Borough President Fossella Kicksoff 2nd annual Staten High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament1/23/2025
Borough President Vito Fossella kicked off the 2nd annual Staten High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament. The first tournament took place last year.
“It was such a great success,” said Borough President Vito Fossella during a press conference at the Michael J. Petrides School. “We couldn’t have been happier that the girls had so much fun. We put girls’ basketball for Staten Island on the map, where it belongs. We just want to make sure that these girls have the best opportunities to compete, have some fun, and make some new friends.” The tournament brings together teams from all 13 basketball-playing high schools on Staten Island -- eight from PSAL, four from CHSAA, and Staten Island Academy. “This tournament is about every girl that is here from the last-place team to the first-place team,” said Gerard Nicholson, the committee head for the hoops’ tournament. Borough President Vito Fossella was joined by faith leaders, members of law enforcement, and his fellow elected officials to condemn an alarming trend of radicalization leading to acts of violence.
The united front came in response to the terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day that was motivated by radicalization and resulted in the deaths of 14 people and left 34 people injured. “There are a lot of things we can do -- we can do nothing, we can look in horror, we can look away, we can turn the page, but we thought what we could do here today in Staten Island is to join together as a community and say there is no room for individuals who become so-called radicalized that they can destroy innocent lives,” said Borough President Fossella at a press conference in Borough Hall. “That’s not what this place is about, that’s not what this country is about. So, we reached out to some of the faith leaders to spread that message of hope and peace and love and not one of evil and darkness.” The faith leaders in attendance represented the Islamic, Hindu, Baptist, Christian, and Jewish communities. “Hate can only have a home if we are silent," said Mendy Mirocznik, president of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. “Nowhere in America should such hate exist. Our prayer is that all those who harbor hate, bigotry, or hold fear or anger in their hearts, should recognize the error in their ways and transform the negativity into positivity to help make this world a better place." |
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January 2025
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