​Borough President James Oddo sponsored a Lyme Disease Awareness Forum on Monday, June 17th. This free event took place at 7pm at Wagner College (1 Campus Road) in a Spiro Hall lecture room. Over 150 Staten Islanders came out to learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones from ticks and Lyme disease. After having to reschedule in May due to inclement weather, we were extremely pleased to hold a standing room only event.
 
“Our quest to mitigate the growing number of Staten Islanders suffering from Lyme disease is being fought on many fronts, and educating the public about the disease and how it is spread is a vital step. We will continue to raise awareness on this topic because it is real and it is affecting Staten Islanders,” said Borough President Oddo.
 
At the forum, researchers from NYC DOHMH presented an update on their surveillance measures with statistical updates on the incidence of Lyme disease cases in New York City and on Staten Island as well as information on the black-legged ticks that are vectors for the disease. Borough President Oddo was pleased to hear their tick surveillance has been increased from 14 to 24 sites in parks across our borough and that they will be implementing Met52 in their tick control measures, a fungus based approach that kills ticks without hurting any other invertebrates.
 
Maria Diuk-Wasser, Associate Professor and Researcher at Columbia University, presented information on how exactly ticks get around and where people are exposed to ticks. Can you guess how ticks ‘move’ around parks in New York City? That’s right – deer. Deer are where ticks meet and reproduce. She stressed that connectivity is key, as only parks close to other parks in NYC have ticks. Parks surrounded by vegetation and are more connected to others by habitat corridors have more ticks infected with the Lyme bacteria. We continue fight for ways to control the deer population to also reduce the tick numbers and Lyme cases on Staten Island.
 
Attendees also heard from Dr. Christopher J. Pappas, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Manhattanville College, who talked about what attracts the different types of ticks we have on Staten Island, how to avoid them and prevent tick bites, as well as do’s and don’ts on tick removal. Among many tips, one that stuck out: make sure to put clothes in the dryer, not the washer to kill ticks. Drying ticks out kills the ticks.

Dr. Ernest Visconti, pediatric infectious disease specialist, moderated a question and answer period with the audience following the pretensions.

Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School tabled at the event showing their school projects to educate Staten Islanders on how to protect themselves from ticks and Lyme disease. 
 
Here is the link to the PowerPoint presentations from the forum: http://www.statenislandusa.com/lymeforumslides.

​New York State Senator John Liu, Chair of State Committee on NYC Education, and Borough President James Oddo will join together on Monday, June 24th, to hold a school diversity and specialized high school admission community forum on Staten Island. The forum will take place at Labetti Post, 390 Hylan Boulevard, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
 
This community forum, the last is a series of forums in New York City, is an opportunity for parents, teachers, students, alumni and stakeholders to speak about the issue of school diversity and specialized high school admissions.
 
“It is important that Staten Islanders have the opportunity to speak about the issue of school diversity and specialized high school admissions. Please join us for a chance to let your voice be heard,” said Borough President Oddo.
 
For more information, please call (718) 765-6675. To RSVP and to sign up to speak, please fill out the form in the link bit.ly/StatenIslandForum.

​On Thursday, June 14th, Borough President Oddo joined with members of the NYPD, District Attorney Mike McMahon, and the DOE to congratulate the 5th and 7th grade students who participated in the "Too Good For Drugs" program at PS 21 and St. Adalbert's School.

The “Too Good For Drugs” curriculum is co-taught in the classroom by a police officer and a teacher. The program, which is in its fourth year, takes place in 5th, 7th and 9th grade classes in public and parochial schools across the borough.
 
"The amazing officers have taught us to be a good influence on others," said PS 21 students thanking the NYPD officers for teaching the ‘Too Good For Drugs’ Curriculum. “Thank you and stay safe.”
 
Laura Timoney, BP Oddo's Deputy Director of Education, address the students speaking on why the 'Too Good For Drug" Program is important: “You all know you do better on a test when you study. That’s what this program exist for: to prepare you for the time when you’re faced with a tough decision of following along with your friends or choosing to say no."

At the end of the ceremony, students took a pledge to abstain from tobacco, alcohol and drugs, led by NYPD Chief Kenneth Corey.

Borough President James S. Oddo’s Office of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is pleased to announce the launch of a FerryAds campaign for VISIT Staten Island in partnership with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and Destination St. George. The campaign launched May 1 and is slated to run through June 2019.

In December 2018, VISIT Staten Island’s new brand was announced to encourage residents to explore their own backyard and take advantage of the programs and events that are found so close to home. Now, this brand can be seen in advertisements located on the Staten Island Ferry boats and the digital screens in the Whitehall and St. George Ferry Terminals along with images of Staten Island locations and cuisine.

Funding for this ad campaign was made possible from a Market New York grant from Empire State Development/I LOVE NY, awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, in partnership with the Borough President’s Office of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and Destination St. George.

ThoughtMatter, a Manhattan-based branding agency, designed the brand and fully captured the essence of Staten Island as a place where people live, work, and play. As part of the re-branding campaign, a new web site was created, and a series of creatives were done for advertising.

“This is the first-ever marketing campaign for VISIT Staten Island with its new brand and we couldn’t be happier with the messaging and visuals created by this team. We worked with local photographers Michael McWeeney and Lance Reha to capture the best of Staten Island,” said Jennifer Sammartino, Deputy Chief of Staff for Borough President Oddo, who oversaw the branding project. “This campaign is designed to give people a glimpse of what’s here on Staten Island and beckons visitors to go to our newly redesigned web site to learn more. I’m excited to see what the impact is.”

The brand’s placement on the Manhattan side will allow visitors to discover Staten Island before they take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, which is one of the most visited attractions in New York City with 90,000 riders daily. Because of the development on the borough’s waterfront, this office expects ferry ridership to increase, therefore exposing the brand to a larger audience.

“It was fun for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce to be a part of creating a brand specific to Staten Island, the Unexpected Borough.  We all know Staten Island has so much to offer and it’s important to get the word out.  The launch of this advertising campaign serves as a great opportunity to highlight our cultural attractions, world class shopping and accommodations, restaurants, and so much more. Led by increased ridership on the Staten Island Ferry, tourism continues to grow on Staten Island and that influx of visitors will further enhance our local economy. The extra spending will result in increased jobs, wages, and tax revenues here in the borough,” said Linda Baran, President & CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.

“Millions of visitors a year take the Staten Island Ferry.  We are proud to introduce to them the newly opened Empire Outlets and the North Shore’s world class cultural institutions,” said Travis Noyes, Chairman of Destination St George.
​
New York State Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "The ferry and its terminals are synonymous with Staten Island, and we hope that the new campaign encourages visitors to experience some of the attractions highlighted during this trip or during a return visit."
 
The Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, under the direction of Sammartino, was created by BP Oddo in June 2017 to expose the numerous parks and cultural attractions on Staten Island. Known as the Borough of Parks, Staten Island has an extensive arts and culture community featuring 30 museums and art galleries that cover the entire borough. VISIT Staten Island was created back in 2009 to highlight Staten Island as a fun, family-friendly and historical destination to visit. With the revival of this brand, this office will continue to highlight the cultural value all the organizations bring to the borough. 

Borough President James Oddo will name Marguerite Maria Rivas as Staten Island’s first Poet Laureate during a ceremony at Borough Hall on June 26, 2019 at 6 PM. The event is open to the public and all are invited to attend.

The appointment of the Staten Island Poet Laureate is an unpaid, volunteer position, appointed for a 4-year term by the Borough President, based on the recommendation of a selection committee. The Poet Laureate will be charged with performing responsibilities related to community outreach and projects that promote poetry and/or literacy on the Island.

A selection committee of literary and arts “experts” from the local community, including Elizabeth Bennett, Director of Staten Island Arts; Saroltya A. Takacs, PhD, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at the College of Staten Island; and Abriana Jette, Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at St. John’s University, made their recommendation to the Borough President.

“We were delighted by the number of nominations,” noted Borough President Oddo. “What that tells us is that the community wants a Poet Laureate. This is important.”

A native Staten Islander, Marguerite Maria Rivas is a graduate of Tottenville High School and holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the College of Staten Island. She received a Doctor of Arts and Letters degree, specializing in poetry, in 2001 from Drew University. She is an Associate Professor of English at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

As the sole supporter of her children, Dr. Rivas often worked three jobs while earning her doctorate. In between working and studying, she wrote poetry, often at night while her children were sleeping. Dr. Rivas’ poetry, both lyric and long-form, is largely based on the culture, history and natural environment of Staten Island. Her poetry has been widely published in journals, anthologies and in a best-selling college textbook. She is also the author of two full-length collections of poems. In her book, “Tell No One: Poems of Witness,” her poems reflect the kinship and the resiliency of Staten Islanders in the aftermath of Sept. 11. A poem from this collection, “Witness,” is included in the National September 11th Museum’s online collection, along with two others.

She has received numerous grants and awards for her poetry, including the National Council of Teachers of English/Two-Year College Association National Poetry Month Award for her poem “Witness.”  She is also the recipient of the Staten Island Arts Excellence in Literature Award, The Marg Chandler Memorial Award from A Room of Her Own Foundation, and The Irene C. Fromer Award from Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden.

“Staten Island has always been my home, my subject, and my inspiration,” said Dr. Rivas. “Throughout my adult life, it has been my privilege to have taught poetry in the community, in grammar schools, and in colleges. Poetry brings people joy, an understanding of themselves, and an awareness of their connectedness to their communities and the world around them. It is a living, breathing expression of shared experiences.

“Borough President Oddo’s decision to appoint a Staten Island Poet Laureate demonstrates his commitment to the arts and their role in the promotion of literacy. It is a profound honor to be appointed the first Poet Laureate of Staten Island, one of three Borough Poets Laureate of New York City. I look forward to working with the Borough President’s Office and Staten Islanders as we celebrate and elevate our beautiful island home.”
​
To attend the naming ceremony, please RSVP to Diane Marciuliano at (718) 816-2246.

Borough President James S. Oddo is excited to announce the dates and lineup for his 2019 Summer Sunset Concert Series. All concerts will take place at 7pm, with the exception of August 1st where the concert will begin at 6:30pm. The Thursday night concert schedule is as follows:
 
June 27th—Lemon Creek Park (Seguine Avenue & Johnston Terrace) featuring Grounded 4 Life and Freepass
July 11th—Historic Richmond Town (441 Clarke Ave.) featuring The Black Ties
July 18th—Snug Harbor Cultural Center (1000 Richmond Terrace) featuring Anthony DeRoss and Joan Caddell and the Midnight Choir
July 25th—Conference House Park (298 Satterlee Street) featuring The Resistance
August 1st— United States Coast Guard Appreciation Night at Fort Wadsworth (210 New York Avenue), with a special thank you to our Military service members, featuring 42nd Division Infantry Band. *6:30PM START TIME*
August 8th—Westerleigh Park (Neal Dow Ave. and Maine Ave.) featuring Julia Gargano and JD & the All Stars
August 15th—Silver Lake Park (Forest Ave. at Haven Esplanade) featuring Cause and the Effects
August 22nd—Wolfe’s Pond Park (Cornelia Ave. and Chester Ave.) featuring Whiskey Tango Four and Saints in the City
 
A special concert with headliners Vito Picone and the Elegants and guests will take place on Saturday, August 17th at 7pm at Midland Beach Splaza (Fr. Capodanno Blvd. at Seaview Ave). Additionally, Back to the Beach will take place on Saturday, July 13th and Sunday, July 14th.
 
“We at Borough Hall are excited to offer this free entertainment series to Staten Islanders for another summer, while giving some of our homegrown talent a chance to show off their musical skills,” said Borough President Oddo. “This is a wonderful way for people to enjoy our Borough of Parks and experience some of the homegrown talent Staten Islanders have to offer. Good music should be enjoyed!”
 
The Summer Sunset Concert Series is sponsored by Borough President Oddo and Councilmembers Debi Rose, Steven Matteo, and Joe Borelli.
 
For more information, visit statenislandusa.com/sunset.

Borough President James Oddo will joined with NYC Department of Parks to hold a beach cleanup event in honor of World Oceans Day 2019 on Saturday, June 8th. A call to action was issued for Staten Islanders who are interested in cleaning up our beaches to join us at Conference House Park for a cleanup of the 3.5 miles of shoreline from 10am to 1pm.

104 Staten Islanders volunteered their time to join us, including students from IS 75, Port Richmond HS, Tottenville HS, PS 22, and PS 51. 

Cooling stations and restrooms were available. The cleanup at Conference House Park will featured tables with information from different environmental education groups and City agencies.

Below is video of Deputy Borough President Ed ​Burke showing the tremendous work our volunteers put in.  

Borough President James Oddo has issued the following statement regarding the Bay Street Corridor Re-zoning Plan. As part of the Uniform Land Use Review Process regarding the Re-zoning Plan, Borough President Oddo issued a formal ‘Disapproval With Modifications’ response.

“For five years, Borough Hall has attempted to inject some common sense into the de Blasio Administration’s plan for affordable housing on Staten Island.  Their strategy, which will add thousands of new residents to the North Shore in mid- and hi-rise buildings along the Bay Street Corridor, will provide little in the way of corresponding services. 

“We have tried to make them see this issue through the single most important prism to Staten Islanders: infrastructure and the diminishment of our quality of life when our infrastructure is resoundingly insufficient.  It’s a reality we experience in various ways on a daily basis – because of a void in the farsightedness of past leaders.

“In recent months we have aggressively used social media to express facts, concerns, and realities on the ground, and we even used a good dose of ‘reductio ad absurdum’ to ensure the Administration and the local Council Member did right by this borough. They have come up short, which means we at Borough Hall have missed the mark, and the people of Staten Island, both current and future residents, are worse off for it.

“For all this density and the infrastructure challenges that most certainly will come with it, what are we really getting? Well, we seem to have a commitment to pay off an existing debt to Staten Island -- the Cromwell Center and a new school at the Hungerford site – and projects created long ago by the Bloomberg Administration, which heretofore have remained unfulfilled during the current administration, i.e. waterfront plans.

“Peel back the onion a bit and take away the $92 million for the Cromwell Center, which we were promised anyway; the tens of millions for the Hungerford site, which would have been allocated anyway; the $39 million from FEMA for the esplanade, which was expected anyway; and well, that onion will indeed make you cry.  Cry for the opportunities missed, for the shirking of responsibility by the agencies, for their refusal to do the hard work, for how let down Staten Islanders have been, and for the looming specter that what could have been a transformative moment in our history is now likely to go sideways.

“What you won’t see in this re-zoning announcement is as critically important as what you do see.  You won’t see any genuine effort to stop the already awful traffic and transit reality from getting exponentially worse, let alone being mitigated to some degree.  At this point, why not call in Staten Island’s old ‘friend,’ former NYC DOT Commissioner Janet Sadik Khan, and have her make the entire stretch of Bay Street a pedestrian plaza?  Because with tens of thousands of people added to this corridor as a result of this re-zoning, commuting or traveling by vehicle will certainly be painful, and maybe even pointless.

“What was done today was a repeat of the lack of planning that has plagued Staten Island ever since the opening of the Verrazzano Bridge. Today’s decision makers, just like our counterparts of decades ago, will have the benefit of being long gone when the byproducts of their shortsightedness manifest themselves. 
​
“As bitterly disappointed as I am, the harsher arbiter will be time.”