This week Borough President Scott Stringer joined Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. and Jeremy Travis, President of John Jay College of Criminal Justice to host a two-day criminal justice symposium, “Communities & Justice: Partnerships & Challenges for the 21^st Century.” At the conference, district attorneys from across the country joined academics, government representatives, and community groups to discuss innovative approaches to crime reduction. The symposium addressed broader national trends in prosecution, crime prevention, and criminal justice strategies as well as specialized topics including prisoner re-entry, conviction integrity, law enforcement and community relations, hate crimes, and youth and gang activity.

Photo Courtesy of Linda Felstein

Today, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, together with the Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management, hosted a social media workshop for nonprofits, Using Twitter and Technology to Create Long Lasting Relationships, at Baruch College. More than 100 individuals, most of who work in the nonprofit field, attended the event to learn how to use social media to develop and sustain relationships with donors and constituents.

Photo Courtesy of Spencer T. Tucker 

 Today Borough President Stringer joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Council Member Margaret Chin, Community Board 1 Chair Julie Menin, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and architect David Rockwell, at the opening of Imagination Playground. The playground, located at Burling Slip near the South Street Seaport, is an innovative playspace conceived and designed pro-bono by the Rockwell Group to encourage child-directed, unstructured free play.

Photo Courtesy of Ashley Miller

Today, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer joined together with a diverse coalition of retail banks, community groups, and regulatory agencies to launch Bank On Manhattan, a new initiative that will connect unbanked New Yorkers to mainstream banking services and promote financial literary.

Today Borough President Stringer, joined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, Edward Blumenfeld, President and Founder of Blumenfeld Development Group, Bruce C. Ratner, Chairman and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies, and David Blumenfeld, Vice President of Blumenfeld Development Group, cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of East River Plaza.

 Photo Courtesy of Michael Rapfogel

Photo Courtesy of Amy D. Smith

Today Borough President Stringer announced the release of the Immigrant Rights and Services Manual, a comprehensive guide to life in New York City for documented and undocumented immigrants.  Authored by the Borough President’s Office in consultation with major immigrants’ rights organizations, the manual explains basic immigrant rights, public benefits eligibility and identifies helpful resources and agencies. 

Photo Courtesy of Amy D. Smith

Today Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer honored esteemed Dominican American individuals and organizations at a ceremony held in his office.  In recognition of their contributions to the community, BP Stringer presented honorees Rafeal Evens, Telemundo 47, and the Dominican Parade Committee with framed proclamations.

Today Borough President Stringer, joined by Assembly Member Keith Wright and TWU  Local 100 President Samuelsen, spoke out against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed subway station changes at the MTA public hearing.

 Photo Courtesy of Carmen Boon

Photo Courtesy of Audrey Gelman

Today, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, together with Congressman Charles Rangel, State Senator Bill Perkins, State Senator Thomas K. Duane, State Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, Assemblymembers Gottfried, O’Donnell and Rosenthal, Councilmember Gale A. Brewer, Councilmember Inez E Dickens and Community Board 7 members, led an Upper West Side town hall in the Goddard Riverside Community Center. Elected officials and residents had the opportunity to discuss pressing issues for Upper West Siders including the proposed development of Riverside Center, school overcrowding and general education issues in the Community School District 3, Columbus Avenue bike lanes, and the class-action lawsuit against The Pinnacle Group.