New York City

Date for Meeting Goal Moved Up to 2012 from 2015 after Unprecedented Tourism Gains

June 3, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that New York City is on track to achieve its goal of attracting 50 million annual visitors three years earlier than anticipated.

Manhattan, New York City: Photo by Kevin Labianco (CC)

Since Mayor Bloomberg set the goal of ’50 by 15’ in 2006, New York City has welcomed more visitors than anticipated, including a record 46 million in 2007.    » read more »

May 30, 2008 -- "I met today with Congressman John Mica of Florida, the Ranking Republican on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, who briefed me on his plan to encourage proposals to bring high-speed rail service to New York. Congressman Mica's plan makes a great deal of sense and I strongly support it.

High speed rail service could cut the travel time between New York and Washington to only two hours. This would encourage more people to take the train, which simultaneously would relieve congestion at New York City airports and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.    » read more »

One in Four Deaths Caused by Children Playing with Matches or Lighters

May 29, 2008 -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today released the second annual Child Fatality Report, a review of preventable fatalities among children ages one to 12 years that found that fires are the second leading cause of child deaths from injuries in New York City after motor vehicle accidents.

An apartment fire on Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn: Photo by Michael Williams (CC)    » read more »

Statement By Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg On Council Passage Of New Fire Code For New York City

May 28, 2008 -- "The City Council today adopted a new Fire Code, the first comprehensive revision of the Fire Code since 1913, which will make this City safer for both New Yorkers and the firefighters that protect us.

The Fire Code governs the use of building safety systems like sprinkler systems and extinguishers, the permit and inspection process, fire-detection and extinguishing systems, and emergency preparedness and planning.    » read more »

Five-Day Celebration to Feature Special Bridge Lighting, Film Series, Concerts, Lectures, Bike Tour, Children's Readings and other Family-Friendly Cultural Events

May 12, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz today announced plans for a five-day celebration in honor of the 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Brooklyn Bridge in fog: Photo by Your Guide (CC)    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want to offer my deepest sympathies to those who may have lost family or loved ones in the devastating earthquake that hit Sichuan Province earlier today.

"This terrible tragedy strikes close to home for many in our city, where some 450,000 people trace their origins to China. To them, and to the people of China, we express the hope that you can soon 'change your tears into strength' - Hua Bei Fen Wei Li Liang."

Source: NYC Mayor

Series will Take Advantage of Tripled State Film Tax Credit

May 12, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and ABC Studios President Mark Pedowitz today announced that the production of the popular ABC drama “Ugly Betty” will be moving to New York City to take advantage of the 35 percent tax credits provided by the State and City. This move marks the first time an established television show has made a move to New York City and will create over 200 full and part-time jobs.    » read more »

May 9, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg met with London's newly-elected Mayor Boris Johnson at London's City Hall today to share ideas and strategies on how to run two of the world's largest cities and announce a new exchange program between the cities to share best practices in government innovation.

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg: Photo courtesy NYC Mayor's office

In addition to welcoming any officials from London who wish to meet with their counterparts in New York City, New York officials will travel to London as part of Innovation Exchange to help Mayor Johnson and his administration design and implement initiatives drawn from New York.    » read more »

Donation Will Help Plant Over 18,000 Trees on Public Properties Including Housing Authority Developments and Public Schools

April 22, 2008 -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and David Rockefeller today announced their joint pledge of $10 million to the MillionTreesNYC initiative to plant trees in public spaces including New York Housing Authority (NYCHA ) developments and at City schools.

MillionTreesNYC artist's depiction: Graphic courtesy MillionTreesNYC

This donation of private funds made to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City by Mr. Rockefeller and Bloomberg Philanthropies will allow over 18,000 trees to be planted throughout the five boroughs.    » read more »

120 New Affordable Apartments in LEED Certified Building on 116th Street

April 22, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the completion of the Kalahari, a 249-unit mixed-income development on 116th Street in Harlem designed and built to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Certification standards, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance 'green' buildings.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg tours the Kalahari condominiums: Photo courtesy New York City Governor's office    » read more »

April 20, 2008 -- The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, April 20, 2008

"Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

"Last Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, the terrible day when one student killed 32 people and then himself. The pain and shock of that tragedy echoed throughout our entire nation.

Desert Eagle .44: Photo by Keary O. (CC)    » read more »

April 18, 2008 -- "It is great news for all New Yorkers that the Taxi and Limousine Commission unanimously voted to turn City black cars 'green.' The Commission today approved our proposal, part of PlaNYC, to boost fuel efficiency standards in the black cars that service corporate clients to a level currently achievable only by using hybrid technology.

Manhattan traffic: Photo by rafaj (CC)    » read more »

$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide; $9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans

April 16, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide.

A homeless veteran in New York City: Photo by Jonathan Greenwald (CC)    » read more »

Grant Will Enhance Fire and Police Response in NYC, Westchester and Long Island

April 16, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that $34 million in homeland security grant funds have been awarded to the New York City urban area as part of the federal government’s Urban Area Security Initiative.

FDNY fire truck: Photo by Sergio Calleja (CC)

The funds are made available through the federal Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program that will help fire, police and other first responders better communicate during emergencies.    » read more »

Ruling Will Help Consumers Make Healthy Menu Choices

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal judge today ruled that certain fast-food and chain restaurants in New York City must comply with a requirement to disclose calorie information on their menus, rejecting arguments from the state restaurant association that the groundbreaking city ordinance was preempted by federal law.

Fast food: Photo by pengrin (CC)

U.S. District Judge Richard J. Holwell also rejected claims that the labeling ordinance violated the restaurants’ First Amendment rights.    » read more »