I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU — FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE YOU AS BOROUGH PRESIDENT OF THE GREATEST CITY IN AMERICA FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. YOU HAVE GIVEN ME YOUR RESPECT AND YOUR TRUST, AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO ME.

WE USED TO SAY BROOKLYN’S BEST DAYS WERE AROUND THE CORNER, ON THE HORIZON, IN THE DAYS TO COME. WELL GUESS WHAT? IN SPITE OF THE MANY CHALLENGES WE FACE — FOR MANY, OUR BEST DAYS ARE TODAY, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT — WE WENT THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES TO GET HERE. BUT YOU RAISED YOUR FAMILIES HERE, YOU INVESTED IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, YOU NURTURED YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU GREW YOUR GARDENS HERE, YOU STARTED BUSINESSES HERE, YOU BOUGHT HOMES HERE — AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU KEPT THE FAITH!

NOW, WE’RE BACK AS THE CITY WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM COMES TRUE — IN ALL ITS DIVERSITY, CREATIVITY, AMBITION, AND UNITY. BROOKLYN IS WHERE IT’S AT, BABY!

IN FACT, WE’RE SO POPULAR THAT THE “LEAVING BROOKLYN? FUHGEDDABOUDIT!” SIGN ON THE BELT PARKWAY TO QUEENS WAS RECENTLY STOLEN. SO PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR THE SIGN — WHICH IS EITHER IN SOMEONE’S BASEMENT OR FOR SALE ON E-BAY RIGHT NOW! THE SIGN WILL SOON BE REPLACED — AND ALSO LOOK OUT FOR A NEW SIGN ON THE JACKIE ROBINSON PARKWAY THAT SAYS — “WELCOME — BROOKLYN’S IN THE HOUSE!”

BROOKLYN REALLY COULDN’T BE ANY HOTTER. NATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND RETAIL STORES ARE PROUD TO BE BROOKLYN — IKEA, FAIRWAY, TARGET, CHUCK E. CHEESE, LOWE’S, HOME DEPOT, WHOLE FOODS — HAVE ALL MOVED HERE OR ARE ON THEIR WAY.

AND I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR KLEINFELD’S, WHICH LEFT BAY RIDGE LAST YEAR — YOU CAN TAKE THE BRIDAL SHOP OUTTA BROOKLYN — BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE BROOKLYN OUTTA KLEINFELD’S! TRUST ME — BEFORE LONG THEY’LL BE SINGING THE SAME SONG AS THOSE WHO FLED BROOKLYN IN THE 60s AND 70s — OY VEY, WHAT A MISTAKE I MADE!

TOURISTS ARE PROUD TO BE BROOKLYN — VISITORS TO OUR WORLD-CLASS CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS SAW ANOTHER BIG JUMP LAST YEAR, FUELING THE CITYWIDE TOURISM BOOM.

CELEBRITIES ARE PROUD TO BE BROOKLYN — PARK SLOPE RESIDENTS JENNIFER CONNELLY, JOHN TURTURRO, STEVE BUSCEMI, AND RORY KENNEDY. ADRIAN GRENIER FROM HBO’s “ENTOURAGE” — CLINTON HILL. PAUL GIAMATTI — BROOKLYN HEIGHTS. MOS DEF — DUMBO. AND SUPERMODELS BRIDGET HALL AND ALEC WEK — FORT GREENE.

AND OF COURSE THE LATEST MOVIE STARS IN OUR MIDST, THE CO-STARS OF “BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN,” OSCAR CONTENDERS HEATH LEDGER AND MICHELLE WILLIAMS, AND THEIR NEW BABY MATILDA ROSE, IN BOERUM HILL.

BESIDES MATILDA ROSE, IF YOU EVER NEED SURE-FIRE EVIDENCE OF BROOKLYN PRIDE, JUST WALK DOWN ANY AVENUE IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD ON ANY WEEKEND AFTERNOON — INCLUDING BOROUGH PARK, HOME OF THE HIGHEST BIRTH RATE IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS. NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, IT’S TRULY A STROLLER DERBY! IS THERE ANY BETTER ENDORSEMENT OF BROOKLYN’S QUALITY OF LIFE THAN FAMILIES CHOOSING TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN HERE?

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS ALSO PUTTING DOWN ROOTS HERE — WHILE BROOKLYNITES ACROSS THE BOROUGH ARE FIXING UP THEIR HOMES AND BEAUTIFYING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THE BEAUTY OF IT IS THAT BROOKLYNITES OF EVERY RACE, EVERY NATIONALITY, AND EVERY FAITH SHARE THE AISLES AT HOME DEPOT, OR LOWE’S ON THE GOWANUS, OR ATLANTIC TERMINAL, OR KINGS PLAZA, OR 86th STREET, OR PITKIN AVENUE, OR THE GATEWAY CENTER, OR FLATBUSH AVENUE, TO NAME A FEW.

FROM WEST AFRICANS TO WEST INDIANS, FROM YUPPIES TO BUPPIES, FROM POLISH TO PAKISTANI, FROM RUSSIAN TO CHINESE, FROM TURKISH TO IRISH, FROM GREEK TO ITALIAN, FROM PUERTO RICAN TO DOMINICAN — AND FROM HASIDIM TO SEPHARDIM — THEY’RE ALL MAKING BROOKLYN PROUD.

WHILE WE ARE PROUD TO SEE THE EXTRAORDINARY CHANGES IN VIRTUALLY EVERY BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOOD — WE ALSO KNOW THAT A RED HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET IS ONLY HELPFUL IF EVERYONE BENEFITS.

TOO MANY BROOKLYNITES STRUGGLE TO ATTAIN QUALITY HEALTH CARE, DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SAFE, EXCELLENT SCHOOLS, TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO ACHIEVE THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS.

I GREW UP IN POVERTY MYSELF, IN A RENT-CONTROLLED APARTMENT AND THEN IN PUBLIC HOUSING. THE KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM WAS OUR DOCTOR, HAND-ME-DOWNS FROM NEIGHBORS WERE AT TIMES OUR WARDROBE, AND SURPLUS FOOD BANKS WERE SOMETIMES OUR KITCHEN. AFTER MY FATHER DIED WHEN I WAS 9, I WORKED AFTER SCHOOL TO HELP SUPPORT MY MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS, AND I ATTENDED EVENING SESSION AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE FOR NINE YEARS TO EARN MY DEGREE. NOW, I MAY NOT LOOK UNDER-NOURISHED TODAY — OVER-NOURISHED MAYBE? — BUT THOSE DAYS WILL BE WITH ME FOREVER.

IT’S EVEN HARDER TO LIVE IN POVERTY NOW, AND THERE IS STILL SO MUCH WORK TO DO TO OVERCOME THOSE STRUGGLES — WHICH IS WHY I HAVE ALWAYS HESITATED TO USE THE PHRASE “BROOKLYN RENAISSANCE.”

WE WILL HAVE A TRUE BROOKLYN RENAISSANCE WHEN PRINCIPAL HAROLD ANDERSON AT P.S. 21 IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT DOESN’T HAVE TO CANCEL RECESS BECAUSE HE FEARS FOR HIS STUDENTS’ SAFETY.

WE WILL HAVE A TRUE BROOKLYN RENAISSANCE WHEN POLICE OFFICERS LIKE HERO DILLON STEWART AREN’T MURDERED, AS HE WAS IN EAST FLATBUSH LAST YEAR.

WE WILL HAVE A TRUE BROOKLYN RENAISSANCE WHEN
 GUNS AND GANGS ARE JUST A BAD MEMORY.

WE WILL HAVE A TRUE BROOKLYN RENAISSANCE WHEN ALL OUR CHILDRENS’ TEST SCORES IN EVERY BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOOD ARE IN THE TOP PERCENTILE — AND PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ARE EMPOWERED AT OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WE WILL HAVE A TRUE BROOKLYN RENAISSANCE WHEN EVERY YOUNG PERSON UNDERSTANDS THAT HE OR SHE IS THE BEDROCK UPON WHICH OUR NATION’S FUTURE RESTS — AND EVERY SENIOR HAS ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, A SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOME, AND HEALTH COVERAGE THAT WORKS FOR — NOT AGAINST THEM.
MAYBE IT’S AN OBSESSION WITH REALIZING BROOKLYN’S PROMISE OR MAYBE IT GOES BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD, BUT EVERYTHING I DO HAS THE SAME OBJECTIVE:

FULFILLING GOVERNMENT’S CORE DUTIES OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, QUALITY HEALTH CARE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND A SOUND EDUCATION FOR ALL — AND MAKING BROOKLYNITES PROUD OF OUR HOME TOWN.

I PUSHED FOR TWO OF THE LARGEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES IN NEW YORK CITY HISTORY WITH THE GREENPOINT-WILLIAMSBURG RE-ZONING AND THE ATLANTIC YARDS PROJECT — AND IT IS WORTH THE AGITA AND MISHEGAS, BECAUSE I’M CONFIDENT IT’S GOOD FOR THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND GOOD FOR BROOKLYN.

I WENT TO COURT TO FORCE OIL COMPANIES TO CLEAN UP THEIR MESS IN NEWTOWN CREEK — BECAUSE IT’S GOOD FOR BROOKLYNITES.

THE SAME WAY I AM DEFENDING OUR WATERFRONT, I DEFENDED BROOKLYN WHEN THE NEW YORKER — AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE MAGAZINE — PUBLISHED A COVER LAST MARCH BANISHING ADAM AND EVE FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN — AKA MANHATTAN — TO THE, QUOTE, “PURGATORY” OF BROOKLYN. HERE’S THEIR COVER, AND HERE’S OUR RESPONSE — SHOWING THAT BROOKLYN IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO THE REAL PROMISED LAND — AND STILL BE AROUND TO TALK ABOUT IT.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, I WON A COURT RULING TO MAKE THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT TELL US IF AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE RED-LINING PARTS OF BROOKLYN. THIS INTOLERABLE PRACTICE RAISES RATES FOR ALL BROOKLYNITES — WHICH MEANS WE’RE ALL IN THE SAME CAR ON THIS ISSUE. BUT BROOKLYNITES WON’T TAKE A BACK SEAT ANYMORE.

WE’RE ON THE ROAD TO LOWERING RATES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR BROOKLYN DRIVERS.

I HAVE ALSO DEMANDED THAT CAR RENTAL COMPANIES STOP DISCRIMINATING AGAINST BROOKLYNITES BY CHARGING US HIGHER RATES. THE COMPANIES WHO DO THIS — HERTZ AND DOLLAR — ARE NOT WORTHY OF OUR BUSINESS — FUHGEDDABOUD-EM!

LAST YEAR I SAID WE WERE MOVING TOWARD MAKING BROOKLYN “HOLLYWOOD EAST.” JUST A YEAR LATER, IT SEEMS MORE LIKE WE SHOULD START CALLING HOLLYWOOD “BROOKLYN WEST.” STEINER STUDIOS — WHERE UMA THURMAN PREFERS TO WORK AND FILMED “THE PRODUCERS” AND “SUPER EX” — IS ALREADY EXPANDING. AND EARLIER THIS MONTH ROBERT REDFORD ANNOUNCED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CULTURAL MECCA, THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, STARTING WITH A 10-DAY SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL THIS MAY.

ROBERT REDFORD TALKED ABOUT HIS LIFE-LONG OBSESSION WITH “THE MYTHOLOGY OF BROOKLYN.” BUT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF THINKING I LOOKED LIKE ROBERT REDFORD, WHEN I FINALLY MET HIM THAT DAY I JUST COULDN’T LIE TO MYSELF ANYMORE — THAT WAS A REAL MYTH.

ROBERT REDFORD CHOSE BROOKLYN BECAUSE WE’RE HOME TO MORE INDEPENDENT FILM MAKERS THAN ANYWHERE IN AMERICA. IN FACT, WE HAVE WITH US TONIGHT KEITH BEAUCHAMP OF FORT GREENE, WHOSE DOCUMENTARY FILM, “THE UNTOLD STORY OF EMMETT LOUIS TILL,” WAS A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN ENSURING THAT IN THIS TRAGIC CIVIL RIGHTS CASE — WHICH INVOLVED THE MURDER OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEENAGER IN MISSISSIPPI — JUSTICE DEFERRED WAS NOT JUSTICE DENIED. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. KEITH BEAUCHAMP — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

BROOKLYN’S CREATIVE COMMUNITY IS A BIG REASON WHY IT’S SO HIP TO HAVE A ZIP THAT STARTS WITH 1-1-2. FOR EXAMPLE, 11215 IS HOME TO MORE AUTHORS THAN ANY ZIP CODE IN AMERICA. EVERYONE FROM LEGENDS LIKE NORMAN MAILER, PAUL AUSTER, KURT ANDERSEN, AND PHILIP LOPATE, TO JONATHAN LETHEM, PAULE MARSHALL, AND COLSON WHITEHEAD CALLS BROOKLYN HOME. TO CELEBRATE OUR RENOWNED LITERARY SCENE, WE’RE HOPING TO LAUNCH THE FIRST-EVER BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY LATER THIS YEAR.

BROOKLYN IS AN INCUBATOR FOR THE FRESHEST IDEAS AND MOST INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC HEALTH, TOURISM, AND WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION.

THE QUEEN MARY 2 AND PRINCESS CRUISE SHIPS WILL START DOCKING IN RED HOOK IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS, BRINGING MORE VISITORS TO BROOKLYN, CREATING NEW JOBS — PARTICULARLY FOR RESIDENTS OF RED HOOK — AND ATTRACTING NEW DEVELOPMENT TO OUR WATERFRONT. JUST THINK HOW PROUD WINSTON CHURCHILL’S MOTHER WOULD BE TO SEE ENGLAND’S QUEEN MARY 2 RETURNING TO HER ROOTS IN BROOKLYN — AFTER ALL, SHE WAS BORN HERE IN COBBLE HILL ON AMITY STREET! AND BROOKLYNITES, YOU GOTTA PROMISE ME — UNLIKE THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN IN 1776 — THIS TIME WE WILL WELCOME THE BRITISH WITH OPEN ARMS.

DOWN AT AMERICA’S FAVORITE PLAYGROUND, THE PLAN FOR A 21st CENTURY CONEY ISLAND IS TAKING SHAPE. AS CONEY ISLAND EMERGES AS AN EXCITING YEAR-ROUND, INDOOR-OUTDOOR, RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, WE WILL PRESERVE THE UNIQUE CONEY CULTURE WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE.

I ALSO HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT IN THE DAYS AHEAD THE GATEWAY TO CONEY ISLAND, ASSER LEVY PARK, WILL FEATURE AN AMPHITHEATER FOR OUTDOOR CONCERTS AND EVENTS.

AND OF MORE IMMEDIATE CONCERN, I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY INCH OF BEACHFRONT AT CONEY ISLAND AND BRIGHTON BEACH IS STAFFED BY LIFEGUARDS AND OPEN TO VISITORS EVERY DAY OF THE SUMMER SEASON! BECAUSE, LIKE ME, MOST BROOKLYNITES SUMMER — IN BROOKLYN. IF ANYONE KNOWS A POTENTIAL LIFEGUARD, PLEASE CONTACT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR MY OFFICE.

JUST AS I BELIEVE THE ASSER LEVY AMPHITHEATER WOULD BENEFIT CONEY ISLAND — I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE GORGEOUS LOEW’S KINGS THEATER, ON FLATBUSH AVENUE NEAR BEVERLEY ROAD — ONE OF THE FAMOUS “WONDER THEATERS” OF NEW YORK CITY — WILL RETURN AS A THRIVING HUB OF CULTURAL LIFE FOR CENTRAL BROOKLYN.
I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE CREATION OF A NEW CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM — DEDICATED TO WEST INDIAN AMERICAN PARADE FOUNDER CARLOS LEZAMA — LOCATED HERE IN THE HEART OF THE CARIBBEAN CAPITAL OF AMERICA.

THE NUMBER OF BROOKLYNITES WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOTHING SHORT OF A CRISIS. I COMMEND DEPUTY BOROUGH PRESIDENT YVONNE GRAHAM FOR HELPING CREATE THE BROOKLYN CENTER ON HEALTH DISPARITIES, WHICH WILL HELP REDUCE HEART DISEASE, ESPECIALLY AMONG BROOKLYN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SPEAKING OF HEALTH, NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN DR. HOWARD SHAPIRO — ONE OF AMERICA’S LEADING WEIGHT-LOSS EXPERTS — THAT MY OWN PERSONAL BATTLE OF THE BULGE HASN’T EXACTLY BEEN A VICTORY. BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY WAISTLINE IS WINNING THE WAR ON OBESITY FOR BROOKLYN — WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO WAGE UNTIL WE WIN. DR. SHAPIRO — DON’T GIVE UP ON ME — I’M JUST SHORT FOR MY WEIGHT!

YOU ALL KNOW THAT MY GREATEST LOVE — BESIDES MY WIFE JAMIE OF COURSE — IS BROOKLYN. BECAUSE NOWHERE BOASTS AS MUCH CHARACTER — OR A BIGGER CAST OF CHARACTERS — THAN BROOKLYN.

JUST LOOK AT THE RESPONSE TO OUR SEARCH FOR A BROOKLYN SLOGAN — FROM BROOKLYNITES, BROOKLYN WANNABES, AND BROOKLYN EXPATRIATES. WHEN WE HIT A THOUSAND SLOGANS — AND STILL COUNTING BY THE WAY — WE REALIZED NO ONE PHRASE COULD EXPRESS ALL THAT BROOKLYN HAS TO OFFER. SO WE COMPILED THE SUGGESTIONS INTO THE BOOKLET YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS.

BEFORE WE HONOR A FEW BONA FIDE BROOKLYN CHARACTERS HERE WITH US TONIGHT, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER A TRUE DAUGHTER OF BROOKLYN WHO WE LOST THIS PAST SUNDAY.

JOAN MAYNARD, OF BLESSED MEMORY, MADE IT HER LIFE’S WORK TO PRESERVE WEEKSVILLE IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, ONE OF OUR NATION’S FIRST COMMUNITIES OF FREE AFRICAN AMERICANS — SO THAT BROOKLYN CHILDREN WOULD EXPERIENCE ITS HISTORY FIRST-HAND AND GROW UP WITH A PROUDER SENSE OF THEIR IDENTITY.
BECAUSE OF JOAN’S DETERMINATION, CHILDREN OF EVERY BACKGROUND WILL LEARN ABOUT THE POWER OF THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, AND THE DIGNITY OF THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY AND RESPECT. THANK YOU JOAN — MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

FROM THE APPLE OF BROOKLYN’S EYE TO SOWING THE SEEDS OF OUR FUTURE. I AM PROUD TO WELCOME A COUPLE WHO, 25 YEARS AGO, TRANSFORMED A DERELICT CORNER OF GLENMORE AVENUE IN EAST NEW YORK INTO THE URBAN OASIS THAT IS THE JORDAN MAGIC COMMUNITY GARDEN. MAMA AND PAPA JONES GREW THOUSANDS OF DELICIOUS FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THEIR GARDEN OVER THE LAST QUARTER-CENTURY, THEN GAVE THEM AWAY TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.

THERE WAS NO FINANCIAL GAIN — ONLY THE PERSONAL REWARD OF TEACHING CHILDREN TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND HELPING RESIDENTS TO EAT HEALTHY. MAMA AND PAPA JONES — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

OUR NEXT GUEST HAS THE BROOKLYN ATTITUDE TO SPARE. CHRIS DEAR FROM BAY RIDGE WAS BORN WITH DOWN’S SYNDROME, BUT HE FACED HIS CHALLENGES HEAD-ON, AND HE NEVER GAVE UP. LAST JUNE, CHRIS BECAME A PROUD GRADUATE OF FORT HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL! CHRIS DEAR — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

OUR NEXT GUEST IS A REAL BROOKLYN MESHUGENEH. LAST YEAR, DAN FREEMAN OF DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PLACED THE BURDEN ON HIMSELF OF HAVING A DRINK AT 1,000 BARS AROUND THE WORLD — INCLUDING A BUNCH HERE IN BROOKLYN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN SAYING CHEERS, CHIN-CHIN, SLAINTE, GAN BEI, NA ZDOROVIA, L’CHAIM, AND SALUD TO DAN FREEMAN!

OUR NEXT GUEST IS PROOF THAT BEAUTY COMES IN ALL SIZES, AND THAT BEING HEALTHY DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE RAZOR THIN OR LOOK LIKE A WISPY MAGAZINE MODEL. CARROLL GARDENS RESIDENT ANDRIA GAZELLE — WHO’S A PROUD SIZE 20 — WAS CROWNED MS. FULL-FIGURED USA 2005 IN A NATIONAL BEAUTY PAGEANT. SHE USED HER TITLE TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE THAT BEAUTY COMES IN EVERY SHAPE AND SIZE. ANDRIA GAZELLE — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

LEE QUINONES OF WILLIAMSBURG SHOWED AMERICA WHAT A BROOKLYN CHARACTER LOOKS LIKE, WHEN HE RODE HIS BICYCLE — CUSTOM-MADE BY THE TALENTED FOLKS AT BROOKLYN MACHINE WORKS — ALL THE WAY FROM OUR WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE TO THE BROOKLYN SUBURB OF MIAMI BEACH TO RAISE $25,000 DOLLARS FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA. TALK ABOUT GUARANTEED WEIGHT LOSS! LEE QUINONES — YOU’VE GOT SOME WILD STYLE, AND YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

THE GIANT POOL IN McCARREN PARK IN GREENPOINT-WILLIAMSBURG HAS GONE UN-USED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. BUT THIS SUMMER, CHOREOGRAPHER NOEMIE LAFRANCE OF WILLIAMSBURG HELPED TAKE IT BACK FOR BROOKLYN, PRESENTING AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE FEATURING HUNDREDS OF DANCERS. NOEMIE LAFRANCE — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

SINCE COMING TO BROOKLYN FROM HIS NATIVE ITALY AFTER WORLD WAR TWO, SAL LA CORTE OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS HAS BEEN HELPING BROOKLYNITES — MENTORING AS A BIG BROTHER, TUTORING UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN, TEACHING ITALIAN, AND STARTING AN AUXILIARY POLICE PATROL IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. SAL LA CORTE — GOOD SAMARITAN — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

LAST YEAR, GREENPOINT NOVELIST MARSHA MEHRAN WROTE ABOUT HOW SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN IRAN, THEN MOVED FROM ARGENTINA TO AUSTRALIA TO MIAMI TO IRELAND, AND EVEN MANHATTAN! BUT SHE CHOSE TO SETTLE IN BROOKLYN — BECAUSE, AS SHE WROTE, “NO OTHER PLACE BETTER EMBODIES THE WORLD.” I COULDN’T AGREE MORE. MARSHA IS ON TOUR PROMOTING HER NEW BOOK, “POMEGRANATE SOUP.” BUT HER HUSBAND CHRIS COLLINS IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT — PLEASE TELL MARSHA — SHE’S DONE BROOKLYN PROUD!

BROOKLYN IS ALSO PROUD TO BE THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL OF AMERICA — AND TATIANA’S HELPS DEFINE THE RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE. NOT ONLY DID TATIANA VARZAR RE-OPEN HER RESTAURANT LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER A DEVASTATING FIRE, SHE LAUNCHED THE BRIGHTON BEACH BLINI FESTIVAL, CELEBRATING BROOKLYN’S RICH — AND DELICIOUS! — RUSSIAN HERITAGE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE KRASAVAYA ZENZENA OF BRIGHTON BEACH, TATIANA VARZAR — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

LIKE MANY MANHATTANITES, JUDGE STEPHEN CRANE AND HIS WIFE ELAINE HAVE A RELAXING WEEKEND HOME TO ESCAPE TO.  BUT THEY DON’T DRIVE, TAKE METRO-NORTH, THE HAMPTONS JITNEY, OR A YACHT. NO, THEY TAKE THE 4 TRAIN TO THEIR COZY STUDIO APARTMENT IN PEACEFUL BROOKLYN HEIGHTS! STEPHEN AND ELAINE CRANE — AS OUR ONLY KNOWN BI-BOROUGH COUPLE, YOU GIVE NEW MEANING TO THE PHRASE “BRIDGE AND TUNNEL CROWD” — AND YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

BROOKLYN ALSO HAS THE LARGEST TURKISH POPULATION IN AMERICA — SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT SAHARA, ON CONEY ISLAND AVENUE IN GRAVESEND, IS AMERICA’S LARGEST TURKISH RESTAURANT. SO HOW DO SAHARA’S OWNERS — JOHN AND NATALIE ISIKLI — SPELL SUCCESS? L-O-V-E.

JOHN, WHO WAS BORN A MUSLIM IN TURKEY, MET NATALIE, AN ISRAELI NATIVE AND OBSERVANT JEW, AT THE RESTAURANT. NOW THEY’VE BEEN MARRIED 12 YEARS, HAVE THREE CHILDREN, JOHN SPEAKS HEBREW, AND TOGETHER THEY ARE THE PERFECT SYMBOL OF HOW IN BROOKLYN WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF ONE GOD — AND THAT THE POWER OF LOVE IS OUR BEST HOPE FOR WORLD PEACE. JOHN AND NATALIE ISIKLI — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BROOKLYN, THE WORD CHUTZPAH USUALLY COMES UP. ELLIOT STEIN AND JENNIFER KASSIN — A SEPHARDIC JEWISH COUPLE FROM MIDWOOD — KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT CHUTZPAH. AT A JERSEY SHORE RESTAURANT LAST SUMMER, THEY GOT THEIR BILL AND SAW THE WORDS “JEW COUPLE” SCRAWLED ACROSS IT.

ELLIOT — WHOSE GRANDMOTHER WAS THE ONLY ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN TO SURVIVE THE HOLOCAUST — DIDN’T TAKE THIS AFFRONT SITTING DOWN. HE PROTESTED TO THE MANAGER, AND TOOK THIS SHAMEFUL STORY TO THE LOCAL PAPERS. WELL, THAT RESTAURANT IS NOW OUT OF BUSINESS — NEED I SAY MORE? ELLIOT STEIN AND JENNIFER KASSIN — YOUR FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM IS A FIGHT AGAINST ALL ANTI-ISM’S — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

IT TOOK SOME GOOD OLD-FASHIONED BROOKLYN MOXIE TO SAVE THE GATES-PATCHEN HOUSES IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT FROM FORECLOSURE. BUT AFTER 8 YEARS OF HARD WORK, DELORES MORRIS AND NADIYAH ABDULLAH GOT THE CITY TO HELP ITS RESIDENTS BUY THEIR BUILDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT — MAKING THEM PERMANENT STAKEHOLDERS IN THEIR HOMES. DELORES MORRIS AND NADIYAH ABDULLAH — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

OUR NEXT GUESTS, TWO ROOKIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION, DISPLAYED THE BEST OF HUMANITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE WHEN THEY SAVED 5 YEAR OLD EMANI McCOVERY FROM A RAGING FIRE IN CANARSIE LAST SEPTEMBER. THEY HAVE EARNED BROOKLYN’S UTMOST GRATITUDE AND DEEPEST ADMIRATION. DAMON ALLEN, OF CROWN HEIGHTS, AND MICHAEL KALINOWSKI, OF BENSHONHURST — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

NOW, ASK YOURSELF — WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF A PASSENGER IN YOUR TAXI CAB LEFT A SUITCASE FULL OF DIAMOND RINGS IN YOUR TRUNK? BENSONHURST RESIDENT AND EGYPTIAN NATIVE HOSSAM ABDALLA DIDN’T HESITATE FOR A SECOND. HE IMMEDIATELY TRACKED DOWN THE OWNERS, WHO HE HAD DRIVEN TO THE AIRPORT EARLIER THAT DAY. WHAT MAKES THIS STORY EVEN MORE HEARTWARMING IS THAT MR. ABDALLA, WHO IS MUSLIM, RETURNED THE DIAMONDS TO ORTHODOX JEWISH JEWELERS, FROM MONTREAL. HIS ACT OF HONESTY AND SELFLESSNESS IS THE KIND OF SPARKLING JEWEL THE COUNTY OF KINGS IS PROUD TO HAVE IN ITS CROWN. HOSSAM ABDALLA — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD — SHUKRAN!

NOW, A FEW MORE FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR SAY ABOUT BROOKLYN’S FUTURE.

THAT’S WHY I LOVE BROOKLYN. HOW FORTUNATE WE ALL ARE TO LIVE HERE. AND HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO CALL NEW YORK CITY HOME — A CITY THAT PROVES TO THE WORLD EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY THAT PEOPLE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD AND EVERY WALK OF LIFE CAN THRIVE AND PROSPER, AND CAN LIVE TOGETHER SIDE BY SIDE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
NO MATTER WHAT MY FUTURE MAY HOLD, I CAN ASSURE YOU OF THIS: MY LOVE FOR BROOKLYN IS SO POWERFUL, I MADE SURE I KNOW WHO MY FINAL LANDLORD WILL BE — HISTORIC GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY, UNDER A GREAT BIG TREE IN THE SHADE, RIGHT NEAR LADY MINERVA — SO WE CAN BOTH KEEP AN EYE ON BROOKLYN AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.