES – WE'RE DOIN' GREAT!
55 YEARS AFTER THE DODGERS LEFT FOR LA-LA LAND, BROOKLYN IS BACK WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO NATIONAL SPORTS TEAMS JOINING THE BELOVED BROOKLYN CYCLONES – OUR VERY OWN PLAYOFF BOUND BROOKLYN NETS – AND SOON THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS!
AND STARTING ON APRIL 20TH, WHEN OUR BROOKLYN NETS BEGIN THEIR PLAYOFF MARCH, I ONLY WANT TO SEE BROOKLYNITES WEARING BLACK!
WE'RE GONNA BLACKOUT BROOKLYN! ANYONE CAUGHT WEARING ORANGE AND BLUE WILL BE GUILTY OF TREASON!
FROM GRAND SLAMS TO SLAM DUNKS TO HAT TRICKS, LET'S SALUTE METS AND CYCLONES OWNERS FRED AND JEFF WILPON, CYCLONES GENERAL MANAGER STEVE COHEN, ISLANDERS OWNER CHARLES WANG, NETS OWNER MIKHAIL PROKHOROV, NETS CEO BRETT YORMARK – THE BEST LOOKING
CEO OF ANY AMERICAN SPORTS TEAM AND THE SOON-TO-BE HUSBAND TO ELAINA SCOTTO OF BROOKLYN'S FAMED SCOTTO FAMILY, WHICH INCLUDES ROSANNA, THE HOST OF FOX FIVE'S GOOD DAY NEW YORK.
AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO "COUSIN BRUCIE" – AS I AFFECTIONATELY CALL BRUCE RATNER – THE CEO OF FOREST CITY RATNER.
FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL READ ABOUT BRUCE, A GUY FROM CLEVELAND WHO SLEEPS IN MANHATTAN, BUT FELL IN LOVE WITH BROOKLYN.
HE MADE THE DREAMS OF SO MANY OF US IN BROOKLYN COME TRUE WITH THE TRIUMPHANT GRAND OPENING OF AMERICA'S MOST BEAUTIFUL ARENA, BARCLAYS CENTER, WHICH SIGNALED THE START OF A GLORIOUS NEW CHAPTER IN BROOKLYN'S HISTORY.
IN THE PAST, BROOKLYNITES HAD TO LEAVE OUR BOROUGH FOR WORLD-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT OR SPORTS – WELL, NOT ANYMORE!
WITH BARCLAYS CENTER, EVERYONE'S COMING TO BROOKLYN, LIKE THE ROLLING STONES IN DECEMBER AND OTHER BRITISH ROYALTY SOON. I WISH I COULD SAY WHO.
WITH ALL THIS EXCITEMENT, SO MANY VISITORS FROM ACROSS NEW YORK AND AMERICA HAVE COME TO THE BARCLAYS CENTER, GIVING OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, AND BUSINESSES A MAJOR BOOST!
NOT ONLY THAT, THE BARCLAYS CENTER HAS CREATED 2,000 NEW JOBS, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER HELD BY RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING. AND WHEN THE FULL ATLANTIC YARDS PROJECT IS COMPLETED, IT WILL ADD OFFICES AND MORE THAN 6,000 APARTMENTS, INCLUDING 2,250 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING!
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? WE'VE BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER CULINARY EPICENTERS – THAT'S HOW BROOKLYN'S DOIN'!
IN 1998, THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR FOODIES, ZAGAT, LISTED 77 BROOKLYN RESTAURANTS, NOW IT'S A RECORD 250! AND SINCE 2004, WHEN MY OFFICE LAUNCHED BROOKLYN'S ANNUAL RESTAURANT WEEK, DINE IN BROOKLYN HAS DOUBLED IN SIZE TO NEARLY 200 RESTAURANTS!
AND WORKING WITH CITY HALL, BROOKLYN'S OWN SETH PINSKY, PRESIDENT OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, JONATHAN BUTLER – THE FOUNDER OF BROWNSTONER WHO STARTED THE BROOKLYN FLEA AND SMORGASBURG WITH ERIC DEMBY, DONALD CAPOCCIA OF BFC PARTNERS, AND JASON GOODMAN, THE CEO OF 3RD WARD, MY OFFICE IS HELPING TO UNLEASH EVEN MORE CULINARY CREATIVITY AND SUPPORT OUR MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THE 3RD WARD FOOD INCUBATOR, OPENING LATER THIS YEAR IN CROWN HEIGHTS, WILL PROVIDE BROOKLYN'S BLACK AND LATINO ENTREPRENEURS WITH THE EQUIPMENT, WORKSPACE, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR DREAMS OF OWNING A BUSINESS A REALITY.
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? I'LL TELL YOU HOW. IN 2011, MORE THAN 19,000 STARTUPS AND BUSINESSES WERE LAUNCHED, MAKING BROOKLYN THE INDISPUTABLE EPICENTER OF ENTREPRENEURS!
AND THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHAT OUR BUSINESSES CAN ACHIEVE WITH THE SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSIONER ROB WALSH, A PROUD BROOKLYNITE, AND BROOKLYN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO CARLO SCISSURA AND CHAIR DENISE ARBESU, BANKING EXECUTIVE EXTRAORDINAIRE.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT FORD MOTORS PICKED BROOKLYN AMONG ITS FIRST LOCATIONS FOR ITS TRIUMPHANT COMEBACK AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST AUTO MANUFACTURERS.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT GARY FLOM AND CHAIRMAN VENIAMIN NILVA OF BAY RIDGE FORD FOR BELIEVING IN BROOKLYN AND OPENING THE FIRST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP IN BROOKLYN IN DECADES.
AND LAST MONTH, WE CELEBRATED THE RIBBON CUTTING OF BAY RIDGE FORD'S FULL SERVICE CENTER AT THE BROOKLYN ARMY TERMINAL IN SUNSET PARK.
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? OUR EMERGING TECH TRIANGLE IS ONE OF AMERICA'S HOTTEST HUBS FOR HI-TECH COMPANIES.
SILICON VALLEY IS SO OVER!
NOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT DUMBO, DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN, AND THE NAVY YARD, AMERICA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL URBAN INDUSTRIAL PARK – LED BY THE BRILLIANT ANDREW KIMBALL AND BOARD CHAIR ALAN FISHMAN – WITH THE SUPPORT OF BROOKLYN'S OWN KEN ADAMS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEW YORK STATE'S EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT, ON BEHALF OF GOVERNOR CUOMO.
WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF HI-TECH COMPANIES AND START-UPS, NOW BROOKLYN IS HOME TO MORE THAN 200, INCLUDING ETSY, MAKERBOT, BIG SPACE SHIP, WIRELESS GENERATION, AND HUGE.
BROOKLYN'S GOT THE TALENT AND WE'RE READY TO WORK; ALL BROOKLYNITES NEED IS THE RIGHT TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES. WHICH IS WHY I'M THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS SPRING, MY OFFICE ALONG WITH CITY HALL, SPEAKER QUINN, AND SEVERAL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERS, WILL LAUNCH B-TEC – THE BROOKLYN TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION CONSORTIUM – A TASKFORCE AIMED AT PREPARING OUR BOROUGH'S MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES FOR THE TECH JOBS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COMMEND DAVID WALENTAS, THE FOUNDER OF TWO TREES, WHO BELIEVED THAT DUMBO COULD BE TRANSFORMED FROM ABANDONED WAREHOUSES INTO A VIBRANT HOME FOR THE ARTS, STUNNING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, AND START-UPS – A TRADITION OF LEADERSHIP BEING CARRIED ON BY DAVID'S SON, JED.
AND NOW THAT THEY'VE CONQUERED DUMBO, IT'S ON TO WILLIAMSBURG WITH THE FORMER DOMINO SUGAR FACTORY!
AND JUST LIKE DAVID WALENTAS IN DUMBO AND BRUCE RATNER IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN, GREG O'CONNELL WAS THE VISIONARY DEVELOPER WHO REVOLUTIONIZED RED HOOK. WITH HIS OWN TWO HANDS, GREG TURNED THE DESERTED INDUSTRIAL WATERFRONT INTO THE DYNAMIC, THRIVING COMMUNITY WE KNOW TODAY WITH IKEA, FAIRWAY, AND SO MUCH MORE.
BROOKLYN IS TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY VISIONARIES THAT HAVE RE-SHAPED OUR BOROUGH.
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? I'LL TELL YOU HOW. CONEY ISLAND HAS BEEN REJUVENATED, REVITALIZED AND RE-INVIGORATED, AND IS ONCE AGAIN AMERICA'S PLAYGROUND – THE CITY'S HOTTEST, AFFORDABLE SUMMER DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES!
CLASSIC ATTRACTIONS LIKE DENO'S WONDER WHEEL AND THE CYCLONE HAVE ROARED BACK TO LIFE, AND NOW THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SIDE TO CONEY ISLAND WITH THE ADDITION OF LUNA PARK AND THE SCREAM ZONE FOR REAL ADRENALINE JUNKIES.
HURRICANE SANDY BADLY DAMAGED THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM IN CONEY ISLAND, BUT THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE EFFORTS OF THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY REPRESENTED TONIGHT BY JOHN CALVELLI, AQUARIUM DIRECTOR JON DOHLIN AND THE ENTIRE STAFF WHO MOVED HEAVEN, EARTH, AND OCEAN, THE AQUARIUM WILL BEGIN RE-OPENING ON MAY 25TH IN TIME FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!
AND IN 2016, VISITORS CAN GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE FIERCEST DEEP SEA PREDATORS AT THE OCEAN WONDERS SHARK EXHIBIT, A PROJECT I WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMAN DOMENIC RECCHIA. AND THANK YOU DONALD AND BARBARA ZUCKER FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
IN A SALUTE TO CONEY ISLAND'S FUTURE FROM ITS GLORIOUS PAST, THIS COMING MAY, THE HISTORIC B&B CAROUSELL WILL MAKE ITS MAGNIFICENT RETURN TO CONEY ISLAND'S BEAUTIFUL NEW STEEPLECHASE PLAZA – ALONGSIDE THE PARACHUTE JUMP. THANK YOU MAYOR BLOOMBERG.
AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE HARD WORK OF "MR. CONEY ISLAND" – COUNCILMAN DOMENIC RECCHIA, ASSEMBLYMAN ALEC BROOK-KRASNY, LUNA PARK OWNER ALBERTO ZAMPERLA, THE OWNERS OF DENO'S WONDER WHEEL AMUSEMENT PARK – STEVE AND DENNIS VOURDERIS, CONEY ISLAND ALLIANCE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NATE BLISS, AND OF COURSE, DICK ZIGUN, THE MAYOR OF CONEY ISLAND. CONEY ISLAND, PLEASE STAND!
THIS SUMMER – WITH THE HELP OF ZAMPERLA U-S-A AND THE NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.
TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 21ST, WEATHER PERMITTING, THE PARACHUTE JUMP WILL BE RELIT. AND AS I PROMISED, THERE WILL BE SO MUCH "BLING" ON IT THAT IT'LL BE VISIBLE FROM OUTER SPACE!
IT'LL BE BROOKLYN'S EIFFEL TOWER – ANOTHER MUST-SEE ON EVERY TOURIST'S LIST!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FEAST YOUR EYES ON THE NEW LIGHTS OF THE PARACHUTE JUMP!
HOW'S THAT FOR SOME BROOKLYN SWAGGER!
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? WE'RE THE UNDISPUTED CREATIVE CAPITAL OF AMERICA!
FORGET HOLLYWOOD!
BROOKLYN'S A BOX-OFFICE BLOW OUT WITH GREENPOINT'S BROADWAY STAGES, JC STUDIOS IN MIDWOOD, WILLIAMSBURG'S MARCY ARMORY, AND THE NAVY YARD'S STEINER STUDIOS, THE LARGEST FILM LOT OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE FILM INDUSTRY WITHOUT MENTIONING THAT IT WAS DAVID AND DOUG STEINER WHO RECOGNIZED BROOKLYN HAS MORE CHARACTER AND CHARACTERS THAN ANYWHERE ELSE. AND WHEN IT COMES TO LOVABLE MESHUGANAHS – HELLO DOUG!
AND OF COURSE, THERE'S THE SIBLING SUPER DUO BEHIND BROADWAY STAGES, TONY – AND AS TONY KNOWS, MY FAVORITE – GINA ARGENTO, WHO ARE BOTH SO DEDICATED TO BROOKLYN'S FUTURE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE STARS OF THE SILVER SCREEN. CREATIVES FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE FLOCKING TO BROOKLYN, MAKING BAM'S CULTURAL DISTRICT RIVAL TO LINCOLN CENTER!
THANKS TO THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP OF AMERICA'S TOP ARTS ADMINISTRATOR, KAREN BROOKS HOPKINS, AND CREATIVE GENIUS JOSEPH MELILLO – WHO HAVE BUILT ON THE LEGACY OF HARVEY LICHTENSTEIN, SINCE THE DESIGNATION OF THE BAM CULTURAL DISTRICT IN 2000, SO MANY WORLD-RENOWNED CREATIVE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE EXPANDED OR MOVED INTO DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN AND FORT GREENE.
LIKE ROULETTE, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF JAMES STALEY, AND AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY LED BY SIMON KILMURRY, WHICH BOTH LEFT THE "OUTER BOROUGH" OF MANHATTAN – SORRY SCOTT! AND IRONDALE ENSEMBLE PROJECT, GUIDED BY TERRY GREISS.
AND I'M THRILLED THAT IN OCTOBER, NEW YORK'S PREMIER SHAKESPEARIAN TROUPE – THE THEATER FOR A NEW AUDIENCE LED BY FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JEFFREY HOROWITZ – WILL RELOCATE TO ITS FIRST PERMANENT HOME IN FORT GREENE.
AND STARTING IN OCTOBER, BRIC ARTS, LED BY PRESIDENT LESLIE SCHULTZ, AND URBAN GLASS WILL MOVE INTO THE STRAND THEATER ON FULTON STREET, TRANSFORMING IT INTO A 250-SEAT THEATER, GALLERY, OFFICES, AND THE HOME OF AMERICA'S LARGEST PUBLIC ACCESS ARTISTIC GLASS MAKING STUDIO.
AS WELL AS STUDIOS FOR BCAT, THE BEST LOCAL CABLE ACCESS TELEVISION NETWORK. KUDOS TO GREG SUTTON FOR A DECADE OF LEADERSHIP AND GOOD LUCK IN HELPING MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK REACH BROOKLYN'S STANDARDS.
NOT ONLY THAT, BEGINNING IN THE SUMMER OF 2014, THE PIONEERING ISSUE PROJECT ROOM LED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LAWRENCE KUMPF WILL CONVERT THEIR HISTORIC THEATER ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE FORMER BOARD OF EDUCATION BUILDING AT 110 LIVINGSTON INTO THEIR PERMANENT RESIDENCE.
MEANWHILE, BAM HAS EXPANDED WITH THE GRAND OPENING OF THE BEAUTIFUL FISHER BUILDING LAST SEPTEMBER, AND PLANS ARE MOVING AHEAD FOR BAM NORTH AND SOUTH.
SINCE 2001, THE NUMBER OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BROOKLYN ARTS COUNCIL DIRECTORY HAS DOUBLED TO 800! BRAVO TO PRESIDENT AND DEAR FRIEND ELLA WEISS.
IT'S CLEAR – WE'RE THE CENTER OF THE PLANET'S ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT SCENE. WHICH IS WHY, JOHN POLSON, THE FOUNDER OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, MADE THE BRILLIANT DECISION TO HOLD TROPFEST IN PROSPECT PARK ON JUNE 22ND WITH HOST LIEV SCHREIBER.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, ON AUGUST 25TH, THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS – THE NATION'S PREMIER POP CULTURE EVENT – IS COMING TO BROOKLYN, RIGHT HERE AT BARCLAYS CENTER.
THEY HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED A HOST YET, SO I WANT TO THROW MY HAT IN THE RING. JUST GIVE ME SOME NOT-SO-SKINNY JEANS, AN EXTRA LARGE FLANNEL SHIRT, AND SOME IRONIC GLASSES. OR BETTER YET, TURN "THE CLOCK" BACK 50 YEARS!
FROM THE STAGE TO THE PAGE, HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? I'LL TELL YOU HOW. THE BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL IS NOW THE NORTHEAST'S LARGEST FREE LITERARY EVENT AND THE THIRD LARGEST IN AMERICA, TAKING PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 22ND IN AND AROUND BOROUGH HALL.
SINCE CREATING THE BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL IN 2006, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE BROOKLYN LITERARY COUNCIL AND ITS DYNAMIC CHAIR JOHNNY TEMPLE, IT'S BEEN A BEST-SELLER, GROWING INTO A WEEKLONG EVENT WITH NEARLY 300 AUTHORS AND MORE THAN 40,000 VISITORS! JOHNNY TEMPLE, PLEASE STAND!
HEY, IT'S NO WONDER WHY NEW YORKER MAGAZINE WRITER MALCOLM GLADWELL QUIPPED, "INTELLIGENT THOUGHT IS NOT DEAD IN NEW YORK, IT HAS SIMPLY MOVED TO BROOKLYN."
AND THAT'S IN NO SMALL PART THANKS TO AMERICA'S FIFTH LARGEST LIBRARY SYSTEM – BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ITS TALENTED PRESIDENT AND CEO, THE MUCH LAUDED LINDA JOHNSON. LINDA!
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN' IN THE CLASSROOM?
WITH THE HELP OF CHANCELLOR DENNIS WALCOTT AND HIS PREDECESSORS, SINCE 2002, NEARLY 200 NEW SCHOOLS HAVE OPENED AND 48,000 ADDED! AND THIS SEPTEMBER, WE'LL HAVE 30 MORE SCHOOLS AND ANOTHER 12,000 SEATS!
I WANT TO PRAISE THE MAYOR FOR MAKING PUBLIC EDUCATION A TOP PRIORITY, AND I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND PRESIDENT MICHAEL MULGREW AND THE UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, WHO OVER THE YEARS, WHENEVER PUBLIC EDUCATION WAS MOST CHALLENGED, STOOD UP AND FOUGHT TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE.
AND BROOKLYN'S SCHOOLS HAVE CONTINUED TO SET THE STANDARD WITH PIONEERS LIKE PS 41 IN BROWNSVILLE, WHICH WILL BE HOME TO THE CITY'S FIRST "EDU-CARE" SCHOOL – A FULL-DAY, YEAR-ROUND FACILITY, SERVING AT-RISK CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN FIVE.
THEN THERE'S THE ACADEMY OF GLOBAL FINANCE IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, WHERE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING MANDARIN, WHICH I AM PROUD TO CHAMPION.
AND WILLIAMSBURG'S PS 84 AND ITS HYDROPONIC GREENHOUSE CLASSROOM – WHICH WILL BREAK GROUND THIS YEAR – A PROJECT I WAS PLEASED TO JOIN COUNCIL MEMBERS DIANA REYNA AND STEVE LEVIN IN SUPPORTING.
AND DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, PRESIDENT OBAMA RECOGNIZED PATHWAYS IN TECHNOLOGY EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL – OR
P-TECH IN NORTHERN CROWN HEIGHTS – AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION.
WITH THE HELP OF IBM AND CITY TECH, STUDENTS THERE RECEIVE A FOUR YEAR HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE – PLUS AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. AND WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THEY'LL BE FIRST IN LINE FOR A JOB WITH IBM.
WITH US TONIGHT IS THE MAN AT THE HELM OF P-TECH, PRINCIPAL RASHID DAVIS! PLEASE STAND!
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO LIMIT TO WHAT OUR CHILDREN CAN ACHIEVE, WHEN PARENTS PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE. THAT'S WHY IN 2008, MY OFFICE LAUNCHED THE CITY'S FIRST PARENT ACADEMY AT BOROUGH HALL.
AND SINCE 2011, WE'VE PUBLISHED THE CITY'S FIRST ANNUAL PARENT HELP GUIDE, TO GIVE FAMILIES ALL THE RESOURCES THEY NEED FOR THEIR KIDS.
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN' IN HIGHER EDUCATION? OUR DOWNTOWN NOW HAS NEARLY 60,000 COLLEGE STUDENTS. THAT'S MORE THAN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS! THAT'S HOW BROOKLYN'S DOIN'!
SOON THERE WILL BE EVEN MORE THANKS TO TWO BROOKLYN NATIVES – NYU PRESIDENT JOHN SEXTON AND CUSP DIRECTOR STEVEN KOONIN – AS WELL AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT LYNNE BROWN, ALL OF WHOM RECOGNIZE THAT NYU'S FUTURE RESTS IN BROOKLYN. AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH ONE OF AMERICA'S PREMIER ENGINEERING SCHOOLS – NYU POLY, LED BY NEWLY APPOINTED PRESIDENT KATEPALLI SREENIVASAN, THEY ARE BRINGING THE NYU CENTER FOR URBAN SCIENCE AND PROGRESS TO 370 JAY STREET IN THE FORMERLY UNDER-USED MTA BUILDING.
MY OFFICE FOUGHT HARD TO TRANSFORM 370 JAY ALONG WITH CONGRESSWOMAN NYDIA VALAZQUEZ, STATE SENATOR DAN SQUADRON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOAN MILLMAN, COUNCILMAN STEVE LEVIN – AND SPECIAL THANKS TO FORMER COUNCILMAN AND CURRENT TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSIONER DAVID YASSKY.
AND WHEN THE SCHOOL IS COMPLETED, I HOPE IT ADDRESSES PRESSING ISSUES LIKE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ESTABLISHING AN ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL MODEL FOR URBAN MANUFACTURING.
AND THESE INSTITUTIONS WILL JOIN OUR BOROUGH'S GREAT CUNY'S: MY ALMA MATER, BROOKLYN COLLEGE, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT KAREN GOULD; BROOKLYN'S "COLLEGE BY THE SEA" – KINGSBOROUGH, WHERE I MET MY BELOVED WIFE JAMIE, IS LED BY PRESIDENT REGINA PERUGGI. AND AFTER 9 YEARS OF EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE AS PRESIDENT, GOOD LUCK ON YOUR RETIREMENT. THERE'S CITY TECH – A CATALYST FOR BROOKLYN'S HI-TECH WORKFORCE – UNDER PRESIDENT RUSSELL HOTZLER, AND BRAVO TO PRESIDENT WILLIAM POLLARD, WHO RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS OF MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE.
AND OUR CITY COLLEGES ARE FLOURISHING THANKS TO CUNY CHANCELLOR MATTHEW GOLDSTEIN AND SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR JAY HERSHENSON, THE BRILLIANT CHESS MASTER BEHIND CUNY.
BROOKLYN IS ALSO HOME TO MANY WONDERFUL PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS LIKE BROOKLYN LAW. THANKS TO DEAN NICHOLAS ALLARD FOR REKINDLING THE SCHOOL'S BROOKLYN SPIRIT. AND I KNOW THE GREAT PROVOST GALE STEVENS HAYNES OF LIU BROOKLYN WOULD AGREE THAT LIU REALLY BEGINS IN BROOKLYN. AND KUDOS TO PRATT INSTITUTE AND PRESIDENT THOMAS SCHUTTE, AND TOURO LED BY PRESIDENT ALAN KADISH.
THEN THERE'S BERKELEY COLLEGE AND ITS PRESIDENT, DOCTOR DARIO CORTES. THANK YOU FOR AWARDING ME AN HONORARY DOCTORATE. AND I ALSO RECEIVED AN HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM SAINT FRANCIS COLLEGE, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT BRENDAN DUGAN, AND SAINT JOSEPH'S COLLEGE, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ITS PRESIDENT, SISTER ELIZABETH HILL.
HEY, TWO HONORARY DEGREES FROM CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. NOT BAD FOR A JEWISH BOY.
BROOKLYN LOST A TRUE SON WITH THE RECENT PASSING OF DOCTOR FRANK MACCHIAROLA, FORMER CHANCELLOR OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS AND FORMER PRESIDENT AND CHANCELLOR OF SAINT FRANCIS. ALL OF BROOKLYN MOURNS THE LOSS OF AN EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATOR, ADMINISTRATOR, AND A BROOKLYNITE THROUGH AND THROUGH.
FROM COLLEGE KIDS TO KIDS AT HEART – HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN? JUST ASK THE HUNDREDS OF LOVEBIRDS WHO CELEBRATE MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AT BOROUGH HALL'S ANNUAL SWEETHEARTS EVENT AT EL CARIBE IN MILL BASIN. THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT BROOKLYN IS THE BEST PLACE TO SPEND YOUR GOLDEN YEARS.
RATHER THAN VEGGING OUT IN FLORIDA, HERE IN BROOKLYN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY STIMULATED. SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT BROOKLYN, BUT BORING? NEVER!
JUST LOOK AT OUR WORLD-CLASS RESTAURANTS, ATTRACTIONS, HIGHER EDUCATION, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, GREAT DIVERSITY, AND EVEN TWO GOLF COURSES – ONE IN DYKER HEIGHTS AND ANOTHER IN MARINE PARK.
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'?
WE'VE GOT IT ALL! THERE'S NO REASON TO EVER LEAVE BROOKLYN. AFTER ALL, WE HAVE PLENTY OF EXCITING CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, LIKE NEW YORK CITY'S SECOND LARGEST ART COLLECTION AT BROOKLYN MUSEUM, BRILLIANTLY LED BY DIRECTOR ARNOLD LEHMAN. UNDER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PAMELA GREEN, THE WEEKSVILLE HERITAGE CENTER WILL COMPLETE ITS NEW CULTURAL ARTS BUILDING THIS SUMMER TO CELEBRATE THE RICH HISTORY OF ONE OF AMERICA'S FIRST FREE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
AND THE BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM – THE WORLD'S FIRST FOR CHILDREN. I WAS THRILLED TO SUPPORT THEIR NEW ROOF THEATER, THAT THEY ASSURE ME IS COMING SOON.
THEN THERE'S EVERYONE'S "PERENNIAL" FAVORITE, THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN, WITH IT'S BEAUTIFUL NEW VISITOR CENTER WHICH IS CATERED BY THE FABULOUS PALM HOUSE CATERERS, CHARLES SALLY CHARLES. THANK YOU PRESIDENT SCOT MEDBURY!
THE INTERACTIVE BROOKLYN JEWISH CHILDREN'S MUSEUM UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE INSPIRATIONAL DEVORAH HALBERSTAM.
OR YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT BROOKLYN'S RICH HISTORY WITH THE BROOKLYN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THANK YOU PRESIDENT DEBORAH SCHWARTZ AND BROOKLYN'S HISTORIAN RON SCHWEIGER.
AND GREENWOOD CEMETERY, LED BY PRESIDENT RICH MOYLAN, IS ONE OF BROOKLYN'S TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND MY FINAL LANDLORD – BUT NOT A DAY LESS THAN 99 YEARS FROM NOW! AND I'VE BEEN GUARANTEED THAT LONG BEFORE THEN, THEIR GORGEOUS NEW VISITOR CENTER WILL HAVE OPENED.
AND IN BOROUGH PARK (A NEIGHBORHOOD SERVED BY A RISING STAR AMONG BROOKLYN'S ELECTED OFFICIALS – THE CO-CHAIR OF BROOKLYN'S CITY COUNCIL DELEGATION DAVID GREENFIELD), THE KLEINMAN FAMILY IS SHARING THE INCREDIBLE STORIES OF HEARTBREAK AND SURVIVAL DURING THE HOLOCAUST AT THE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION CENTER, WHICH OPENS THIS FALL.
OR YOU CAN EXPLORE THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES FACING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AT THE GROUNDBREAKING MOCADA IN FORT GREENE, LED BY NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES BARTLETT.
AND DISCOVER THE EXCITING HISTORY OF THE NAVY YARD AT THE BUILDING 92 MUSEUM.
AND WITH THE HELP OF SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR DENNIS WALCOTT AND THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, NEW YORK'S FIRST CARIBBEAN AMERICAN TRADE CENTER IS MOVING FORWARD AT HISTORIC ERASMUS HALL HIGH SCHOOL IN FLATBUSH – THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT IN A LIFETIME OF SERVICE FOR DOCTOR ROY HASTICK, FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF THE CARIBBEAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ROY, PLEASE STAND!
IN BENSONHURST, ON OCTOBER 12TH, IN TIME FOR THE COLUMBUS DAY PARADE, IL CENTRO, NEW YORK'S FIRST ITALIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER, WILL OPEN THANKS TO BOARD CHAIR JACK SPATOLA, PRESIDENT FRANK NACCARATO, AND VICE PRESIDENT CARLO SCISSURA. AND AS AN ITALIAN WANNABE I WAS PROUD TO JOIN THE MAYOR, CONGRESSMAN JERROLD NADLER, FORMER CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL MCMAHON, SENATOR MARTIN GOLDEN, AND COUNCILMAN DOMENIC RECCHIA IN SUPPORTING THIS GREAT PROJECT.
AS THE HOME OF EVERYONE FROM EVERYWHERE, HERE IN BROOKLYN, DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH. SO HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'?
WE'RE THE PROUD HOME OF THE EASTERN SEABOARD'S LARGEST LESBIAN COMMUNITY AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST GAY POPULATIONS IN AMERICA.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT OUR LGBT RESIDENTS ADD SO MUCH RICHNESS TO OUR BOROUGH. ANY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE IS AN LGBT COMMUNITY IS A NEIGHBORHOOD ON ITS WAY UP. WHICH IS WHY IN 2008, MY OFFICE HELPED ESTABLISH OUR BOROUGH'S FIRST COMMUNITY PRIDE CENTER. AND KUDOS TO ITS FIRST FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ERIN DRINKWATER.
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? THE BIGGEST NAMES IN RETAIL ARE FLOCKING TO FULTON MALL – EXPRESS, H&M, ARMANI EXCHANGE, CENTURY 21, AND SOON THERE'LL BE EVEN MORE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE OPENING OF RETAIL SPACE IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AT 210 JORALEMON STREET. AND MAYBE EVEN AN ABRAHAM AND STRAUS!
I'LL STOP FOR A SECOND, I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU WERE STILL AWAKE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT FULTON MALL IS GOING "BACK TO THE FUTURE" AND WILL ONCE AGAIN BE ONE OF NEW YORK'S PREMIER SHOPPING DISTRICTS – JUST LIKE IT WAS IN THE THIRTIES, FORTIES, AND FIFTIES.
AND DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN IS LOOKING BETTER EVERY DAY, SO BRAVO TO THE DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PARTNERSHIP AND ITS PRESIDENT TUCKER REED AND PRESIDENT EMERITUS JOE CHAN, THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT.
AND OVER IN SPRING CREEK, WHICH WILL ALWAYS BE EAST NEW YORK TO US, THE GATEWAY MALL WILL SOON DOUBLE IN SIZE. SHOPRITE IS MOVING IN AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES.
MEANWHILE, LAST MONTH, THE BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED AND NOW TWO-STORY FOODTOWN ON THIRD AVENUE IN BAY RIDGE RE-OPENED AND TWO WHOLE FOODS ARE COMING TO BROOKLYN – ONE IN GOWANUS AND ONE IN WILLIAMSBURG.
AND IN SHEEPSHEAD BAY, WE'VE BROKEN GROUND ON BROOKLYN'S FIRST ALDI AT THE FORMER PATHMARK ON NOSTRAND AVENUE.
THANK YOU ASSEMBLY MEMBER HELENE WEINSTEIN AND COUNCILMEN LEW FIDLER AND MIKE NELSON.
NOT ONLY THAT, IN WINDSOR TERRACE – WHICH I PROUDLY CALL HOME – WHEN WALGREENS ANNOUNCED THEY WERE TAKING OVER THE SITE OF KEY FOOD, THE COMMUNITY MOBILIZED. KUDOS TO WALGREENS FOR RESPONDING AND BEING SUCH A RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE CITIZEN.
WE'RE ALL THRILLED A NEW KEY FOOD WILL BE JOINING WALGREENS AT THIS LOCATION.
THANK YOU ASSEMBLYMAN JIM BRENNAN (CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING MARRIAGE JIM, IT'S ABOUT TIME!), COUNCILMAN BRAD LANDER, WALGREENS MARKET VICE PRESIDENT SKIP BOURDO AND DISTRICT MANAGER HIEN NGUYEN AS WELL AS KEY FOOD.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, FAIRWAY IS TRULY SETTING THE STANDARD FOR HOW BUSINESS SHOULD BE DONE. EVEN THOUGH HURRICANE SANDY DEVASTATED THEIR RED HOOK STORE, IT WAS RE-OPENED IN A RECORD FOUR MONTHS AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, NOT A SINGLE FAIRWAY EMPLOYEE FROM BROOKLYN WAS LAID OFF. EMPLOYEES WERE GIVEN TEMPORARY JOBS AT OTHER FAIRWAY LOCATIONS AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION.
NOT ONLY THAT, FAIRWAY – ALONG WITH KEY FOOD – PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO IMPACTED RESIDENTS.
SO WE ALL OWE A BIG THANK YOU TO THE GLICKBERG FAMILY, AND I'M PERSONALLY GRATEFUL BECAUSE THEIR RED HOOK STORE OPENED JUST IN TIME BEFORE MALLOMAR SEASON ENDED.
AND I'VE GOT TO ASK: WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET ANOTHER FAIRWAY? OR BETTER YET, TWO MORE!
FROM MORE GREENS ON OUR PLATES TO GREEN ON OUR STREETS – HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'?
SINCE 2002, WE'VE ADDED MORE THAN 550 ACRES OF NEW PARKS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND MORE THAN 200 PARK PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN RENOVATED! THAT'S HOW THE BOROUGH OF TREES IS DOIN'!
AND OUR PARKS ARE LOOKING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN EVER THANKS TO NEW CITY PARKS COMMISSIONER VERONICA WHITE – A PROUD DAUGHTER OF BAY RIDGE, HER PREDECESSOR COMMISSIONER ADRIAN BENEPE, AND OUR OUTSTANDING BOROUGH COMMISSIONER KEVIN JEFFREY, WHO IS A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH.
LAST OCTOBER, PROSPECT PARK FINISHED THE RESTORATION OF MUSIC ISLAND AND WILL SOON COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION ON TWO NEW ICE-SKATING RINKS AS PART OF THE LAKESIDE PROJECT. AND I'M THRILLED THAT WITH FUNDING FROM MY OFFICE, THE PICNIC HOUSE WILL SOON BE AIR CONDITIONED.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT EMILY LLOYD AND YOUR PREDECESSOR, THE UNBELIEVABLE TUPPER THOMAS!
MEANWHILE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF STATE SENATOR DAN SQUADRON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOAN MILLMAN, COUNCILMAN STEVE LEVIN, AND THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT REGINA MYER, BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK HAS BECOME EVEN MORE OF AN INTERNATIONAL TOURIST DESTINATION WITH THE UNVEILING OF SQUIBB BRIDGE LAST MONTH, AND THE OPENING OF PIER 5 WITH ITS NEW ATHLETIC FIELDS AND PICNIC PENINSULA THIS PAST DECEMBER.
AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, BROOKLYN' LARGEST PARK, MARINE PARK, FINALLY OPENED THE CARMINE CARRO COMMUNITY CENTER.
MANY THANKS TO SENATOR MARTIN GOLDEN, COUNCIL MEMBER LEW FIDLER, ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ALAN MAISEL AND HELENE WEINSTEIN, AND FORMER ASSEMBLYMAN FRANK SEDDIO FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THE CENTER. AND FOR INITIATING IT, BRAVO TO CARMINE CARRO – OF BLESSED MEMORY – AND HIS FAMILY FOR COMPLETING THE PROJECT.
OVER IN EAST NEW YORK, LINDEN PARK COMPLETED ITS SPORTS COMPLEX WITH THE SUPPORT OF COUNCILMAN CHARLES BARRON. AND LAST SUMMER, RESIDENTS OF NORTH BROOKLYN WELCOMED THE RESTORATION OF THE GLORIOUS MCCARREN PARK POOL. A BIG SHOUT OUT TO FORMER BROOKLYN PARKS COMMISSIONER JULIUS SPIEGEL.
AND HATS OFF TO THE DEAN OF THE BROOKLYN ASSEMBLY DELEGATION JOE LENTOL, COUNCILMAN STEVE LEVIN, AND THE OPEN SPACE ALLIANCE.
AND WITH THE HELP OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, MY OFFICE LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE THAT OVER THE LAST DECADE INSTALLED 12,000 TREE GUARDS IN ALMOST EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS BROOKLYN. NOT ONLY DO THEY PROTECT TREES, THEY'VE HELPED INSPIRE BUDDING GREEN THUMBS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS TO MAKE THEIR STREETS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL.
LIKE DURING THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN'S ANNUAL GREENEST BLOCK COMPETITION, WHICH IS WHERE I MET THESE TWO ADORABLE TWINS – MARIAN FACEY-BOONE AND MAUREEN FACEY – FROM LINCOLN ROAD IN PROSPECT-LEFFERTS GARDENS, WHICH HAS WON THE COMPETITION TWICE!
CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT TOLANDA TOLBERT AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE LINCOLN ROAD "R AND B" BLOCK ASSOCIATION.
MEANWHILE, SUNSET PARK WILL SOON BE THE PROUD HOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST ROOFTOP FARM, PRODUCING MORE THAN ONE MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH, DELICIOUS, LOCALLY-GROWN PRODUCE WHEN IT OPENS NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU CONGRESS MEMBERS NYDIA VELÁZQUEZ AND JERRY NADLER, DEVELOPERS MARVIN SCHEIN AND SAL RUSI OF SALMAR PROPERTIES, AND CEO PAUL LIGHTFOOT OF BRIGHT FARMS.
BUT BEAUTIFYING OUR STREETS DOESN'T MEAN JUST ADDING MORE GREEN.
TO CELEBRATE BROOKLYN'S VIBRANT CHINESE COMMUNITY – THE FASTEST GROWING ETHNIC GROUP IN NEW YORK CITY – I'M THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT BEIJING'S CHAOYANG DISTRICT HAS AGREED TO DONATE A BEAUTIFUL ARCH THAT WILL BE PLACED IN BROOKLYN'S SUNSET PARK, AMERICA'S FOURTH LARGEST CHINATOWN.
THANK YOU PAUL MAK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BROOKLYN CHINESE-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, AND WINNIE GRECO, BOROUGH HALL'S CHINESE LIAISON. AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH CITY HALL AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER PETER ABBATE TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.
AND OVER ON 4TH AVENUE – AKA BROOKLYN BOULEVARD – WITH THE HELP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS VINCENT GENTILE, BRAD LANDER, SARA GONZALEZ, AND STEVE LEVIN, THE BEAUTIFICATION PROCESS HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.
AFTER A 40-YEAR ABSENCE, LAST YEAR, THE 4TH AVENUE AND 9TH STREET SUBWAY STATION OPENED ITS EASTERN ENTRANCE. AND LATER THIS YEAR, THE STATION'S BEAUTIFUL ART DECO ARCH WILL BE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL GRANDEUR – A PROJECT MY OFFICE WAS PROUD TO SPEARHEAD ALONG WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOAN MILLMAN.
FROM WINDOW BOXES TO TREE BEDS, STREETSCAPES TO OUR CITY'S PARKS, COMMUNITY GARDENS TO ROOFTOP FARMS AND MORE. IT'S CLEAR: BROOKLYN IS MORE THAN A FREAKIN TREE!
AND FROM GREENING OUR STREETS TO MAKING OUR STREETS SAFER – HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN? OUR CITY'S CRIME RATE HAS FALLEN TO RECORD LOWS. AND FOR THAT WE COMMEND THE ENTIRE NYPD UNDER THE BRILLIANT LEADERSHIP OF COMMISSIONER RAY KELLY.
AND THE MAN WHO HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN WAS BROOKLYN'S OWN CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT JOSEPH ESPOSITO – LOVINGLY CALLED "ESPO" – WHO RETIRED LAST MONTH AFTER 45 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE. CHIEF ESPOSITO, PLEASE STAND!
WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT CRIME WILL CONTINUE TO FALL UNDER OUR NEW CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT, PHILIP BANKS III, WHO WAS BORN IN BROOKLYN, BUT SLEEPS IN "BROOKLYN NORTH EAST" AKA QUEENS, AS WELL AS OUR DYNAMIC CHIEFS – IN BROOKLYN NORTH, GERALD NELSON, AND BROOKLYN SOUTH, THOMAS CHAN, ALL OF OUR PRECINCT COMMANDERS, AS WELL AS BOROUGH HALL'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE LIAISON, LESLIE LEWIS, WHO HAS ALSO SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE 84TH PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS.
AND OF COURSE, AMERICA'S DA, RIVETING AUTHOR, AND REALITY TV STAR, THE PHENOMENAL BROOKLYN DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOE HYNES!
SADLY, IT'S A FACT THAT RESIDENTS IN SOME OF BROOKLYN'S MOST UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, WILL TELL YOU IT'S EASIER TO BUY A GUN THAN A BOOK, AND OUR CHILDREN'S DAYS ARE NOT FILLED WITH HIDE AND SEEK – BUT STOP AND FRISK.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A DAY WHEN SUCH MEASURES AREN'T NEEDED, AND THE ONLY TIME GUNS, DRUGS, COURTROOMS, COURT OFFICERS, AND COPS PLAY A ROLE IN OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES IS IF THEY WANT TO BECOME JUDGES, LAWYERS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS JUMAANE WILLIAMS AND DARLENE MEALY HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO BRING THAT DAY CLOSER.
AND THEY ARE BUILDING ON THE PIONEERING WORK OF GREG JACKSON OF BLESSED MEMORY – LOVINGLY CALLED "JOCKO" – WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SERVING THE CHILDREN OF BROWNSVILLE AS THE HEAD OF THE BROWNSVILLE RECREATION CENTER AND THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE BROWNSVILLE PARTNERSHIP. HE WAS A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH AND TRULY A HERO. ALL OF BROOKLYN MISSES HIM DEARLY.
EVERY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DESERVES A SAFE SPACE THAT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE STREETS – ESPECIALLY KIDS.
THAT'S WHY MY OFFICE WORKED ALONGSIDE COUNCIL WOMAN TISH JAMES TO JUMPSTART THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE BEDFORD ATLANTIC ARMORY INTO A COMMUNITY SPACE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT UNDER SETH PINSKY AND THE EDC.
AND I'M THRILLED THAT FOLLOWING AN NYU CAPSTONE STUDY COMMISSIONED BY MY OFFICE, THIS YEAR, EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT AND THE CITY OF NEW YORK WILL ISSUE AN RFP TO FIND PARTNERS TO CONVERT THE UNDER-UTILIZED BEDFORD UNION ARMORY – ACROSS FROM MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE – INTO A VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSET THAT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF CROWN HEIGHTS.
THANK YOU GOVERNOR CUOMO, CITY HALL, CONGRESS MEMBERS YVETTE CLARKE AND HAKEEM JEFFRIES, SENATOR ERIC ADAMS, ASSEMBLYMAN WALTER MOSLEY, AND COUNCILWOMAN TISH JAMES.
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? IN THE LAST 12 YEARS, WE'VE ADDED OR PRESERVED NEARLY 36,000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCLUDING THE RENEWAL OF ROUGHLY 11,000 MITCHELL-LAMA APARTMENTS.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT IN FEBRUARY, WITH THE HELP OF COUNCILMAN AL VANN AND THE PHOENIX REALTY GROUP, WE BROKE GROUND ON THE RESTORATION OF MORE THAN 200 MITCHELL-LAMA UNITS AT THE WILLOUGHBY COURT APARTMENTS.
NOW, LISTEN UP, I WANT THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION – AND EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT – TO MAKE PUBLIC HOUSING A TOP PRIORITY! OUR PUBLIC HOUSING HAS DETERIORATED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE DAYS WHEN I GREW UP IN THE SHEEPSHEAD NOSTRAND HOUSES. WE MUST RESTORE PUBLIC HOUSING TO ITS FORMER GLORY – THE SAFEST, BEST MAINTAINED HOUSING IN THE COUNTRY.
I'VE BEEN PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE HPD COMMISSIONER MATHEW WAMBUA, CITY COUNCIL HOUSING CHAIR ERIC DILAN, AND DEALICE FULLER, THE CHAIR OF MY OFFICE'S MITCHELL-LAMA TASK FORCE, TO ALWAYS ENSURE THAT BROOKLYN REMAINS BROOKLYN – A HOME FOR EVERYONE FROM EVERY INCOME LEVEL.
WE MUST HAVE ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES. BECAUSE DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABILITY CAN – AND SHOULD – GO HAND IN HAND.
HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'? ON JANUARY 23RD, WE BROKE GROUND ON FLATBUSH'S OWN LOEW'S KINGS THEATER ON FLATBUSH AVENUE AND ARE RESTORING IT TO ITS FORMER SPLENDOR!
SINCE 1977, LOEWS KINGS HAS SAT EMPTY – WELL NOT ANYMORE! SOON, A WHOLE NEW GENERATION WILL BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE BEST IN MUSIC, ART, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN BROOKLYN'S BEACON THEATRE AND APOLLO – ALL ROLLED INTO ONE.
THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR BOB STEEL, COMPTROLLER JOHN LIU, STATE SENATORS JOHN SAMPSON, ERIC ADAMS, KEVIN PARKER AND MARTIN GOLDEN, ASSEMBLY MEMBER RHODA JACOBS, COUNCILMAN MATHIEU EUGENE, SETH PINSKY AND EDC, ACE THEATRICAL GROUP, AND GOLDMAN SACHS.
SO WITH ALL THE EXCITEMENT, WITH ALL OF OUR AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WITH ALL THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, I'LL ASK ONCE MORE, HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'?
BROOKLYN'S DOING GREAT!
I'M SO PROUD OF EVERYTHING WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT TO TRULY ANSWER, "HOW'S BROOKLYN DOIN'," – ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS MUST SHARE IN BROOKLYN'S RENAISSANCE. THEN AND ONLY THEN, CAN WE REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL.
I'LL ADMIT, I WASN'T ABLE TO DO IT ALL. HEY, I HAD TO LEAVE SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT BOROUGH PRESIDENT.
SO I'D BE THRILLED IF MY SUCCESSOR CAN BRING A MAJOR NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURER TO BROWNSVILLE, CYPRESS HILLS, OR EAST NEW YORK.
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE MAJOR CORPORATION TO RECOGNIZE THAT BROOKLYN CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO A MODEL FOR URBAN MANUFACTURING. WE HAVE AN EAGER AND TALENTED WORKFORCE AND OUR PROXIMITY TO THE NORTHEAST'S TRANSPORTATION NETWORK MAKES IT EASY FOR SHIPPING.
YOU HEAR THAT APPLE?!
AND THERE'S ANOTHER THING I WANT MY SUCCESSOR AND THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES TO HEAR: THE BROOKLYN CRUISE TERMINAL SHOULD NEVER BE UNDER-UTILIZED.
LAST YEAR, MORE CRUISE SHIPS THAN EVER STOPPED ON THE WEST SIDE, WHILE FEWER AND FEWER HAVE DOCKED IN BROOKLYN. WE ARE NOW WELCOMING ROUGHLY A THIRD OF THE SHIPS WE USED TO.
THE GLORIOUS COUNTY OF KINGS IS THE FIRST THING VISITORS FROM THE LUXURIOUS QUEEN MARY 2 SEE AS THEY DISEMBARK. SO WHY NOT GIVE THE PASSENGERS OF DISNEY CRUISES OR, EVEN BETTER, CELEBRITY CRUISES, SOME STAR-STUDDED TREATMENT BY STOPPING IN BROOKLYN?
FROM SEA AIR TO HEALTH CARE.
BROOKLYN IS HOME TO SO MANY WORLD-CLASS HOSPITALS – LIKE MAIMONIDES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, PAM BRIER; LUTHERAN MEDICAL CENTER LED BY WENDY GOLDSTEIN; BROOKLYN HOSPITAL UNDER DOCTOR RICHARD BECKER; AND NEW YORK METHODIST LED BY MARK MUNDY, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
WHILE MANY OF OUR HOSPITALS ARE PRAISE WORTHY, BROOKLYN'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS FACED WITH SOME DIFFICULT CHALLENGES. AND FINANCIALLY, TOO MANY OF OUR HOSPITALS ARE ON LIFE SUPPORT.
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR HEALTH, FOR THE SAKE OF BROOKLYN'S ECONOMY AS HEALTHCARE IS THE BOROUGH'S LARGEST EMPLOYER, WE CANNOT RESORT TO CLOSING BROOKLYN'S HOSPITALS. WHICH IS WHY WE CONTINUE THE FIGHT TO KEEP LICH OPEN.
I'VE BEEN A PROUD MEMBER OF THE MEDICARE CLUB FOR THREE YEARS BUT I'M ONLY THE TIP OF THE "GREY ICEBERG." THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION IS RIGHT BEHIND ME, SO HAVING TOP-QUALITY MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES WILL BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN THE FUTURE.
BROOKLYN IS HOME TO MORE SENIORS THAN ANY OTHER BOROUGH, AND THAT NUMBER'S ONLY INCREASING. SO WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE ASSISTED LIVING HOUSING.
AND TO ENSURE THAT SENIORS WITH AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE DON'T MOVE TO THE SUBURBS AFTER THEIR KIDS HAVE GROWN UP AND LEFT THE HOUSE, WE NEED SENIOR HOUSING WITH AMENITIES LIKE POOLS, GYMS, AND TENNIS COURTS.
IT'S CLEAR THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE. BUT AS BROOKLYNITES, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER. OUR POTENTIAL IS LIMITLESS WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
TAKE SIX MONTHS AGO, WHEN HURRICANE SANDY STRUCK NEW YORK CITY AND THE EAST COAST. AT LEAST 76 RESIDENTS LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE TRI-STATE AREA, INCLUDING SEVERAL BROOKLYNITES, AND TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO HOMES, BUSINESSES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR BROOKLYN WATERFRONT COMMUNITIES.
SO TONIGHT, LET'S TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO RECOGNIZE OUR SPECIAL GUESTS, SOME OF THE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS WHO GAVE THEIR TIME, OFFERED COMFORT, AND RISKED THEIR OWN SAFETY TO AID BROOKLYNITES AND OTHERS AFFECTED BY SANDY.
FROM RED HOOK, CONEY ISLAND, SEA GATE, MILL BASIN, BATH BEACH, MANHATTAN BEACH, AND SHEEPSHEAD BAY, TO DUMBO, GOWANUS, CANARSIE, GERRITSEN BEACH, BRIGHTON BEACH, BERGEN BEACH, GREENPOINT, AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, THESE "SELFLESS, SANDY SAVIORS" WERE LIFELINES FOR THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS.
THEY PROVIDED AND DELIVERED FOOD, WATER, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES – EVEN WALKING UP TWENTY-PLUS FLOORS IN BUILDINGS WITHOUT POWER. THEY TRANSPORTED SENIORS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES TO MEDICAL CARE. THEY CLEANED DEBRIS FROM DAMAGED HOMES AND BUSINESSES. AND EVEN PUT RESIDENTS UP IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
SANDY COULD'VE GOTTEN THE BEST OF US, BUT AS WE HAVE SHOWN DURING TIMES OF CRISIS IN THE PAST, BROOKLYNITES AND NEW YORKERS STAND READY TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND WALLETS TO HELP THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS.
NO DOUBT THAT IN THE WAKE OF SANDY, BROOKLYN DID ITS MOTTO, "UNITY MAKES STRENGTH" PROUD.
OUR EFFORTS ARE NOT DONE YET. AS WE SPEAK, COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS REMAIN HARD AT WORK, MAKING SURE THAT NO BROOKLYNITE OR NEW YORKER FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS AS WE REBOUND, REBUILD, AND RECOVER.
MANY OF OUR SANDY VOLUNTEERS ARE HERE TONIGHT – PLEASE STAND! AND LET'S ALL SHOW THEM OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEIR JOB WELL DONE!
IN ADDITION TO OUR MANY VOLUNTEERS, EVERY BROOKLYNITE AND NEW YORKER OWES A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR CITY'S UNIFORMED SERVICES FOR THEIR UNBELIEVABLE EFFORTS, SENSITIVITY, AND RESPONSIVENESS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM.
SO LET'S GIVE A SPECIAL BROOKLYN SALUTE TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE NYPD AND FDNY, UNDER BROOKLYN NATIVE AND COMMISSIONER SALVATORE CASSANO. AND GREETED BY THE LOUDEST CHEERS FROM IMPACTED RESIDENTS WAS THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT, LED BY BROOKLYN'S NEWEST RESIDENT, COMMISSIONER JOHN DOHERTY, WHO JUST MOVED INTO DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN. WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG JOHN?!
AND HE IS JOINING BROOKLYN SANITATION CHIEFS, THOMAS DOYLE OF BROOKLYN NORTH AND MYRON PRIESTER OF BROOKLYN SOUTH. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY WORK FORCE HERE TONIGHT, PLEASE STAND! LET'S ALL SHOW THEM OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE – NOT JUST DURING HURRICANE SANDY, BUT YEAR ROUND!
I'D ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND THE BROOKLYN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, BROOKLYN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FOREST CITY RATNER, THE BROOKLYN NETS, AND THE COUNTLESS CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE HELPING BROOKLYNITES AND NEW YORKERS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
SINCE THIS IS A NIGHT OF APPRECIATION – AS A WAY OF THANKING ALL OF YOU – RATHER THAN HAVING YOU SIT THROUGH ANOTHER HOUR AND A HALF OF ME STANDING AT THIS PODIUM – FUHGEDDABOUDIT!
THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA CHANGE IT UP! GET THIS PODIUM OUT OF HERE!
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK – LET'S DO THIS BROOKLYN STYLE!
[PART II OF EVENT]
I HOPE YOU'VE ALL ENJOYED THE SHOW. FROM WHAT WE'VE JUST SEEN AND HEARD, IT'S CLEAR THAT BROOKLYN'S ON A ROLL!
OVER THE LAST DECADE, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH AND UNDERGONE SUCH AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION – BEYOND EVEN MY WILDEST DREAMS.
WE ARE THE PRIDE OF THE WORLD! BROOKLYN IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST INTERNATIONAL BRANDS. IN ANY COUNTRY YOU VISIT, IF YOU MENTION THE WORD BROOKLYN, THEY KNOW IT MEANS EXCITING, RESILIENT, CREATIVE, AUTHENTIC, HIP, COOL, AND EDGY.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT BROOKLYN WILL NEVER BE IN ANYONE'S SHADOW EVER AGAIN. WE ARE THE BIG TIME. WE ARE NEW YORK'S MAIN ATTRACTION. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE ONLY GETTING STARTED! OUR BEST DAYS ARE NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
BUT WE'VE ONLY COME THIS FAR BECAUSE BROOKLYN IS FILLED WITH SO MANY HARDWORKING, DEDICATED, AND TALENTED VOLUNTEERS – THOSE WITH US TODAY AND THOSE OF BLESSED MEMORY. FROM THE MEMBERS OF OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS TO COMMUNITY BOARDS, P-T-A GROUPS TO EDUCATION COUNCILS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, SCHOOL BOARDS TO RELIGIOUS GROUPS, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS TO POLICE PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCILS TO BLOCK ASSOCIATION LEADERS – AND EACH AND EVERY BROOKLYNITE – YOU ARE THE MUSTARD ON A NATHAN'S HOT DOG – THE STRAWBERRIES ON A JUNIOR'S CHEESECAKE – THE ICING ON A CAKE MAN RAVEN RED VELVET CAKE – THE SCHMEAR ON A BAGEL. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU MAKE BROOKLYN, BROOKLYN.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK DEPUTY BOROUGH PRESIDENT SANDRA CHAPMAN, FORMER DEPUTY BOROUGH PRESIDENT YVONNE GRAHAM, ALL OF MY PREVIOUS CHIEF OF STAFFS – MICHAEL BURKE, GREG ATKINS, CARLO SCISSURA – AND CURRENTLY JON PAUL LUPO, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE STAFF AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS OF BOROUGH HALL OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND TIRELESS SERVICE TO BROOKLYN – AND THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THEY HAVE GIVEN ME OVER THE YEARS.
AND FOR MAKING MY FINAL STATE OF THE BOROUGH ADDRESS POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS.
AND TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, MY BRIDE OF 13 YEARS – JAMIE.
YOU'VE BEEN A CONSTANT SOURCE OF LOVE, FULFILLMENT, AND SUPPORT, AND THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME WAS MEETING YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE ALL HUNGRY AND WANT TO HEAD TO THE RECEPTION, SO I PROMISE YOU THIS IS IT.
BUT BEFORE I GO, I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING TO THE YOUNG BROOKLYNITES WHO ARE GROWING UP UNDER-PRIVILEGED, IN A SINGLE PARENT HOME AND LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING LIKE I DID: YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO.
MY FATHER PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS 9, SO MY MOTHER SINGLE HANDEDLY RAISED ME AND MY TWO YOUNGER SISTERS. AND SHE TAUGHT US THAT WE COULD BE ANYTHING WE WANTED TO BE, DESPITE OUR POVERTY, AS LONG AS WE BELIEVED IN OURSELVES, HAD SELF-RESPECT, AND NEVER GAVE UP.
AS BROOKLYNITES, WE ARE ALL TRULY BLESSED BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A CITY WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR DREAMS COME TRUE. ALL MY LIFE THE ONE JOB I DREAMED OF – AND ASPIRED TO – WAS BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT. HOW TRULY BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
SO IF A SHORT, CHUBBY, JEWISH KID FROM CROWN HEIGHTS CAN REALIZE HIS DREAM OF BECOMING BOROUGH PRESIDENT, THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE AS LONG AS YOU BELIEVE.
AND FINALLY BROOKLYN: BOTH AS A STATE SENATOR FOR 23 YEARS AND AS BOROUGH PRESIDENT FOR THE LAST 12, IF I MADE YOU PROUDER TO BE A BROOKLYNITE, IF I IMPROVED YOUR LIVES IN BROOKLYN EVEN JUST A LITTLE, AND IF I PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE, THEN I ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING I SET OUT TO DO.