Cites importance of maintaining key services, strengthening neighborhoods in his annual State of the Borough address

 Urges designation and inventory of local “foodshed” to help provide inexpensive, healthy food for city residents

February 19, 2009 (New York, NY) -- Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer today in his State of the Borough Address said that despite the local and national economic decline, the city must make sure that its recovery effort “finds its way to New York City's neediest neighborhoods.”

“We are not all equal in this recession,” Mr. Stringer said in his fourth State of the Borough address, held in the Council chamber at City Hall.  “With each passing month, as the downturn continues, there are more and more people in this city who don't have enough food; who can't afford shelter; or are forced to go without basic medicine.”

Mr. Stringer, who was introduced by Governor David A. Paterson, said that at the same time the city had to maintain its basic services to avoid the mistakes of the 1970’s fiscal crisis. 

“In the bad old days of the 1970s – from 1972 to 1980 – the New York City Police Department lost 30 percent of its officers, shrinking from a force of 31,000 to 22,000.  No surprise what came next.  Arrests fell.  And crime soared.

“New Yorkers must know that we are not headed down that road again.  Police and fire departments must be maintained at full strength,” Mr. Stringer said.

Mr. Stringer recommended a variety of strategies to help preserve Manhattan neighborhoods during the economic downturn.

“In so many ways, our neighborhood shops are what make Manhattan, Manhattan,” he said. “We are pushing for zoning innovations to preserve storefront space, additional micro-lending for businesses struggling through the recession, and a regulatory approach from City Hall that makes life easier – not harder – for small businesses.”

He also urged the designation of a “foodshed” around New York City from which the city could draw inexpensive and healthy food.

“When the food we eat comes from within a 200 mile radius of New York City, it costs less and is better for the environment,” Mr. Stringer said.  Noting that his office was working with Columbia University and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture on the issue, he predicted that the designation and inventory of the “food shed” would help “get fresh food to New York City residents; create jobs in food distribution; and reduce our carbon footprint.”

“I predict you’ll see more and more supermarkets stocking apples from upstate, a smarter discussion about the amount of local produce that should be served in our schools, and best of all – a community garden in City Hall Park,” Mr. Stringer said.

He also announced that an initiative of his office – the placement of graduate student planners with local community boards in Manhattan – would be expanded.

“Mayor Bloomberg has agreed to expand our program citywide.  Soon, community planning fellows will become a fixture in all 59 of New York City's community boards,” Mr. Stringer said.

Click here to view a copy of the Borough President’s speech.

Click here to view a copy of the Annual Report.

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