CONEY ISLAND IS VERY MUCH ALIVE! — THANK YOU CONEY ISLAND BURLESQUE
BOMBSHELLS
AS WELL AS OUR PERFORMERS —
THE I-S-O SYMPHONIC BAND —
AVRAM RUSSO —
PS 127, THE MCKINLEY PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHORUS FROM DYKER HEIGHTS
—
THE CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ ALL STARS —
AND LA SALSA DE HOY DANCE STUDIO.

THANKS TO EVERYONE — FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR LIFE TO BE WITH ME
TONIGHT.
I WELCOME ALL THOSE HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM.
(AND THOSE OF YOU IN THE CAFETERIA —
YOU WILL GET FIRST DIBS ON THE FOOD!)

THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN.
CHRISTINE I LOVED YOUR STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH TODAY —
ESPECIALLY YOUR IDEAS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REPEAL OF THE URSTADT LAW,
AND FAIR TAXATION
MAKE NO MISTAKE EVERYONE — BEHIND THOSE SMILING IRISH EYES IS THE POWER
AND SAVVY OF A LONG TRADITION OF IRISH-AMERICAN POLITICS IN THIS CITY.
THE IRISH TAUGHT US ALL POLITICS 101.

WELCOME TO SCOTT STRINGER — PRESIDENT OF OUR OUTER BOROUGH OF
MANHATTAN —
HE MAY LIVE IN MANHATTAN, BUT HE’S A BROOKLYN WANNA-BE!
WELCOME TO OUR POLICE COMMISSIONER RAY KELLY.
WE STARTED OUT TOGETHER IN BROOKLYN — I REPRESENTED CROWN HEIGHTS —
AND HE WAS PRECINCT COMMANDER OF THE 7-1.
NOW, HE’LL BE KNOWN AS ONE OF THE FINEST POLICE COMMISSIONERS IN NEW YORK
CITY HISTORY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
LET’S HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR NEW DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED NEW
YORK STATE SENATE!
WHICH AFTER FORTY-THREE YEARS IN EXILE — HAS FOUND ITS WAY BACK TO THE “PROMISED LAND” — THE MAJORITY!
(BELIEVE ME, I SPENT 23 LONG WINTERS IN ALBANY AS PART OF THE SENATE MINORITY
—
AND ALL I CAN SAY IS, “HOW SWEET IT IS!”)
AND I MIGHT ADD — THAT THE SELECTION OF THIS COMMUNITY’S OWN SENATOR CARL
KRUGER — AS CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE — MEANS SENIOR LEADERSHIP POWER IS BACK IN BROOKLYN WHERE IT BELONGS!
WE HAD STEINGUT, FINK, MILLER, CUITE — AND NOW — KRUGER!
CONGRATULATIONS SENATOR KRUGER, AND HIS “STRENGTH,” COMMUNITY BOARD 18
DISTRICT MANAGER DOROTHY TURANO, AND SONS — DOCTORS — GERARD AND MICHAEL TURANO.
BY THE WAY— I ALSO COMMEND ALL OF OUR DEDICATED COMMUNITY BOARD
MEMBERS — WHO DONATE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY — AND DO IT ALL PRO-BONO, FOR THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY!
ALL BOARD MEMBERS HERE — PLEASE STAND.
YOU ARE THE TRULY THE “HEART AND SOUL OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT” IN THIS CITY.
THANK YOU KINGSBOROUGH — BROOKLYN'S “COLLEGE BY THE SEA” — (I HAVE GREAT AFFECTION FOR KINGSBOROUGH — AND NOT ONLY BECAUSE I MET MY WIFE JAMIE HERE ON THE BEACH.
IT’S A GOOD THING I WAS WEARING A T-SHIRT — OR SHE NEVER WOULD HAVE LOOKED
AT ME TWICE)
JAMIE, PLEASE STAND.
(I’M MANHATTAN BEACH BY MARRIAGE!)


I LOVE KINGSBOROUGH BECAUSE IT IS REAL.
IT IS REAL BECAUSE ITS STUDENTS ARE AS DIVERSE AS BROOKLYN.
AND IT’S DYNAMIC PRESIDENT, DR. REGINA PERUGGI HAS PROVIDED THE LEADERSHIP
THAT GOT IT NAMED ONE OF THE TOP TEN COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY BY THE NEW YORK TIMES.
THE “HUZZAHS” DON’T STOP THERE ? IN A NATIONAL SURVEY, KINGSBOROUGH WAS
ALSO NAMED ONE OF THE TOP TEN COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR TECHNOLOGY DELIVERY! THANK YOU DR. PERUGGI — PLEASE STAND.
WITH ITS CAREER-FOCUS AND HIGH RATE OF STUDENTS GOING ON TO FOUR-YEAR
DEGREES —
KINGSBOROUGH IS A SYMBOL OF DREAMS BEING REALIZED.
AND WHAT GREATER EXAMPLE OF “REALIZING A DREAM” — THAN THE ELECTION OF
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

BROOKLYN (WHICH IS PROUD HOME TO MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESIDENTS THAN
ANY COUNTY THAT IS NOT ITS OWN CITY) — VOTED SO STRONGLY FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA,
THAT WE COULD BE CALLED: "BARACK-LYN”
ON INAUGURATION DAY, BROOKLYN WAS HALF-EMPTY!
SO MANY BROOKLYNITES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COMMUNITIES, WENT TO D.C. TO BE PART OF HISTORY.
INCLUDING THE BROOKLYN STEPPERS MARCHING BAND, — CHOSEN OUT OF
FOURTEEN-HUNDRED BANDS — TO LEAD THE OFFICIAL INAUGURAL PARADE!

BY THE WAY, IT WAS A BROOKLYN COMPANY THAT PRINTED PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ONE
MILLION INAUGURATION INVITATIONS. — ON JAY STREET IN DUMBO.
JIM DONNELLY’S PRECISE CONTINENTAL PRINTING MET ALL THE CRITERIA.
IT’S CERTIFIED “GREEN” FOR USING RECYCLED PAPER —
AND — JIM RUNS A UNION SHOP!
JIM, PLEASE STAND.
YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!
THERE ARE SO MANY BROOKLYNITES, OF BLESSED MEMORY, WHO WE WISH COULD
HAVE BEEN HERE TO SEE PRESIDENT OBAMA’S VICTORY — DOROTHY ARRINGTON, GEORGE BING, CONGRESSWOMAN SHIRLEY CHISHOLM, DEPUTY BOROUGH PRESIDENT JEANNETTE GADSON, SADIE FEDDOES, MADGE FORD, DR. WILLIAM AGUSTUS JONES, CARLOS LEZAMA,
JOAN MAYNARD, THADDEUS OWENS, REVEREND JOE PARKER, LUCILLE ROSE, BETTY
SHABAZZ, AND THE LIST GOES ON.

AND WE KNOW THAT SO MANY BROOKLYNITES — LIKE CLINTON HILL RESIDENT MELBA
ADAMS, WHO IS HERE TONIGHT — LIVED THROUGH THE STRUGGLE.
MELBA WAS BORN IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA — WHERE SHE AND HER FAMILY
EXPERIENCED THE VIOLENCE OF “JIM CROW.”
BEFORE SHE WAS BORN, HER UNCLE WAS MURDERED — FOR SIMPLY TRYING TO VOTE.
HER MOTHER WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY — BUT SHE COULDN’T PROTECT
TEN-YEAR-OLD MELBA WHEN, AFTER DRINKING FROM A “WHITES-ONLY” FOUNTAIN, MELBA
AND HER FRIENDS WERE ACCOSTED BY LOCAL WHITE AUTHORITIES AND DRIVEN TO A RIVER — WHERE THEY THREATENED TO DROWN THEM.

MELBA SAYS SHE NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD EVER SEE A BLACK MAN ELECTED
PRESIDENT “IN HER TIME.” — (OR SEE A FIRST LADY QUITE LIKE — MICHELLE OBAMA!
SINCE MOVING TO BROOKLYN 52 YEARS AGO, MELBA HAS TAUGHT KINDERGARTEN AT
PS-397 AND BEEN A MEMBER OF THE LIONS CLUB, BROWN MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THE NAACP —
REGISTERING VOTERS LAST YEAR FOR THIS HISTORIC ELECTION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN — MS. MELBA ADAMS. THANK YOU, MS. ADAMS.
THE REALITY IN BROOKLYN — IS THAT OUR DIVERSITY MAKES US STRONG.
IN OCTOBER, WE WERE SO PROUD TO HAVE THE CONSULS GENERAL OF SIXTEEN
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN NATIONS MEET AT BOROUGH HALL TO SIGN A
DECLARATION TO DEFEND ALL LATINOS IN NEW YORK, ON ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION,EDUCATION AND
HEALTH CARE.
THAT EFFORT WAS LED BY REUBEN BELTRAN, CONSUL GENERAL OF MEXICO —
AMBASSADOR, PLEASE STAND.

HE CHOSE BROOKLYN, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FASTEST-GROWING LATINO POPULATION
— ESPECIALLY OUR MEXICAN COMMUNITY.
(AMBASSADOR, THERE WAS A TIME, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, THAT IF SOMEONE WAS AN ASPIRING POLITICIAN —
THEY HAD TO SPEAK A LITTLE ITALIAN, KNOW A LITTLE YIDDISH —
AND VISIT THE “THREE EYES” — ITALY, IRELAND AND ISRAEL.
NOW — SI NO SABES ESPANOL, NO SABES EL SABOR DE CONDADO DE BROOKLYN!
(AND ALL THE POLITICIANS WHO LOOK LIKE ME
— ARE TAKING SPANISH LESSONS!)
AND WE SHOULD BE TAKING CHINESE LESSONS TOO! — KUNG HAY FAT CHOY! —
AND MAYBE TURKISH AS WELL — RIGHT MEHMET?

PLEASE WELCOME MY DEAR FRIEND MEHMET SAMSAR, CONSUL GENERAL OF TURKEY
—
PLEASE STAND.
BROOKLYN IS INDEED THE PROUD TURKISH CAPITAL OF AMERICA!

WELCOME DOCTOR HAROLD ROBERTSON, CONSUL GENERAL OF TRINADAD AND
TOBAGO – SWEET T AND T. PLEASE STAND.
AND FRANCESCO MARIA TALO OF ITALY — PLEASE STAND— I RECENTLY ATTENDED A CEREMONY AT YOUR CONSULATE, MEMORIALIZING ITALIAN JEWS KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST
— THE FIRST EVENT LIKE THIS I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO BY ANY CONSULATE OTHER THAN ISRAEL — AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THAT.
IN JUNE, BOROUGH HALL HELD A BREAKFAST FOR THE CARICOM CONFERENCE ?
FOCUSING ON TRADE IN THE CARIBBEAN REGION.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THESE LEADERS OF FOURTEEN CARIBBEAN NATIONS MET
IN NEW YORK CITY ? WHICH WAS APPROPRIATE, SINCE WE ARE THE PROUD CARIBBEAN CAPITAL OF THE U.S.A.
(I HAVE BEEN A “TRINI” SINCE I REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CARIBBEAN
COMMUNITY TO THIS CITY — AND AS YOU KNOW, ANYONE WHO’S NOT A “TRINI,” IS A “TRINI WANNA-BE”)
WHEN I THINK “CARIBBEAN” — I THINK OF OUR DEPUTY BOROUGH PRESIDENT YVONNE GRAHAM — A PROUD BROOKLYNITE BY WAY OF JAMAICA.
SHE COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT — BECAUSE SHE IS IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA RIGHT
NOW — WITH HER FAMILY — AT THE ONE-YEAR MEMORIAL OF HER FATHER’S PASSING.
YVONNE IS A FABULOUS PUBLIC OFFICIAL, AND NOW THAT TERM LIMITS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED —
(SOME DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT WHEN THE MAYOR GOT TERM LIMITS EXTENDED, IT
APPLIED TO BOROUGH PRESIDENTS TOO)
I AM THRILLED TO HAVE YVONNE AS MY PARTNER FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR — AND THE NEXT TERM —
IF YOU ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE TO SERVE YOU
FOR — FOUR MORE YEARS.

[THE REAL BROOKLYN]

THERE'S NO PLACE MORE "REAL" THAN BROOKLYN
MAYBE THAT'S WHY SO MANY "REALITY TV" SHOWS ARE BEING FILMED HERE — OR STAR BROOKLYNITES.


IN FACT, MTV’S “THE REAL WORLD” IS AIRING RIGHT NOW — THOUGH I DON’T KNOW
HOW MANY REAL APARTMENTS IN RED HOOK HAVE OUTDOOR HOT TUBS ON THE EAST RIVER. WHAT THOSE 21-YEAR-OLDS WERE DOING IN THAT HOT TUB — I DON’T EVEN WANT TO IMAGINE! — (THOUGH I CAN GUESS)
(TONIGHT IS A PG-13 EVENT THROUGHOUT!)
A SHOW THAT’S MORE “MY SPEED” —
P-B-S’s "THIS OLD HOUSE," THE “PREMIERE HOME IMPROVEMENT SHOW ON TV” — HAS FINALLY HIT THE BIG-TIME!
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SHOW’S 30-YEAR-HISTORY — THEY’RE FILMING IN NYC — AND BROOKLYN’S GOT ‘EM!
PLEASE WELCOME THE OWNERS OF THE PROSPECT HEIGHTS BROWNSTONE ENJOYING A LOVING RENOVATION —
FORMER MANHATTANITES — AND FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS KAREN SHEN, KEVIN
COSTELLO AND THEIR THREE BOYS — PLEASE STAND!
KAREN AND KEVIN — JUST LET JAMIE AND I KNOW WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION, AND
WE’LL BE PLEASED TO “HOUSE-SIT” — NO CHARGE!

ALSO JOINING US TONIGHT — FROM THE TRAVEL CHANNEL’S “MAN VS. FOOD” —
A MAN WHO TRAVELS ALL OVER AMERICA TO FIND UNIQUE DINING ESTABLISHMENTS
WITH “BROOKLYN-SIZED” PORTIONS!
PARK SLOPE RESIDENT ADAM RICHMAN
IF I HAD THE RIGHT GENES, I’D BE A NATURAL AT THIS JOB!
ADAM, PLEASE STAND!
AND LOOK, HE’S NOT EVEN CHUBBY!
ADAM, I LOVE WATCHING YOU— YOU’RE MY FOODIE ROLE MODEL.

AND, FINALLY — MAKING SURE THAT “BOERUM HILL” NEVER “BORES ‘UM.”
BROOKLYN'S REAL HOUSEWIFE ALEX MCCORD AND HER HUSBAND SIMON VAN
KEMPEN FROM BRAVO’S “REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY”
(THE SECOND SEASON STARTS NEXT TUESDAY!)
ALEX AND SIMON — PLEASE STAND.
BROOKLYN’S TV HOUSEWIVES HAVE REALLY CHANGED SINCE THE HONEYMOONERS,
LET ME TELL YOU!
WE SHOULD ALL GET EXCITED WHEN WE SEE “FILM AND TV” TRUCKS ALONG OUR
STREETS.
IT MIGHT TAKE AWAY SOME PARKING —
BUT THOSE TRAILERS AND LIGHTS MEAN JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!
YOU CAN EVEN SEE OUR HISTORIC BOROUGH HALL IN THE HOTTEST SHOWS, FROM
“DAMAGES” TO “30 ROCK.”
IN FACT, THE OTHER DAY, “UGLY BETTY” WAS FILMING AT BOROUGH HALL, AND I MET
VANESSA WILLIAMS.
I WENT HOME AND I TOLD JAMIE ? I MET VANESSA WILLIAMS! ? AND SHE SAID,
“THAT’S NICE.”
I SAID, NO YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ? I MET THE REAL VANESSA WILLIAMS, AND I
THINK SHE WAS A LITTLE INTERESTED IN ME!
AND JAMIE SAID ? “WELL, I HOPE SHE LIKES PARROTS.”
(SEE, VANESSA — THIS IS MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD “SON” BEEP —ENJOYING HIS FAVORITE
TREAT — FORT GREENE’S “CAKEMAN RAVEN”’S RED VELVET CAKE!)
HOW CAN SHE REFUSE US?

[BROOKLYN’S ECONOMIC REALITY]
OF COURSE, THERE ARE REALITY “SHOWS” AND THERE’S REALITY —
AND NO PART OF NEW YORK CITY IS EXEMPT FROM THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS.

PROPERTY SALES AND PERMITS ARE DOWN.
JOBS ARE BEING LOST.
AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE MOST FORECLOSURES ARE, I’M SAD TO SAY, IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS.

BUT — AS THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE KNOW —
THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN THAT “BROOKLYN ATTITUDE” REALLY COMES OUT.
BROOKLYNITES ARE AS RESILIENT AS IT GETS.
WE MIGHT CALL THAT SPECIAL CREATIVITY AND TENACITY “BROOKLYN-NOMICS”

I’M TALKING ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE SPIRIT OF AMANDA JONES — A SOUTHERN BELLE
AND BAKER WHOSE SIGNATURE TREAT WAS HER GRANDMOTHER’S SPECIAL FUDGE.
IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO SELL, SHE KNEW — BUT SHE DIDN’T FIND HER TRUE “NICHE” TILL ONE DAY —
WHEN THIS CHRISTIAN WOMAN FROM “TIDE-WATER, VIRGINIA” — LEARNED A NEW
WORD UP HERE IN BROOKLYN — THAT WORD WAS “KOSHER”

AFTER BEING ASKED MANY TIMES — BY SEPHARDIC JEWS SHE MET RIGHT HERE AT THE “KOSHER CULINARY ARTS” PROGRAM AT KINGSBOROUGH — IF HER FUDGE WAS “KOSHER” — SHE REALIZED THERE MIGHT BE A NICHE MARKET OUT THERE — AND BOY WAS SHE RIGHT!
SHE CALLS IT “BROOKLYN FUDGE”! — ONLY IN BROOKLYN — AMANDA JONES, PLEASE STAND.

HOW ABOUT PRATT GRADUATE NASENGA KNIGHT — A MUSLIM-AMERICAN DESIGNER
WHO MAKES EVENING WEAR THAT CREATES SYNERGY BETWEEN ISLAMIC DRESS CODES AND AMERICAN HIGH-FASHION STYLE.
HER AMBITION IS TO SELL WHOLESALE TO STORES LIKE SAKS AND BERGDORF’S.
NASENGA, WITH BROOKLYN AND NEW YORK CITY’S FAST-GROWING MUSLIM
POPULATION — IT’S GONNA HAPPEN!
NASENGA KNIGHT! PLEASE STAND.

EVER WONDER WHO STARTED THE NEW “RESTAURANT BOOM” IN DITMAS PARK WEST?
IT’S GARY AND ALISON JONAS, WHOSE FARM-ON-ADDERLY, POMME DE TAIR, AND
SYCAMORE HAVE TURNED THE CORTELYOU ROAD AREA INTO THE NEW SMITH STREET.
PLEASE STAND, GARY AND ALISON!
DITMAS PARK WEST IS NOW A “DINING DESTINATION”!
AND BELIEVE ME, THERE ARE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM ESTABLISHED PROS — LIKE JACKIE RANDAZZO—
WHOSE “NEIGHBORHOOD CLASSIC” RANDAZZOS —IS WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL A
“CITADEL — OF SCONGILI”
FOR FIFTY YEARS — RETAINING THAT ATMOSPHERE OF A “FISHING VILLAGE” I GREW UP
WITH IN SHEEPSHEAD BAY.
PLEASE STAND, JACKIE —
KEEP PACKING ‘EM IN!


HERE IN BROOKLYN, ARTISANS LIKE SCOTT JORDAN — WITH HIS SUSTAINABLE, HIGH-END, SOLID WOOD FURNITURE—
ARE BRINGING OUR BOROUGH’S TRADITION OF MANUFACTURING BACK TO THE
HISTORIC NAVY YARD.
THE MORE PRODUCTS THAT SAY “MADE IN BROOKLYN” — THE MORE BROOKLYN’S “GOT
IT MADE!”
PLEASE STAND, SCOTT.
(AND THANK YOU ANDREW KIMBALL—
FOR YOUR GREAT WORK AT THE NAVY YARD.)
SUSAN FOX HAS HARNESSED THE INTERNET TO CREATE A MARKETPLACE OF GOODS
AND IDEAS — HER “PARK-SLOPE-PARENTS” WEBSITE IS JUST LIKE PARK SLOPE — A VIRTUAL “STROLLER DERBY” —
ALLOWING PARENTS TO SHARE ADVICE — AND MAKE A FEW BUCKS SELLING USED BABY
GEAR TOO.
(HEY THAT’S ECONOMICAL WHEN TIMES ARE TIGHT ? AND IT COUNTS AS “RECYCLING” TOO.) “PARK-SLOPE-PARENTS” WAS FIRST — AND NOW SUSAN HAS MANY IMITATORS — SUSAN!

FINALLY ? WE’VE GOT SOME BROOKLYN ENTREPRENEURS WHO DEMONSTRATE THAT
BEING “GREEN” ? IS A WAY TO MAKE SOME OF THAT OTHER “GREEN.”
GREEN SPACES, HEADQUARTERED IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN —
PROVIDES A CENTRALIZED LOCATION RIGHT ON LIVINGSTON AND FLATBUSH, FOR
START-UP COMPANIES AND ARTISANS TO NETWORK AND BUILD THE NEW GREEN ECONOMY. BROOKLYN AND NEW YORK’S FUTURE HINGES ON YOUR SUCCESS —
BRAVO — BRAD HOLMES AND JENNY NEVINS!
PLEASE STAND.

THESE BUSINESSES REPRESENT THOUSANDS WHOSE INNOVATIVE IDEAS WILL BE THE
KEY TO BROOKLYN’S SUCCESS IN ANY ECONOMY.
AND TONIGHT — I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE “REAL STORY” OF WHAT A STRONG,
INNOVATIVE BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S OFFICE CAN DO TO HELP AS WELL.

[BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S INITIATIVES: THE REAL STORY]
DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT READ IN EDITORIALS IN SOME OF OUR TABLOIDS, WHICH
DON’T HAVE A CLUE —
AND WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO SEE THE ELIMINATION OF BOROUGH
PRESIDENTS —
THE REAL STORY IS THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY MY OFFICE FIGHTS — TO MAKE SURE
BROOKLYN GETS ITS FAIR SHARE.
AND THAT MEANS WHATEVER WE GET — IT’S NEVER ENOUGH!
CERTAINLY, ALL OUR BROOKLYN PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE FIGHTERS. — BUT ONLY ONE
POSITION LOOKS OUT FOR ALL OF BROOKLYN — AND ONLY BROOKLYN.
IN THIS OFFICE, BROOKLYN IS YOUR LIFE.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE — IF WE DO NOT HAVE AN ADVOCATE AT THE BOROUGH LEVEL
—
WHO REPORTS TO YOU —
BROOKLYN GETS BUP-KIS!


[THE REAL STORY: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES]
FOR AN EXAMPLE, JUST LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR WITH OUR SENIOR
CENTERS.
THE “POLICY ZEALOTS” IN CITY GOVERNMENT CAME UP WITH A PLAN THAT MUST HAVE LOOKED GREAT “ON PAPER.”
BUT THEY DIDN’T QUITE “GET” OUR BROOKLYN “REALITY”
THEIR PLAN WOULD HAVE CLOSED SENIOR CENTERS — CUT BACK ON HOT, FRESHLY-
PREPARED MEALS, AND FORCED OUR ELDERLY TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES — TO WHAT THE CITY CALLED “HUBS.”
AS YOU KNOW — I HAVE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT “SENIOR ISSUES” SINCE I WAS
TWENTY-SIX YEARS OLD — WHEN I FOUNDED THE SENIOR CITIZEN’S LEAGUE OF FLATBUSH (WHICH BY THE WAY, I PROUDLY JOINED FOUR YEARS AGO!)
I FOUGHT THAT PLAN — ALONGSIDE COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN AND THE
BROOKLYN DELEGATION.
AND IT STAYED ON PAPER, WHERE IT BELONGED.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN FIGHTING — SINCE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES
TOOK QUIET STEPS TO CLOSE ITS MAIN “INTAKE CENTER” IN MANHATTAN ?
AND SEND ALL THE CITY’S HOMELESS TO THE BEDFORD AVENUE ARMORY IN CROWN
HEIGHTS ?
A NEIGHBORHOOD ALREADY DOING MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
THIS PLAN WOULD HAVE BEEN UNSAFE — FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR THE
HOMELESS AS WELL!
I AM PROUD TO STAND WITH HOMELESS ADVOCATES —AND MEMBERS OF THE CROWN
HEIGHTS REVITALIZATION MOVEMENT — CHARM —
WE NOW HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM D-H-S — THAT AN INTAKE CENTER WILL REMAIN
IN MANHATTAN AND BROOKLYN WILL NOT BEAR THE FULL BURDEN.
BUT WE MUST FIGHT TO ENSURE THAT ALL INTAKE REMAINS IN MANHATTAN, WHERE
FAIRNESS DICTATES IT SHOULD BE.
I COMMEND SANDY TAGGART, CO-FOUNDER OF CHARM — PLEASE STAND SANDY!
WE WILL PROVE THE POWER IS WITH THE PEOPLE!

THIS PAST SUMMER, WHEN THE MANHATTAN-BASED CONTINUUM HEALTH PARTNERS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO SLASH LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL'S MATERNITY AND
PEDIATRIC UNITS — AS WELL AS SCHOOL CLINICS —
MY OFFICE TOOK ACTION — ORGANIZING HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS, HOLDING A RALLY,
ALERTING THE PRESS, AND HOSTING A PUBLIC HEARING ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS —
AND LETTING THE GOVERNOR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL KNOW THAT BROOKLYN
SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE DISRESPECTED!
WELL, WE CONVINCED THE STATE TO FUND LICH LONG ENOUGH TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
WE PRESERVED ESSENTIAL SERVICES — AND THE JOBS OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS —
LIKE EAST FLATBUSH RESIDENT AND MATERNITY NURSE CHRISTINE HOOKER.
CHRISTINE, PLEASE STAND.
SINCE THOSE FIRST PLANS WERE ANNOUNCED TO FOREVER CLOSE THE LICH
MATERNITY WARD —
I'M THRILLED TO SAY — CHRISTINE AND HER COLLEAGUES HAVE BROUGHT OVER
EIGHT-HUNDRED NEW BROOKLYNITES INTO OUR BOROUGH.

[THE REAL STORY: EDUCATION AND YOUTH]
OF COURSE, THOSE BABY BROOKLYNITES GROW UP.
AND THEY DESERVE TO GO TO GOOD SCHOOLS — SAFE SCHOOLS — WHERE INVOLVED PARENTS ARE RESPECTED ? AND DO NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO CUT THROUGH BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE SIMPLY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR KIDS' NEEDS.
THIS IS WHY I TAKE THE POSITION I DO.
YES, I SUPPORT “MAYORAL CONTROL”— (MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND CHANCELLOR KLEIN CERTAINLY DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR MAKING EDUCATION A PRIORITY.)
BUT — THIS SPRING, I AM GOING TO FIGHT —
ALONG WITH OUR STATE AND CITY LEGISLATORS — TO IMPROVE “MAYORAL CONTROL” —
SO THAT IT WILL GUARANTEE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL PARENTAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ? AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE SYSTEM.

WE MUST EMPOWER COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCILS ? (I THANK THE MEMBERS
WHO ARE WITH US TONIGHT) —
AND BEEF UP THE PANEL FOR EDUCATION POLICY — (THANK YOU WENDY GILGEOUS,
OUR BOROUGH APPOINTEE, FOR YOUR GREAT WORK) —
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY — WE MUST GIVE LOCAL “DISTRICT OFFICES” BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES!
WITH REAL ACCOUNTABLE SUPERINTENDENTS!
WE MUST OPTIMIZE THIS SYSTEM ? SO THAT IT WORKS FOR REAL FAMILIES IN THE
REAL “REAL WORLD.”


AS WE DO EVERY YEAR — IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NON-PROFIT “BEST OF BROOKLYN”
— MY OFFICE SENT 350 KIDS FROM PUBLIC HOUSING TO “SLEEP-AWAY CAMP”
THEY MEET NEW FRIENDS, SLEEP UNDER THE STARS, GAIN THE SELF-ESTEEM AND
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY THEY CAN ONLY GET FROM THIS SORT OF SAFE, ORGANIZED SETTING.
WE CALL IT “CAMP BROOKLYN”
(PARENTS — WHO GET A NICE BREAK — CALL IT HEAVEN!)
THROUGH OUR “SUMMER HEAT” PROGRAM —
WE ARRANGED SUMMER JOBS FOR 167 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED COMMUNITIES.
AND THIS COMING YEAR, I’M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY — THE LARGEST CARIBBEAN CHAMBER IN THE
NATION — HAS MADE A PLEDGE TO FIND JOBS FOR AT LEAST TEN STUDENTS THIS SUMMER! THANK YOU — FOUNDER, CEO AND PRESIDENT ROY HASTICK, PLEASE STAND.
IT’S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU, ROY
FOR SUMMER HEAT, WE ALSO PARTNER WITH THE BROOKLYN JUNIOR LEAGUE TO
PROVIDE JOB ETIQUETTE TRAINING — PREPARING KIDS TO BE “ACCOUNTABLE.”
WHICH MEANS, IF YOU’RE EXPECTED TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE BY 5 —
HAVE IT DONE BY 4!
IT MEANS LOOKING PEOPLE STRAIGHT IN THE EYE WHEN YOU SPEAK WITH THEM.
IT MEANS COVERING UP BELLY-BUTTON RINGS —
AND NOT WEARING YOUR PANTS HALFWAY DOWN YOUR TOOKAS!
(PARENTS HERE TONIGHT — YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!)

AS YOU KNOW, I’M NOT A PARENT MYSELF — ALL OF BROOKLYN’S KIDS ARE MY KIDS —
BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT ARE TRULY MY “BABIES”
ONE OF THEM WAS THE CREATION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR INNOVATION IN
ADVERTISING AND MEDIA
I HAPPEN TO THINK ADVERTISING IS A GREAT FIELD.
I EVEN CONSIDER MYSELF A SORT OF “PITCH-MAN” FOR THE “BROOKLYN BRAND.”
I GOT THE IDEA FOR THIS SCHOOL AFTER HEARING THAT ALTHOUGH THE BUYING-
POWER OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IS OVER $700 BILLION DOLLARS ? LESS THAN FOUR PERCENT OF ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN!
AND WHY? ? BECAUSE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING EXPOSED TO THIS
PROFESSION — I WANTED TO CHANGE THAT.

(AND, LET ME TELL YOU, SALARIES IN THE AD FIELD MAKE A BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S SALARY LOOK LIKE CHUMP CHANGE!)
WE MET WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT
?
AND WE BROUGHT MADISON AVENUE TO ROCKAWAY PARKWAY! — THE SCHOOL
OPENED THIS PAST FALL AT CANARSIE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE HONOR ROLL STUDENT JERMAINE RICHARDS! — PLEASE STAND,
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOUR WORK IN THE DAYS TO COME.
AND TONIGHT — I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER SCHOOL COMING ON
LINE ? SPEARHEADED BY MY OFFICE AND READY TO EDUCATE OUR BROOKLYN KIDS ON THE SUBJECT OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCE.
BECAUSE “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO USE MONEY, TO MAKE MONEY” —
FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR OTHERS.
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT BEING THE NEXT BERNIE MADOFF
I’M TALKING ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DO IT HONESTLY, WITH INTEGRITY AND TRUST.


FOR OUR KIDS, NO MATTER WHAT CAREER THEY CHOOSE ?
MONEY WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF THEIR LIVES.
THAT’S WHY IT GIVES ME SUCH JOY TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEW BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF
GLOBAL FINANCE, AT M-S 57 IN THE HEART OF CENTRAL BROOKLYN, BEDFORD-STUYVESANT. (BY NEXT YEAR, MAYBE THESE KIDS WILL HAVE SOME IDEAS ABOUT FIXING THIS
ECONOMY.
I’M CONFIDENT THEY’LL DO IT BETTER THAN WALL STREET!)
WE WELCOME NEW PRINCIPAL, LENA BORST

AND BECAUSE WE KNOW EDUCATION DOESN’T ONLY HAPPEN IN SCHOOLS — MY OFFICE
IS PARTNERING WITH THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY ON THEIR “ADOPT-A-LIBRARY”
PROGRAM — WELCOME, INCOMING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, COUNSELOR TO MAYOR BLOOMBERG —
BROOKLYNITE ANTHONY CROWELL

[THE REAL STORY: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT]

OF COURSE, ALL THE EDUCATION IN THE WORLD WON’T HELP IF THERE ARE NO JOBS TO
FILL.
THAT’S WHY — FOR MY OFFICE, JOBS ARE “JOB ONE”

WE WILL BE REACHING OUT AGGRESSIVELY TO EMPLOYERS — ABOUT MOVING TO
BROOKLYN.
WE’LL MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE HOUSING, CULTURE TRANSPORTATION AND
AMENITIES THAT AWAIT THEM HERE IN BROOKLYN.
(AND LET THEM EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
BROOKLYNITES —
WE CAN CHARM YOU, OR BE IN-YOUR-FACE —
EITHER WAY, THEY’LL LOVE IT.)
WE WANT THEM TO MOVE HERE — AND TELL JERSEY CITY AND HARTFORD — FUHGEDDABOUDIT!

TO BEGIN WITH — I, ALONG WITH DEPUTY MAYOR ROBERT LIEBER, WILL HOLD AN
ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE WITH BUSINESS LEADERS AND EMPLOYERS ON FEBRUARY 23rd. THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR LIEBER FOR THIS — AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON CONEY
ISLAND AND SO MANY OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS AFFECTING BROOKLYN.

WE MUST BUILD ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE PAST YEAR.
JUST LOOK AT NEW YORK CITY’S ONLY IKEA— WHICH OPENED IN JUNE IN RED HOOK —
AND HAS THE TOP SALES, NOT ONLY IN THE REGION, BUT IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA! ?
AND — EMPLOYS HUNDREDS OF BROOKLYNITES!
BRAVO, GENERAL MANAGER MICHAEL BAKER
LOOK AT THE NEW TARGET STORE AND APPLEBEE’S AT THE “CROSSROADS OF
BROOKLYN,” FLATBUSH AND NOSTRAND AVENUES — “THE JUNCTION.”
OR HOW ABOUT TRADER JOE’S IN COBBLE HILL —
WHICH I WORKED FOR YEARS TO GET ? AND IS DOING GANGBUSTERS BUSINESS —
BRAVO “STORE CAPTAIN” GREG GLEI—
PLEASE STAND, GREG.

BROOKLYN IS ALREADY FAMOUS FOR STEAK, THANKS TO THE LEGENDARY PETER
LUGER’S —
BUT IT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING WHEN THE “NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY-
RECOGNIZED UPSCALE DINING BRAND” COMES TO TOWN —
AND THAT IS MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE ? OPEN AND THRIVING NEXT TO THE BROOKLYN
BRIDGE MARRIOTT.
(THEY ALREADY FEEL LIKE FAMILY — THEY EVEN SERVE A FAMILY RECIPE, MRS.
ARTINIAN’S CARROT CAKE!
TRUST ME, IT’S SO GOOD, YOU WON’T KNOW A VEGETABLE CAME WITHIN A MILE OF IT.) GENERAL MANAGER JOE ROKEN — MORTON’S HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!

WE KNOW MORTON’S IS GETTING BUSINESS FROM OUR LEGAL COMMUNITY —
AND WITH ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST LAW FIRMS — WEIL, GOTSHAL— NOW AT
METRO-TECH —
BROOKLYN IS CLOSER TO ANOTHER DREAM OF MINE ? “BRANDING” DOWNTOWN
BROOKLYN AS A “LAW CENTER”
WITH THE COURTS ON ONE END — BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL ON THE OTHER —ESQUIRE
BANK ON COURT STREET, AND MORE LAWYERS PER SQUARE INCH THAN ANYWHERE IN THE CITY —
USING THE “BROOKLYN LEGAL DISTRICT” BRAND TO ATTRACT MORE FIRMS IS A “NO
BRAINER.”
AND JUST THINK OF ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT “EAT” OFF THIS ONE INDUSTRY ?
FROM NOTARIES, STENOGRAPHERS, AND PARALEGALS TO COPY SHOPS TO CAFES AND
BARS — (AND EVEN STORES THAT SELL SHREDDING MACHINES!)
IT’S AN OPEN-AND-SHUT CASE.
AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE LEGAL COMMUNITY AND THE CITY TO GET IT DONE. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PARTNERSHIP —
(AND JOE CHAN — STILL THE YOUNGEST CZAR)

TO ENSURE PROGRESS CONTINUES ON CREATING THE “CITY CENTER” OUR BOROUGH OF
OVER 2.5 MILLION DESERVES.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, IF BROOKLYN EVER NEEDED A PROJECT LIKE ATLANTIC YARDS
— THE TIME IS NOW.
AS THE ONE WHO ORIGINALLY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO MAKE BROOKLYN A “PROFESSIONAL SPORTS CITY” AGAIN —
AND THE ONE WHO INSISTED THAT THE PROJECT INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING —
I BELIEVE WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT NOW — IS THE THOUSANDS OF UNION JOBS IT
WILL CREATE
RIGHT WHEN WE NEED THEM MOST!
WHEN IT COMES TO AMBITIOUS, SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS — WE SAY “BUILD BABY
BUILD!”
ATLANTIC YARDS ? YES WE CAN — AND YES WE WILL.
AND WHEN ATLANTIC YARDS IS BUILT — IT WILL KEEP ON GENERATING JOBS IN
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN —
BRINGING VISITORS TO RESTAURANTS, BARS, RETAILERS AND HOTELS LIKE THE SOON
TO BE HOTEL INDIGO ? WITH ITS ART GALLERY FEATURING WORK BY YOUNG LOCAL ARTISTS
— THE SHERATON, THE STAR-WOOD ALOFT ? AND NU HOTEL, WITH ITS —
HAMMOCKS? (OKAY — WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT!)
WE MUST BUILD — AND THE CITY MUST LEAD THE WAY.
IN FACT, I’M CALLING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO MOVE OUT OF THE
“MUNICIPAL BUILDING” AT 210 JORALEMON —
AND BE THE “ANCHOR TENANT” IN THE DAZZLING, CLASS-A OFFICE SPACE AT CITY
POINT ? (SCHEDULED TO RISE ON FLATBUSH AND DEKALB, RIGHT ALONGSIDE JUNIOR’S) ?
SO WE CAN OPEN UP THAT CORNER OF JORALEMON AND COURT STREET FOR MAJOR
RETAIL AND COMMUNITY USES ?
SOLIDIFYING COURT STREET AS A BONA FIDE NYC SHOPPING DESTINATION.
WHICH STORES WOULD THRIVE THERE?
HOW ABOUT CRATE AND BARREL, NORDSTROM RACK, SAKS-OFF-FIFTH-AVENUE?
IT’S ALL POSSIBLE

NOW ADD WHAT WE CALL THE “DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN CULTURAL CORRIDOR” ?
EXTENDING FROM COURT STREET TO THE BAM CULTURAL DISTRICT —
INCLUDING PROJECTS THAT MY CAPITAL BUDGET HAS HELPED FUND —
LIKE THE THEATER FOR A NEW AUDIENCE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY — THE THEATER
AT SCHERMERHORN HOUSE (THE NEW HOME OF THE BROOKLYN BALLET) —
AND THE FABULOUS IRONDALE THEATER ?
AND YOU HAVE WHAT WE CALL A “CULTURAL ECONOMY” — A MAJOR JOB GENERATOR
FOR BROOKLYN.

WHEN IT COMES TO JOB CREATION — MY OFFICE IS WORKING WITH THE BROOKLYN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — (KUDOS CARL HUM AND PETER MEYER) —
TO BOOST THE ECONOMY IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD —
HOW ABOUT A TRADER JOES IN MILL BASIN - BERGEN BEACH?
HOW ABOUT A BARNES & NOBLE IN BAY RIDGE?
HOW ABOUT A FAIRWAY IN EAST NEW YORK?
AND WITH ALL THE FABULOUS HOUSING GOING UP —
HOW ABOUT A BRAND NEW APPLE STORE IN WILLIAMSBURG?

(AND IF WE DO IT ALL, I CAN JUST SEE THE “HEADLINES” NOW —

THIS PAST FALL, MY OFFICE LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS SUPERMARKET
CLOSURES AND THE LACK OF HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS IN TOO MANY AREAS OF BROOKLYN.
WE ARE BRINGING COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS TOGETHER WITH SUPERMARKET
OWNERS — TO GET SUPERMARKETS — AND THE JOBS THEY CREATE — INTO UNDER-SERVED AREAS.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER WAY THAT A HEALTHIER BROOKLYN CAN MEAN A HEALTHIER
BROOKLYN ECONOMY.

ADDITIONALLY, OUR HEALTHY FOOD CAMPAIGN — IS WORKING TO ENSURE ELIGIBLE BROOKLYNITES ARE GETTING THE FOOD ASSISTANCE THEY NEED — AS WELL AS WORKING TO EXPAND GREENMARKETS AND INCREASE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE “HEALTHY BODEGA” INITIATIVE.

THIS YEAR — OUR HOLIDAY “SHOP BROOKLYN” CAMPAIGN INVITED TOURISTS TO
“SHOP BROOKLYN” — AND URGED BROOKLYNITES TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES
THAT ARE VITAL MEMBERS OF OUR BROOKLYN FAMILY.
WE REMINDED BROOKLYNITES THAT WE ARE NOT THE SUBURBS ? WE’RE NOT “STRIP
MALL AFTER STRIP MALL”!

BROOKLYN’S AUTHENTIC MOM-AND-POP SHOPS OFFER UNIQUE VARIETY AND
PERSONALIZED SERVICE ? ON RETAIL CORRIDORS FROM BROADWAY TO KINGS HIGHWAY, FROM FULTON MALL TO FLATBUSH TO 5TH AVENUE —
FROM PITKIN TO GRAHAM AVENUE, FROM WATER STREET TO AVENUE U, AND FROM
86TH STREET TO BRIGHTON BEACH AVENUE TO SHEEPSHEAD BAY ROAD.

EVEN DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, WHEN ALL OF OUR FAMILIES ARE SCALING
BACK A BIT ON SPENDING — WE STILL HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE SURE THE DOLLARS THAT WE DO SPEND ARE CIRCULATING IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
NEARLY 500 MERCHANTS JOINED THIS EFFORT — OFFERING “BROOKLYN BONUSES” ON WEEKENDS.
AND WE’RE DOING IT AGAIN THIS WEEKEND FOR VALENTINE’S DAY! ?
AND FOR EVERY SHOPPING HOLIDAY AND MAJOR SHOPPING SEASON ALL YEAR LONG! ?
SHOP BROOKLYN!

[TEXT: THE REAL STORY: TOURISM]
JUST AS BROOKLYN IS “PROUD HOME TO EVERYONE FROM EVERYWHERE” —
WE HAVE ANOTHER ROLE — “PROUD HOST TO EVERYONE FROM EVERYWHERE”
JUST ASK SAMANTHA BROWN, FROM THE “TRAVEL CHANNEL’S” “PASSPORT” SERIES.
SAMANTHA LIVES IN PARK SLOPE WITH HER HUSBAND KEVIN, AND TRAVELS TO THE
HIPPEST HOT-SPOTS WORLDWIDE.
BUT HER BEST EPISODE, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, WAS LAST YEAR’S “PASSPORT TO
GREAT WEEKENDS — BROOKLYN”

MY OFFICE HAS ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT TOURISM IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS YEAR MARKS THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BROOKLYN TOURISM VISITOR’S
CENTER —
THE FIRST TOURISM CENTER OUTSIDE MANHATTAN.

AND JUST WHAT HAS OUR OFFICE ACCOMPLISHED?
WELL — LET’S JUST TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS WE’VE
GOTTEN FOR BROOKLYN THIS PAST YEAR.
LONELY PLANET’S NEW INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE —CHOSE BROOKLYN AS ONE OF
SIX MINI GUIDES — ALONG WITH CITIES LIKE EDINBURGH AND SINGAPORE.
AND — A MAJOR “GET” —
A SEVENTEEN-PAGE SPREAD IN THE FEBRUARY EDITION OF U.S. AIRWAYS MAGAZINE —
SEEN BY FIVE MILLION TRAVELERS WORLDWIDE!
THIS BRINGS PEOPLE TO BROOKLYN AND JOBS TO BROOKLYNITES.

IN 2008, WE PARTNERED WITH THE MAYOR’S OFFICE AND BROUGHT THOUSANDS OUT
FOR THE BIGGEST PARTY OF THE YEAR — THE 125TH BIRTHDAY OF THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE. (THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR PATTI HARRIS)
WE’RE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS LIKE THE BROOKLYN BOOK
FESTIVAL.
IN ITS 4TH YEAR OF DRAWING OVER 25,000 BOOK LOVERS — AND BEING WHAT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES CALLS “THE CENTER OF THE LITERARY UNIVERSE” —
IT’S NOW THE LARGEST FREE LITERARY EVENT IN NYC — FEATURING 150 TOP AUTHORS LIKE PAUL AUSTER, A.M. HOMES, WALTER MOSLEY, JONATHAN LETHEM, PETE HAMILL..
AND TALK ABOUT AN ECONOMIC BOOST —
OUR 150 PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS, AND VENDORS DO GREAT BUSINESS ON BOOK
FESTIVAL DAY —
AS DO ALL THE BUSINESSES ALONG MONTAGUE STREET, COURT STREET, SMITH STREET
AND IN ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
TONIGHT — WE HAVE WITH US — DENNIS JOHNSON AND VALERIE MERIANS OF
MELVILLE HOUSE PUBLISHING —
WHO DID SUCH GOOD BUSINESS AT THE BOOK FESTIVAL —
AND WERE SO IMPRESSED BY OUR LITERARY COMMUNITY — THEY MOVED THEIR
PUBLISHING HOUSE FROM HOBOKEN TO BROOKLYN!
DENNIS AND VALERIE PLEASE STAND.
THANK YOU FOR BECOMING BROOKLYNITES!
(Pause)

NOW I DON’T CLAIM TO BE AN ART EXPERT — (JAMIE WILL TELL YOU — I DON’T KNOW
A BREUGEL FROM A BAGEL.
THOUGH I ACTUALLY DREW THIS PICTURE OF A BAGEL
FOR “TIME OUT NEW YORK” THIS YEAR — WITH SOME HELP FROM JAMIE) —
(DON’T WORRY, I’LL KEEP MY DAY JOB!)
A FEW MONTHS AGO I TOLD MY STAFF THAT WE NEEDED TO DO FOR BROOKLYN ART
WHAT THE BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL HAS DONE FOR OUR LITERARY ECONOMY.
WHY — BECAUSE IF THERE’S ONE THING WE KNOW, IT’S “WHERE ARTISTS LIVE AND
THRIVE —ECONOMIES IMPROVE”
THAT’S WHY EVERY CITY COMPETES FOR ARTISTS — AND FRANKLY, THEY WISH THEY
HAD WHAT BROOKLYN HAS.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT OUR ARTISTS CONTINUE TO MAKE MONEY — AND CONTINUE TO
LIVE AND WORK IN BROOKLYN.
SO, IN DECEMBER, WE LAUNCHED THE FIRST ANNUAL “SMART GALLERY HOP” —
FEATURING SIXTY-FOUR GALLERIES IN FOUR BROOKLYN “GALLERY DISTRICTS”—
SUCH AS WILLIAMSBURG’S “LIKE THE SPICE”—
WHICH SOLD A MAJOR PAINTING THAT DAY, TO A BUYER WHO HAD NEVER BEEN TO WILLIAMSBURG ? AND WHO HAS SINCE BROUGHT NEW CUSTOMERS BACK TO THE GALLERY! ? THE OWNER OF “LIKE THE SPICE”— PLEASE STAND — MARISSA SAGE!— KUDOS!
WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR!
AS WE KNOW, BROOKLYN HAS EVERY CUISINE ON THE PLANET — FROM PIZZA TO
PASTRAMI TO PEIROGIES, FROM BURRITOS TO BORSCHT, FROM MOUSSAKA TO MOO SHU,
FROM KOSHER SUSHI TO COLLARD GREENS, DONUTS TO DONER KEBABS, AND GNOCHHI TO NOVA LOX
AND LAST FALL, WE GOT THE FAMOUS SOUTH BEACH FLORIDA “FOOD AND WINE”
FESTIVAL’S “RACHEL RAY BURGER BASH”— TO COME TO THE TOBACCO WAREHOUSE AT EMPIRE-FULTON FERRY STATE PARK.
MY OFFICE WAS ALSO PASSIONATE LAST YEAR ABOUT HELPING TO SAVE WHAT
HAS BECOME ONE OF BROOKLYN’S MOST BELOVED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS — THE RED HOOK PARK FOOD VENDORS, WHOSE DELICACIES FEED NOT ONLY HUNGRY FOOTBALLERS — BUT “FOODIES” FROM FAR-AND-WIDE.
PLEASE STAND, CESAR FUENTES — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RED HOOK FOOD
VENDORS.
GRACIAS, CESAR — AND VIVA RED HOOK VENDORS!
AND OF COURSE, BROOKLYN TOURISM WILL AGAIN BE SHOWCASING OUR BOROUGH’S CULINARY OFFERINGS — DURING THE 6TH ANNUAL DINE IN BROOKLYN RESTAURANT WEEK, SPONSORED BY MY OFFICE — MARCH 23RD — APRIL 2ND!

WORLD-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT OF COURSE — MEANS TOURISM DOLLARS TOO — THAT
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT WHEN THE METROPOLITAN OPERA BRINGS ITS TOP STARS — AND IT’S LOYAL AUDIENCE —TO PROSPECT PARK, AS IT DID IN JUNE FOR ITS ONLY CITY-WIDE OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT — OR WHEN PAUL SIMON PLAYS MULTIPLE SOLD-OUT NIGHTS AT BAM —
OR WHEN WE DRAW TENS OF THOUSANDS TO THE FREE CONCERTS I’VE BEEN HOSTING
FOR 30 YEARS AT WINGATE FIELD IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN — AND ASSER LEVY PARK IN
CONEY ISLAND!

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOURISM AND ENTERTAINMENT AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
—
I ALSO MUST MENTION THE LOEWS KINGS THEATER IN FLATBUSH. — THE LAST
“WONDER THEATER” IN THE CITY THAT HAS NOT BEEN SUBDIVIDED
I HAD MY FIRST DATE IN THE UPPER-LEFT BALCONY — , WHEN I WAS 16, IN CASE YOU
WERE WONDERING
IT WAS MY FIRST “COUPLES” DATE — NOT WITH A GROUP
BACK THEN, IT WAS CONSIDERED “GETTING SOMEWHERE” TO PUT YOUR ARM AROUND
YOUR DATE’S SHOULDER.
(IT’S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY TODAY! — BACK THEN THERE WERE NO “HOT TUBS”
EITHER) — BUT WHO MY AGE DIDN’T HAVE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AT THE LOEWS KINGS?
IT’S BEEN EMPTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS — AND NOW I’M PROUD TO SAY WE ARE WORKING
WITH NEW YORK CITY E-D-C TO SELECT A DEVELOPER-OPERATOR.
MY DREAM REMAINS THAT THE LOEWS KINGS WILL, SOME DAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE,
COMBINE THE APOLLO AND BEACON THEATERS RIGHT HERE IN OUR BOROUGH —
AND BE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR FLATBUSH AVENUE AND ALL OF CENTRAL
BROOKLYN.
(THANK YOU, E-D-C PRESIDENT AND BROOKLYN RESIDENT, SETH PINSKY)
AND THANK YOU BROOKLYN BOROUGH HISTORIAN RON SCHWEIGER FOR THE GREAT HISTORIC PHOTOS.
THE WORLD’S GREAT CITIES ARE DEFINED BY THE BEAUTY, GRANDEUR, AND
HUMANITY OF THEIR PUBLIC SPACES.
THIS YEAR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ICONIC MCCARREN PARK POOL— IN
WILLIAMSBURG-GREENPOINT BEGINS —
AS DOES THE COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE EXPANSIVE DRIER-OFFERMAN PARK, IN GRAVESEND.
BRAVO TO BROOKLYN PARKS COMMISSIONER JULIUS SPIEGEL


I ALSO WANT TO APPLAUD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OPEN SPACE ALLIANCE —
WHICH WILL DO FOR NORTH BROOKLYN PARKS — WHAT THE PROSPECT PARK ALLIANCE HAS DONE FOR PROSPECT PARK — WELCOME, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEPHANIE THAYER.

IT IS ALSO INCREDIBLY SATISFYING TO KNOW THAT A PROJECT MY CAPITAL FUNDS
SUPPORTED — THE FIRST PHASE OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK — THAT 85-ACRE GEM WITH
THE BEST VIEWS ON EARTH —
PIERS 1 AND 6, INCLUDING AN INCREDIBLE PLAYGROUND — WILL BE COMPLETE
BEFORE THE END OF 2009.

MOVING SOUTH TO CONEY ISLAND— I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMAN
DOMINIC RECCHIA AND SAY ALONG WITH HIM LOUD AND CLEAR —
THAT THIS SUMMER, CONEY ISLAND IS ABSOLUTELY “OPEN FOR BUSINESS.”
BUT LET ME TELL YOU —
THIS IS THE YEAR TO GET THE JOB DONE IN CONEY.
AND I AM GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE VISION OF CONEY I BELIEVE IN.
THE REVITALIZATION OF “AMERICA’S FAVORITE PLAYGROUND” ? FOR THE FAMILIES
OF THIS GREAT CITY.
CONEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE A FAMILY OF MODEST MEANS COULD COME
TO PLAY AND TO DREAM.
IT’S NOT ABOUT PROFITS — IT’S ABOUT FAMILIES.
ESPECIALLY NOW — WE OWE IT TO THEM — TO KEEP THIS PLAN MOVING.
TO PRESERVE THE TRADITION, THE FREAKISHNESS AND THE FUN — AND MOVE
DECISIVELY INTO THE FUTURE.

AS YOU KNOW? I HAVE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY AND SUPPORT INTO THE DREAM OF
CONEY ISLAND CENTER.
WE ARE NOW IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE —OF A PROJECT THAT WILL
BRING THE FIRST AND ONLY AMPHITHEATER IN NEW YORK CITY — TO BROOKLYN.

CONEY ISLAND CENTER WILL INCLUDE THE AMPHITHEATER — ON THE SITE WHERE WE CURRENTLY HOST THE SEASIDE SUMMER CONCERTS — AS WELL AS A GORGEOUS REVITALIZED ASSER LEVY PARK AND RECREATION AREA.
THESE UPGRADES ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING CONEY THE ECONOMIC ENGINE WE KNOW
IT CAN BE — BRINGING TOP TIER ENTERTAINERS — (WITH FREE EVENTS HAPPENING TOO)— AND BEING A WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION WORTHY OF 21ST CENTURY BROOKLYN.
(THANK YOU D-D-C COMMISSIONER DAVID BURNEY, FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT
OF THIS PROJECT)


[THE REAL STORY: HOUSING]
FOR BROOKLYN TO CONTINUE TO FLOURISH — WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR ETHNIC AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.
THEREFORE WE MUST ENSURE THAT THOSE OF EVERY INCOME LEVEL ARE ABLE TO LIVE
HERE AFFORDABLY.
THAT’S WHY, WHEN NEARLY 6000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT STARRETT CITY
—
WERE THREATENED WITH GOING MARKET-RATE—
WE IMMEDIATELY COMMUNICATED WITH RESIDENTS — AND BEGAN TO FIGHT.
WE JOINED TENANTS, ADVOCATES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS — AND OUR
CRY WAS HEARD
AND THANKS TO THESE EFFORTS —
STARRETT CITY WILL REMAIN THE GLOBAL MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL, AFFORDABLE,
DIVERSE URBAN LIVING IN AMERICA AND BEYOND.
KUDOS TO SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER AND CONGRESSMAN ED TOWNS AND ALL
THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

IN WILLIAMSBURG WHEN ARTISTS AT 475 KENT AVE.— INCLUDING TENANT LEADER
STEVE HARRINGTON, WHO IS WITH US TONIGHT — WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR LIVE-WORK STUDIOS, DUE TO THE LANDLORD’S CODE VIOLATIONS —
MY OFFICE HELPED THEM GET BACK INSIDE —
AND GET BACK TO MAKING THE ART THAT MAKES BROOKLYN THE “CREATIVE CAPITAL
OF NEW YORK CITY.”
THANK YOU STEVE, PLEASE STAND.

WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SMART ZONING IS ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS
WE’VE GOT TO PRESERVE THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR BROOKLYN COMMUNITIES. MY OFFICE HAS WORKED TO LANDMARK AND DOWN-ZONE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
TALL BUILDINGS DO NOT BELONG.
REMEMBER, THIS IS BROOKLYN—NOT MANHATTAN!
FOR EXAMPLE, I SUPPORTED THE LANDMARKING OF PARTS OF SHEEPSHEAD BAY, FISKE TERRACE, MIDWOOD PARK, PROSPECT HEIGHTS, AND DUMBO —

AND AM WORKING TO DO THE SAME FOR A NEW EXTENSION OF PARK SLOPE, DITMAS PARK WEST, AND CROWN HEIGHTS NORTH.
I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTED DOWN-ZONING IN PARTS OF CARROLL GARDENS AND DYKER HEIGHTS —
AND AM URGING THE SAME FOR BRIGHTON BEACH, GREENPOINT WILLIAMSBURG, EAST WINDSOR TERRACE, SUNSET PARK, NORTH FLATBUSH, EAST FLATBUSH, AND CANARSIE.

SINCE 2002, MY OFFICE HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN CREATING AN ESTIMATED SEVEN
-THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
(THANK YOU, PLANNING COMMISSIONER AMANDA BURDEN, BROOKLYN PLANNING
COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE SHIRLEY MCRAE,
AND OF COURSE — OUR NEW HUD SECRETARY, FORMER H-P-D COMMISSIONER AND BROOKLYNITE, SEAN DONOVAN.)

WHEN WE USE THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S CAPITAL BUDGET TO CREATE
PARTNERSHIPS —
WE GET VICTORIES LIKE THE 41 NEW UNITS AT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY’S “ATLANTIC
AVENUE” PROJECT. —
HABITAT’S LARGEST, “GREENEST” MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING EVER — RIGHT IN OCEAN
HILL BROWNSVILLE! — THANK YOU JOSH LOCKWOOD!
AS YOU KNOW, HABITAT FAMILIES WORK WITH VOLUNTEERS TO BUILD THE HOMES
THEY WILL SOON OWN.
AND TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY “FAMILY PARTNER” MADLEN PARKS — A MOTHER OF
TWO WHO HAS WORKED 600 HOURS ON THE ATLANTIC AVENUE PROJECT — ALONG WITH HER 18-YEAR-OLD SON MARLON.
LATER THIS YEAR — SHE WILL BE A HOMEOWNER!
BRAVO MADLEN! PLEASE STAND
UNLIKE ME, BECAUSE I STILL RENT — YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOME-
OWNER TAX CREDIT THIS YEAR — AND — BE YOUR OWN LANDLORD!

[THE REAL STORY: REAL BROOKLYN ICONS]

WITHOUT PARTNERS IN THE PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS
COULD NEVER BE EFFECTIVE.
AS WE SPEAK, FOUR GREAT BROOKLYN PARTNERS ARE PREPARING FOR THEIR “SECOND
ACTS,” A-K-A RETIREMENT, WHICH IN THEIR CASE WILL BE ANYTHING BUT “RETIRING.”
BOB CATELL EXEMPLIFIES THAT RARE COMBINATION OF EXECUTIVE BRILLIANCE AND ALTRUISTIC SPIRIT.
BOB JOINED BROOKLYN UNION GAS IN 1958 AND HELPED BUILD KEYSPAN— NOW THE
U.K’S NATIONAL GRID— INTO AN INDUSTRY LEADER AND A PHILANTHROPIC POWERHOUSE.
BOB LED DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN, CREATING THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL AND CO-CHAIRING THE BOARD OF THE DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PARTNERSHIP. THROUGH THE YEARS, BOB KEPT THE HEADQUARTERS OF BUG AND KEYSPAN IN
BROOKLYN — AND AS A PARTING GIFT, HE’S MADE SURE THE CLASSIC “POSTAGE-FREE STAMP” CONTINUES UNDER NATIONAL GRID!
BOB PLEASE STAND— A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BOB CATELL!
SINCE SHE WAS YOUNG, JEAN LEON, A PROUD DAUGHTER OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
WANTED TO HELP OTHERS — SO SHE BECAME A REGISTERED NURSE.
SHE PROGRESSED INTO HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY —
AND AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER — SHE
TRANSFORMED IT INTO A STATE-OF-THE-ART PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY.
JEAN SPEARHEADED THE HOSPITAL’S $500 MILLION DOLLAR REFURBISHING —
WHILE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT BROOKLYNITES OF EVERY INCOME LEVEL GET
QUALITY CARE.
PLEASE STAND, JEAN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO BROOKLYN!


DR. CHRISTOPH KIMMICH STARTED TEACHING AT MY ALMA MATER, BROOKLYN
COLLEGE 1973 — SO BY THE TIME HE WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT IN 2000 — HE KNEW THE PLACE INSIDE AND OUT — AND HAD VERY AMBITIOUS GOALS.
DURING HIS TENURE, THE PRINCETON REVIEW NAMED BROOKLYN COLLEGE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS IN THE COUNTRY, AND ONE OF THE BEST EDUCATION VALUES NATIONWIDE.
THANKS TO CHRISTOPH, IT NOW HAS A NEWLY RENOVATED LIBRARY, AND THE WEST
QUAD BUILDING, WHICH CONSOLIDATES STUDENT SERVICES AND FEATURES A NEW GYM.
IT WILL ALSO SOON BOAST THE LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE IN SOUTHERN
BROOKLYN, A NEW DORMITORY AND A SCIENCE BUILDING WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART LABS. PLEASE STAND, DR. KIMMICH
THANK YOU FOR MAKING BROOKLYN COLLEGE WHAT WE CALL A PUBLIC “IVY”.

NO INSTITUTION IGNITES OUR KIDS CURIOSITY BETTER THAN THE BROOKLYN
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM— IT WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME IN 1899, WHEN IT BECAME THE FIRST CHILDREN’S MUSEUM IN THE WORLD — AND IT STILL IS!

AS PRESIDENT, CAROL ENSEKI, HAS PROVIDED THE LEADERSHIP TO MAKE THE DREAM
OF EXPANDING THE MUSEUM A REALITY — WITH THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART, VIBRANT YELLOW AND PROUDLY “GREEN” RENOVATION BY “STAR-CHITECT” RAFAEL VINOLY.

THE NEWLY RENOVATED MUSEUM JUST WELCOMED ITS ONE-HUNDRED-THOUSANDTH VISITOR SINCE REOPENING IN SEPTEMBER 2008 — AND WE OWE THAT SUCCESS TO CAROL.
CAROL ENSEKI — PLEASE STAND.

[BROOKLYN MOURNS
LAST YEAR, WE LOST MANY BROOKLYN LEGENDS.
WE MOURN THE PASSING OF SALVATORE ALBA, OF THE FAMILY BAKERY, ALBA PASTRY
SHOP IN BENSONHURST — (I REALLY MISS THOSE PIGNOLI COOKIES.)
AND THE VISIONARY LEADER OF CAPE-USA, AMIR ABDUL-AKBAR.— I MISS HIM — (AND
ALL HIS EMAILS).
LANCE JOHNSON—KNOWN TO SO MANY KIDS AS “COACH” — WILL BE REMEMBERED
FOR HIS SERVICE WITH THE “POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE” AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. ARCHBISHOP WILBERT MCKINLEY OF ELIM INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP WAS ONE
OF BROOKLYN’S MOST CELEBRATED SPIRITUAL LEADERS.

AND WE REMEMBER THE RICH, CREATIVE LIFE OF ONNIE MILLAR, WHO LIVES ON IN HER BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK.
ONE OF BROOKLYN’S MOST ARDENT CHAMPIONS WAS LOST WITH THE PASSING OF A
DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, SHEILA NELSON— A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY BOARD, EDUCATOR AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST — WHO’S MOST HEARTFELT ROLES WERE AS BELOVED WIFE TO COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL NELSON—AND AS LOVING MOTHER TO BONNIE-JILL. BROOKLYN WILL ALWAYS HAVE SALOON-KEEPERS, BUT THERE WILL NEVER BE
ANOTHER SEAMUS O’TOOLE.— HIS LANDMARK TAVERN— EAMONN DORAN’S ON MONTAGUE
— WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE A FAVORITE HANGOUT FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSPEOPLE, POLITICIANS — AND IRISH ACTIVISTS.
ODESSA SKEENE, FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BROOKLYN SECTION OF THE “NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN,” WAS RECENTLY CALLED HOME.
AND WE SAY FAREWELL TO MILDRED SCOTT, AN ACTIVIST AND TEACHER, WHOSE
GENEROSITY BLESSED CROWN HEIGHTS AND ALL OF BROOKLYN.
AND NOW LET’S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THESE AND OTHER BROOKLYNITES WE LOST THIS PAST YEAR.
[BROOKLYN SALUTES]
BROOKLYN SALUTES ALL THOSE WHO PROUDLY SERVE OUR COUNTRY IN THE ARMED
SERVICES — AND OF COURSE WE COMMEND OUR NEW COMMANDER OF BROOKLYN’S FORT HAMILTON — COLONEL STEPHEN V. SMITH.
AS WELL AS NEW COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR SYLVIA LAUGHTON — AND ALL THE
MEN AND WOMEN UNDER YOUR COMMAND
TONIGHT WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE —
LIKE BROOKLYNITE LANCE-CORPORAL JULIAN T. BRENNAN.
IN 2005 — INSPIRED BY THE HEROISM OF HIS GRANDFATHER, WHO FOUGHT AT IWO JIMA
AND RECEIVED THE NAVY CROSS —
LANCE CORPORAL BRENNAN LEFT PARK SLOPE — AND A BUDDING ACTING CAREER — TO JOIN THE MARINES.
HE WAS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN ON JANUARY 25TH, LEAVING BEHIND A WIFE AND
GRIEVING FAMILY.
ALL OF BROOKLYN HONORS HIS SERVICE.


HERE WITH US TONIGHT, REPRESENTING ALL OUR BRAVE BROOKLYN SERVICE-PEOPLE
— IS ANTHONY ALAIMO —
A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS IN THE U.S. ARMY — JUST BACK FROM A 15-MONTH TOUR OF
DUTY IN KUWAIT, WHERE HE WAS DOING CONVOY SECURITY FOR IRAQ.
THIS YEAR, ANTHONY’S FAMILY — WHICH OWNS THE VILLABATE BAKERY IN
BENSONHURST —
HOSTED THE WOUNDED WARRIOR’S MARCH,” TO RAISE MONEY FOR SOLDIERS WITH
SEVERE INJURIES.
PLEASE STAND ANTHONY —
WE THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY — FOR BEING SUCH GREAT AMERICANS
AS WE KNOW — SADLY, CRIME IS PART OF THE REALITY OF CITY LIFE —
BUT IN A HUMANE SOCIETY — ANY CRIME, ANY MURDER — IS ONE TOO MANY.
ALL OF BROOKLYN IS STILL IN MOURNING AFTER THE SENSELESS SHOOTING DEATH OF SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD
NYASIA PRYEAR-YARD — AN HONOR STUDENT AT NAZARETH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN
EAST FLATBUSH —
WHO WAS ATTENDING AN ALCOHOL-FREE “TEEN NIGHT” PARTY LAST MONTH, WHEN
GANGS AND GUNS SENSELESSLY ENDED HER BRIGHT AND PROMISING YOUNG LIFE.
NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE ANGUISH THAT JENNIFER
PRYEAR AND ALBERTO YARD EXPERIENCED ON JANUARY 18TH —
AND MUST NOW LIVE WITH, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THIS EVENT IS STILL FRESH.
BUT DESPITE THEIR SHOCK AND THEIR GRIEF — JENNIFER AND ALBERTO CAME OUT
THIS WEEK AND MET WITH OUR NEW U.S. SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND — TO SPEAK TO HER ABOUT THEIR LOVE FOR THEIR DAUGHTER —
AND ABOUT WHAT GUN VIOLENCE HAS DONE TO THEIR FAMILY.
I HAVE INVITED THEM HERE TONIGHT —
BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL WITH THEM — THE MAYOR, WHO
HAS MADE ERADICATING ILLEGAL GUNS A CORNERSTONE POLICY — AND ALL OF US.
WE MOURN WITH YOU — AND ALL THE FAMILIES IN NEW YORK CITY WHO HAVE LOST
LOVED ONES TO GUN VIOLENCE.
AND RE-DEDICATE OURSELVES TO FIGHT ALONG WITH YOU TO FINALLY BRING THIS
VIOLENCE TO AN END.
JENNIFER AND ALBERTO — PLEASE STAND.

AS WE WORK TO RID OUR STREETS OF GUNS THAT KILL —
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO COMMEND TWO OF NEW YORK’S FINEST.
FOR HAVING THE PRECINCT WITH THE LARGEST DROP IN CRIME THIS PAST YEAR —
PLEASE RECOGNIZE DEPUTY INSPECTOR JOHN COSGROVE OF THE 77TH PRECINCT IN
NORTH CROWN HEIGHTS —
INSPECTOR COSGROVE, PLEASE STAND
THANK YOU, INSPECTOR.
AND THANK YOU CHIEF GERALD NELSON OF BROOKLYN NORTH

AND FOR PRESIDING OVER A PRECINCT WHICH HAD NO HOMICIDES IN 2008 — I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DEPUTY INSPECTOR ERIC RODRIGUEZ, OF THE 68TH PRECINCT IN BAY RIDGE.
THAT RECORD IS WHAT EVERY PRECINCT ASPIRES TO.
INSPECTOR RODRIGUEZ, PLEASE STAND.
THANK YOU, INSPECTOR.
AND THANK YOU, CHIEF OF BROOKLYN SOUTH, MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER, CHIEF
JOSEPH FOX.


[TEXT: REAL BROOKLYN CHARCTERS

I DO LOVE IT WHEN BROOKLYNITES ARE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY FOR OUR TALENTS.
LIKE BROOKLYNS’ POET LAUREATE KEN SIEGELMAN — WHO THIS PAST YEAR HAD A
DOCU-DRAMA MADE ABOUT HIS LIFE? — FADING TO ZERO — KUDOS, KEN.

WE ALL KNOW THAT BROOKLYNITES HAVE THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO MAKE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING INTERESTING.
AND ARTIST TARA DONOVAN DOES SUCH AMAZING WORK WITH OBJECTS LIKE
DRINKING STRAWS AND STYROFOAM CUPS — THAT SHE RECEIVED A FIVE-HUNDRED-
THOUSAND DOLLAR MACARTHUR “GENIUS” FELLOWSHIP.
TARA, YOU’RE A BROOKLYN GENIUS
THIS YEAR A BROOKLYNITE WAS AWARDED THE HIGHEST HONOR THE JAPANESE
GOVERNMENT GIVES TO FOREIGNERS ? THE “EMPEROR’S AWARD OF THE RISING SUN”—
THAT BROOKLYNITE WAS NONE OTHER THAN JUDO CHAMPION "RUSTY" KANOKOGI—
BACK IN THE FIFTIES, RUSTY WAS FORCED TO COMPETE IN DISGUISE ON AN ALL-MALE
TEAM! ? BUT THANKS TO HER GUTS AND ADVOCACY, WOMEN’S JUDO BECAME AN OLYMPIC SPORT!
RUSTY AND I ARE BOTH NOW “MATURER” CITIZENS — BUT SHE STILL HOLDS A SEVENTH-DEGREE BLACKBELT —
AND I STILL WOULDN’T ACCEPT A CHALLENGE ? NOT FOR ALL THE CHEESECAKE AT JUNIORS. RUSTY KANAKOGI!

SPEAKING OF SPORTS, IN MY DAY, IT WAS BASEBALL, STICKBALL, AND PUNCHBALL —
TODAY, ITS BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL TOO —
BUT FENCING?!
AT THE BEIJING OLYMPICS — KEETH AND ERIN SMART — BROTHER AND SISTER
FENCERS FROM FLATBUSH —
EXHIBITED SO MUCH “BROOKLYN ATTITUDE” — THEY BOTH WON SILVER MEDALS FOR
THE U.S.A.
KEETH AND ERIN — YOU DO BROOKLYN PROUD!

LIKE ALL OF YOU — I WANT TO SPEND AS MANY YEARS IN BROOKLYN AS I CAN — SO I
NEED THE SECRET TO LONG LIFE—
THAT WHY I INVITED DR. SHERWIN BERGER — A 76-YEAR-OLD DENTIST FROM
BENSONHURST—
AND THE OLDEST BROOKLYNITE TO RUN IN THE NEW YORK MARATHON—
WHICH HE’S DONE, BY THE WAY, 26 TIMES SINCE 1980.
DOCTOR, YOU PROVE THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY TO FIND THE EASY WAY— TO
BE FIT TAKES WORK, AT ANY AGE.
LET’S GIVE HIM A HAND ? DR. BERGER.

AND WE ALSO HAVE HERE TONIGHT ANOTHER MAN I GREATLY ADMIRE — BORO PARK’S
DANIEL DUBE. DANIEL AND HIS FATHER OPENED UP PARK SURGICAL — AND AT 100-YEARS-YOUNG — DANIEL STILL WORKS FULL TIME — AS ACTIVELY AS HIS YOUNGER WORKERS!
I SAID, “DANIEL — TELL ME, TELL ME YOUR SECRET!’
IS IT A PASTRAMI SANDWICH A DAY? CHEESCAKE?
IS IT A BOTTLE OF RED WINE?
AND HE TOLD ME — HE TAKES A TABLESPOON OF COD-LIVER OIL, EATS WHEAT BRAN —
OH AND ONE OTHER THING — HE’S NEVER BEEN MARRIED!
DANIEL DUBE!
DANIEL WILL AGREE WITH ME — IT’S NOT REALLY ABOUT MARRIAGE — IT’S ABOUT
THOSE GENES!
— AND DANIEL, YOU’VE GOT GOOD GENES!

SPEAKING OF MARRIAGE — TOMORROW I HAVE MY ANNUAL VALENTINES
“SWEETHEARTS” EVENT, WHICH I’VE DONE FOR SIX YEARS — WITH HUNDREDS OF COUPLES MARRIED 50 YEARS OR MORE.

JAMIE AND I RENEW THEIR VOWS, AND TOAST “TRUE LOVE.”
AND JOINING US TOMORROW — AND HERE TONIGHT — ARE ANTHONY AND VINCENZA NAPOLI — MARRIED 63 YEARS!
THEY MET AS TEENAGERS IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN.
ANTHONY WENT OFF TO FIGHT IN WORLD WAR II.
WHILE ON A FURLOUGH IN BROOKLYN, HE AND VINCENZA DECIDED TO GET HITCHED.
THEY PLANNED A WEDDING IN JUST TWO WEEKS — AND MARRIED BEFORE ANTHONY
RETURNED OVERSEAS.
TALK ABOUT ROMANTIC!
AND 63 YEARS LATER, THEY LIVE IN THE SAME DYKER HEIGHTS HOME WHERE THEY
RAISED THEIR TWO KIDS — MARIA AND ANTHONY JUNIOR.
THEY CREDIT THEIR LONG MARRIAGE TO PATIENCE, FAITH, LOVE — AND, LET’S NOT
FORGET, PLENTY OF HARD WORK.
ANTHONY, VINCENZA — PLEASE STAND! SALUT!

ANOTHER “ROMANTIC” JAKE BRONSTEIN OF WILLIAMSBURG—
DECIDED TO MAKE BROOKLYN AND THE WORLD A LITTLE BRIGHTER BY PROMISING TO
SEND LOVE LETTERS TO THE FIRST THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO SENT HIM THEIR ADDRESS.
AND WITH VALENTINE’S DAY TWO DAYS AWAY, YOU BETTER ACT FAST, THE ORDERS
ARE POURING IN JAKE BRONSTEIN — PLEASE STAND —
[REAL BROOKLYN HEROES]
THIS YEAR BROOKLYNITES MADE HEADLINES BY HELPING OTHERS ? WE HAVE THREE HERE THIS EVENING.

OUR FIRST STORY STARTED AS EVERY PARENT’S NIGHTMARE.
A STROLLER WITH AN INFANT INSIDE, ROLLED OFF THE SUBWAY PLATFORM AT THE
ATLANTIC AVENUE STATION ? JUST AS A TRAIN WAS APPROACHING.
LUC DUBISSON, A TRANSIT WORKER FROM OLD MILL BASIN, ALONG WITH A
COLLEAGUE, JUMPED ONTO THE TRACK.
TALK ABOUT PUTTING YOURSELF IN HARM’S WAY ? THEY ACTUALLY WALKED
TOWARD THE APPROACHING TRAIN, WHICH WAS ONLY ABOUT 300 FEET AWAY, WAVING THEIR ARMS TO GET THE MOTORMAN’S ATTENTION.
HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRAIN JUST IN TIME.
PLEASE STAND, LUC
WE APPLAUD YOUR BRAVERY.

AND KEMOY GOURZANG — A FIFTH GRADER WHO WAS WALKING TO SCHOOL IN EAST FLATBUSH ONE MORNING AND FOUND A WALLET WITH ABOUT FIVE-HUNDRED DOLLARS IN IT.


RATHER THAN KEEP THE MONEY — EVEN THOUGH SOME OF HIS SCHOOLMATES
ADVISED HIM TO —
HE TURNED IT INTO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, WHO LOCATED THE OWNER.
KEMOY — PLEASE STAND.
THAT’S WHAT WE CALL “GOOD KARMA.” — YOU’RE A REAL BROOKLYN ROLE MODEL!

AND BECAUSE BROOKLYN HEROISM ISN’T LIMITED TO HUMANS — WE INVITED “LEXI
THE GREAT” OF BAY RIDGE—
A DOG — WHO ONE DAY REFUSED TO BUDGE WHEN HER OWNER LINDA DEUTSCH TRIED
TO TAKE HER FOR A WALK.
IT TURNED OUT LEXI HEARD THE FAINT CRIES OF LINDA’S 85-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR —
WHO HAD FALLEN IN HIS APARTMENT AND INJURED HIMSELF —
LEXI SAVED THE MAN’S LIFE.
THANK YOU LINDA AND LEXI!
PLEASE COME OUT!

THESE HEADLINE-MAKERS — EACH SAW A MOMENT AND ACTED UNSELFISHLY.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOUND THEM — AND EVERY DAY, OPPORTUNITIES FIND EACH OF US.
FOR EXAMPLE — WHEN ANDREA WILLIAMS WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AIDS IN 1993 — ON
TOP OF DEALING WITH HER OWN STRUGGLE, SHE FELT A CALLING TO HELP OTHERS.
SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH HIV EDUCATION EVER SINCE — SPEAKING ON HIV
TESTING AND AIDS TREATMENT — AND HOSTING SUPPORT GROUPS AT HER CROWN HEIGHTS HOME.
SHE IS AN OUTREACH WORKER FOR LIFE FORCE, ADDRESSING HEALTH CARE ISSUES
FACED BY WOMEN OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY IN BROOKLYN — AND LAST YEAR AN HBO MOVIE WAS MADE ABOUT HER LIFE —
ANDREA WILLIAMS — PLEASE STAND.
YOU MAKE US ALL PROUD TO BE BROOKLYNITES.

STEPHEN MIRONES — PRESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN’S 60-YEAR-OLD ARI-MED
— SEES HIS FAMILY BUSINESS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS.
THE COMPANY MAKES ARTIFICIAL LIMBS — AND STEPHEN HAS PROVIDED DONATED PROSTHETICS TO THOSE IN NEED — FROM VICTIMS OF THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY CRASH TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOST ARMS AND LEGS IN THE CIVIL WAR IN SIERRA LEONE.
RECENTLY, ARIMED DONATED A PROSTHETIC LEG TO A 14-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN BOY
WHO LOST HIS LEG IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN RAMALLAH. — STEPHEN — PLEASE STAND.
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DO BROOKLYN PROUD.
[WHAT REALLY MATTERS]
THE CRISIS WE NOW FIND OURSELVES IN IS CAUSING US ALL TO DO SOME SOUL
SEARCHING.
AND AS I REFLECT ON THINGS — I DO WONDER, IF DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS,
SOMETHING GOT LOST.
MAYBE TOO MANY OF US HAVE BEEN DEFINING OURSELVES BY WHAT WE HAVE — AND
NOT BY WHO WE ARE.
MAYBE WE HAVE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME ACCUMULATING
MATERIAL POSSESSIONS — AND NOT SPENDING ENOUGH TIME WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS — REALLY LISTENING AND CARING.

MAYBE WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW — TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT PERHAPS
WE CAN LIVE WITH A CELL PHONE THAT’S A YEAR OLD —
OR A TV THAT’S 32 INCHES — NOT 60-INCH “HIGH-DEF.”

MAYBE WE WILL DO MORE FAVORS FOR ONE ANOTHER —WASTE LESS — SHARE MORE —
—
MAYBE WE APPRECIATE OUR HEALTH — AND THE SIMPLER JOYS OF LIFE.
MAYBE WE START TO RECOGNIZE — OUR CONNECTION TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
TO SEE THAT ALL WE REALLY HAVE — IS EACH OTHER.


LISTEN, I KNOW WE FACE MANY CHALLENGES.
BUT THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND A WHILE, WE KNOW THAT LIFE IS LIKE THE BROOKLYN CYCLONE ? SOMETIMES YOU’RE UP AND SOMETIMES YOU’RE DOWN
ISN’T THAT RIGHT, RICHIE?

GRAVESEND’S RICHIE RANDAZZO WAS A DOORMAN ON PARK AVENUE —LIVING ON A
WORKING MAN’S SALARY —
THE LAST THING HE THOUGHT ABOUT WAS THAT HE WOULD WIN THE LOTTERY — BUT
HE DID!
FIVE MILLION DOLLARS!
EVEN STILL, HE WANTED TO KEEP HIS DOORMAN JOB!
BUT THEY LET HIM GO! —
BUT THAT WAS OKAY —
BUT THEN SHE LET HIM GO, TOO!

BUT RICHIE IS STILL IN GOOD SPIRITS.
HE CARES FOR HIS FAMILY — HE’S STILL GOT FEW BUCKS TO PLAY AROUND WITH.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT — HE TAKES LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME — MAYBE WE ALL
SHOULD. RICHIE RANDAZZO — YOU’RE AS BROOKLYN AS IT GETS!

BELIEVE ME, I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE, AS I AM —WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE
IN THIS ECONOMIC CLIMATE.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT EACH TIME WE GO THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH —
WE ONLY GET STRONGER.
BROOKLYN IS STILL THE LAND WHERE LEGENDS ARE MADE AND DREAMS DO BECOME REAL.

PERHAPS WE CAN TAKE HEART IN A VERSE I ALWAYS HEAR IN BAPTIST CHURCHES —

THE ALMIGHTY KNOWETH THE ROAD WE TAKE.
AND WHEN HE HAS TESTED US —
WE SHALL COME FORTH —
AS PURE GOLD!

TOGETHER, BROOKLYN — I KNOW WE WILL.