BP Molinaro on Proposed City Council Bill to Allow Non-Citizen Voting: “ENOUGH ALREADY”

Borough President James P. Molinaro has blasted supporters of the proposed City Council Bill which would permit non-U.S. Citizens to vote in City elections.

Read his full statement here

B.P. Molinaro Gives Funding Support to Great Kills Memorial Day Parade

Photo by SI Advance/Anthony DePrimo

Borough President James P. Molinaro presented a check for $1,500 to the Great Kills Memorial Day Parade Committee at a ceremony in his Borough Hall office. On hand to accept the funding support was parade chairman Richard Kohn, and parade grand marshal Walter Osborn and his wife, Grace.

“In this time of fiscal constraint, I’m delighted that my office can still help support this important community event, and I want to commend the organizers of the parade for their extraordinary efforts year after year,” said Molinaro. “Staten Island is the city’s most patriotic borough. We remember our veterans and we support our troops who are currently stationed overseas away from their loved ones.” The 18th annual Great Kills Memorial Day Parade takes place on Saturday, May 18th, with an 11:00 a.m. step-off from Barnes Intermediate School, 225 Cleveland Avenue.

New Stores to Open Adjacent to Staten Island Wheel in St. George

Illustration of Outlet Center in St. George

When the Staten Island Wheel opens in St. George on July 4, 2016, Staten Islanders will not only have access to breathtaking views, but will be able to shop at new retail developments on the St. George waterfront.  Two developments, Empire Outlets and Lighthouse Pointe, will provide upscale and outlet shopping for Staten Islanders and tourists, and pump money into our economy, in addition to providing jobs for our residents.

New Park Opens on North Shore: 15-Acre Goodhue Park Adds to Borough's Green Spaces

Photo by SI Advance/Irving Silverstein

Thanks to Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council, Staten Island now has a brand new public park on our North Shore. The 15-acre Goodhue Park is part of a larger parcel of land owned by the Children’s Aid Society.  The land was in danger of development, but with this acquisition by the City, this open space is now protected for future generations.

Read the press release

B.P. Molinaro Hosts 2nd Annual Autism Resources Fair  

2013 Stand Together Resource Fair

In recognition of April as “Autism Awareness Month,” Borough President Molinaro hosted his second annual “Stand Together Resource Fair for Autism Services on Staten Island” at the Petrides School to connect families with the resources they are entitled to access. 

"Last year’s fair was a great success, and this year’s event was even bigger and better,” said Molinaro. “We had more than 850 people and 67 vendors. The fair is intended to give parents information on what's new in autism, and to find out what services and programs are available to help families cope. Parents need to know that they are not alone and there is hope for their children."  

This year’s fair showcased a wide range of vendors from autism service providers. Parents were able to “meet the experts” and speak one-on-one with members of the Borough President’s Committee on Autism, which consists of the Island’s autism organizations: Eden II, GRACE Foundation, JCC of Staten Island, On Your Mark, Volunteers of America, and Community Resources.

Companies offering job opportunities for young autistic adults were also on hand. Parents visited breakout rooms to hear guest speakers discuss new advances in technology, communication, and calming strategies to help families and caregivers relax. Fair-goers also received an updated version of the Borough President’s Autism Services Resource Guide.

Autism Resource Guide

American Arbitration Association to provide insurance mediation services for Sandy victims

The New York State Department of Financial Services has designated the American Arbitration Association to mediate disputes between Hurricane Sandy victims and their insurance companies.  Sessions will begin on Staten Island on April 11, in the Siller Foundation Building at 2145 Hylan Boulevard.  Sandy victims interested in mediation services may call 855-366-9767, or email StormSandyNY@adr.org to file a mediation request or to obtain more information about the program.

The mediation sessions are open to those who have had their insurance claims for loss of or damage to real or personal property denied in whole or part, or whose insurers have not offered a settlement within 45 days of receiving all necessary documentation. The damage being claimed must have occurred between October 26, 2012 and November 15, 2012.

Borough President Molinaro Outlines Initiatives in
2013 State of the Borough Address

Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro's 2013 State of the Borough Address - Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2 of Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro's 2013 State of the Borough Address

Borough President Molinaro recently gave his final State of the Borough Address to a crowd of over 650 at the St. George Theatre.  Highlights include:

• A new restaurant, The River Dock Café, at the St George Ferry Terminal
• A 9/11 First Responders Memorial in St. George
• A Memorial along the South Beach waterfront to honor victims of Hurricane Sandy
• Updates on the construction of the New York Wheel and surrounding amenities
• Resources dedicated to autism education and special needs services for Staten Island children and young adults
• Traffic-easing improvements across the Island
• New Senior Housing
• Hurricane Sandy recovery

Please check back soon to  view the 2013 State of the Borough Video and view Strategies & Successes: The 2013 State of the Borough Report, a publication containing important information on current Staten Island projects and improvements.

 

Strategies & Successes: The 2013 State of the Borough Report

Read the Speech

Video: The Future New Creek Bluebelt presented by Borough President James P. Molinaro

Video: Too Involved To Be Involved With Drugs

B.P. Molinaro Kicks Off “Readers are Leaders” Challenge at P.S. 52

P.S. 52 fourth grade class

Borough President James P. Molinaro kicked off his 2013 “Readers are Leaders” fourth-grade challenge at P.S. 52 in Dongan Hills. Molinaro announced that students in participating public, parochial and private schools must read a minimum of six books at grade level or above during the five-week period of March 22nd to April 26th, and submit reports on their favorite books.  Each school will submit the name of its Champion Reader, and an awards ceremony will be held in June.

“You learn to read, so for the rest of your life you will read to learn,” Molinaro told students in their book-packed school library. “There are no losers in this annual challenge. You’re competing on how to learn to read.”

Also joining the Borough President for the kickoff were board members from CTV who are sponsoring the awards ceremony, as well as representatives from Barnes & Noble Booksellers who have donated more than 3,000 books to the popular program and the Island’s school libraries.  Since its inception, fourth-graders have read more than 500,000 books for the competition. 

DONATE MONEY TO HELP STATEN ISLAND

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation has established an account earmarked solely for Staten Island hurricane relief.

Those who wish to donate may visit tunneltotowers.org

www.tunneltotowers.org

 

Click on “Hurricane Sandy” then choose the amount of your donation as well as select “Staten Island” as the location you wish your money to benefit.You may also send a personal check made out to the T2T Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, with “Staten Island”

in the memo field to:

STATEN ISLAND BOROUGH HALL

10 RICHMOND TERRACE, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10301

Read the press release

BP Urges Staten Islanders to Take Advantage of Carpool Discounts

The carpool discount is available to EZ-Pass users on all NY-NJ crossings

Borough President James P. Molinaro is encouraging Staten Island residents to take advantage of a carpool discount offered to EZ-Pass users by the Port Authority at its New York/New Jersey Crossings.

The carpool plan allows motorists who are carrying at least 2 passengers in addition to the driver to pay only $3.50 to cross the Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing. The discount is available 24 hours a day. To use the carpool plan, EZ-Pass holders MUST register with the Port Authority by calling 800-333-8655. You will need your account number and pin number on hand.  Drivers must use a staffed “Cash” toll lane and make a complete stop before driving through so that the toll taker may count the number of occupants in the vehicle.  For more information, visit the Port Authority’s Website. 

Port Authority Website Information

B.P. Molinaro Announces Launch of Newly-designed Tourism Website

Twitter feed and Facebook page for tourism also established

As part of his ongoing effort to promote tourism on Staten Island, Borough President James P. Molinaro today announced that our Borough’s tourism website, VisitStatenIsland.com has been fully redesigned and updated. In addition, the tourism website is now linked to its own Facebook page and Twitter feed.

The redesign was made possible through a grant from the NYC & Company Foundation, and was done by NYC Web Design Corp., a Staten Island based company.

Read the press release

Go to VisitStatenIsland.com

The Preservation of Pouch Camp is a Top Priority for BP Molinaro

William H. Pouch Scout Camp

The preservation of Pouch Camp is a top priority for all Staten Island elected officials.  Borough President Molinaro is working together with all Staten Island Elected Officials to secure a conservation easement that would permanently preserve the property as open space and prevent housing or commercial development. Although these are challenging economic times for City and State government, we simply cannot afford to lose this valuable Greenbelt site to developers.  BP Molinaro said “I will do everything in my power to preserve Pouch Camp so that future generations of Staten Islanders can continue to have access to the parkland for recreational purposes.” 

NOW PLAYING:

Staten Island's New Tourism Video

Borough President Molinaro unveils the Staten Island Attractions video at the Staten Island Ferry's Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan.

Staten Island's many cultural attractions, as well as its parks and recreational opportunities are featured in the 9 minute video, which is designed to attract both tourists and residents alike. As passengers wait to board the Staten Island bound ferry, they can learn about the attractions that can be reached by bus and those that are within walking distance of the St. George Ferry Terminal. The video will be played on a new 65" high definition video monitor, mounted above the information booth in the passenger waiting area.

The video was produced by the Borough President's Office and sponsored by the NYC & Co. Foundation, the Richmond County Savings Foundation, and SINY, Inc. Narration for the video was provided by Ken Dashow, radio personality from New York's Q104.3 fm. The video will run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.