Over the past few years, New York City has enjoyed an incredible resurgence. That, combined with the major challenges of 9/11, means that we are suddenly rebuilding Manhattan. The Borough President's job is to make sure that communities are protected from powerful interests who, all too often in the process, come in, take what they need or build what they need--the community be damned.

The responsibilities and powers given to the Borough President offer a great opportunity to begin building coalitions so the people of this Manhattan can not only stand against the special interests, but defeat them.

There is a significant land-use component to the job--and as any Manhattanite knows, decisions on zoning and planning shape the future of our Borough. The Borough President reviews all public and private land-use projects in Manhattan and can recommend approval or rejection of those projects. With an appointment to the City Planning Commission, the Borough President can also play a proactive role in shaping the future of development in Manhattan. Also, the Borough President appoints most members of Manhattan's Community Boards and then provides support and oversight to those boards as they make crucial decisions affecting zoning and permits.

One primary responsibility of the Borough President's office is direct control over a portion of the city's capital and expense budget. In the last fiscal year, that total was approximately $20 million. This money is to be spent on projects in Manhattan--and grant the Borough President a great opportunity to use that resource to better the lives of all Manhattan residents.

The Borough President is also charged with improving the quality-of-life in Manhattan. The office has oversight of services such as street repair, housing code enforcement and parks maintenance. The City Charter mandates the Borough President to monitor service delivery, an opportunity to address problems not only on a case-by-case basis, but also on a long-term basis. Then, the Borough President can use its role as Chair of the Borough Board to pool the resources of all of Manhattan's elected officials to not only address the issue, but also solve its root causes.

Through its appointments to some of the most important agencies in City government, the Borough President's office is on the frontline of issues ranging from education to waterfront development. The Borough President has an appointment to the City Department of Education's Panel for Educational Policy--along with three appointments to the Hudson River Park Trust (charged with planning the development of the park along the Hudson River). The Borough President also plays a role in health care delivery in Manhattan with appointments to advisory boards for Manhattan's municipal health facilities.

Finally, there is the power that comes simply from being Manhattan's representative. The Borough President can fight, organize and lead to bring about change in Manhattan.