Marty Honors Greenest Block in Brooklyn Winners

On October 16th, Marty, along with Judith Zuk, President of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Marilyn Gelber, Executive Director of Independence Community Foundation, honored the winners of the Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest at a ceremony at Borough Hall. The contest is part of Marty's campaign to improve Brooklyn's neighborhoods, and is co-sponsored by Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Independence Community Foundation. Top residential honors went to the "Fulton 10" (Fulton Street between Carlton and Cumberland), sponsored by the Atlantic Village Homeowners Association in Fort Greene. Top commercial honors went to Bond Street (between State and Schermerhorn), which is sponsored by the Bond Street Merchants Association of Boerum Hill. Other top residential and commercial winners were also recognized at the ceremony. There was also a new category this year for the neighborhood with the most entries that went to Bedford Stuyvesant. Judges visited nearly 200 residential neighborhoods and commercial districts throughout the borough, awarding the contestants with points for color and total visual effect, block participation, variety of plants, soil condition and gardening practices. This community-minded greening effort is a project of Brooklyn GreenBridge, the community horticulture program at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, in conjunction with the Brooklyn Borough President's Office. It is sponsored by Independence Community Foundation.

Building is Booming in Brooklyn

On October 16th, Marty attended a "steel topping" ceremony at Kings County Hospital for a new emergency, diagnostic and treatment pavilion. This new facility will allow for more efficient routing of patients by concentrating clinical and support services in fewer buildings. "The redevelopment of Kings County Hospital will help ensure that central Brooklyn's many low income, un-insured and under-insured children and adults will receive excellent health care in modern facilities that incorporate the latest medical knowledge," Marty said. "Growing up, my family and I were patients at Kings County, and it is great to come back as Borough President!" The redevelopment and modernization of Kings County Hospital, announced by the City in 1997 and estimated to cost $260 million, is designed to provide state-of-the-art facilities and accommodate more than a half-million ambulatory care visits each year, including emergency services. On October 17th, Marty joined Forrest City Ratner Companies President and CEO Bruce Ratner to celebrate the last steel beam hoisted onto the new State Supreme and Family Court building in Downtown Brooklyn "The completion of 330 Jay Street will mark yet another significant milestone in the rebirth of Downtown Brooklyn and it will unquestionably establish Brooklyn as a center of Law," Marty said. "The vast potential of this beautiful new building, coupled with ourother court houses, the many lawyers practicing on Court Street and Brooklyn Law School,illustrates once again why this is New York City's Center of Law!" The 32-story, 1.1 million square development will house the new facilities of the New York State Supreme Court Criminal Term, the Kings County Family Court, a number of State and City agencies and 170,000 square feet of commercial office space and is expected to be completed in 2005. Assemblyman Joseph Lentol and Councilman David Yassky were also in attendance.

Brooklyn College Celebrates New Library

On October 15th, Marty celebrated the opening of Brooklyn College's renovated and expanded, state-of-the-art library. "This new library is emblematic of the future of Brooklyn, and the future of this wonderful academic institution. Brooklyn College is not only one of our borough's finest educational institutions - it is one of the best schools in the world with the most beautiful campus in the country," said the BP. "With the completion of this new library, extraordinary resources for academic research - the best to be found anywhere, in fact - are available to the students of Brooklyn College, and to the many other scholars who will use this facility." The largest in the City University of New York, the Brooklyn College Library holds more than 1.4 million books and contains 6.5 acres of floor space, 21.5 miles of shelving, and seating for more than 2,300 users.

Kudos to City Tech!

New York City College of Technology in Downtown Brooklyn was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the most first diverse of all "Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's (North)." The school has more than 11,000 students currently enrolled in 51 baccalaureate, associate and specialized certificate programs. "New York City College of Technology's student body mirrors the incredible diversity found throughout Brooklyn. Congratulations to President Fred Beaufait - keep up the great work!" Marty said.

Marty on the Move

On October 19th, Marty participated in the Walk The Windows of Atlantic Avenue, which was a 2-day shopping festival and window art showcase, to demonstrate Brooklyn's support for Atlantic Avenue merchants. On October 19th, Marty attended Prospect Park Alliance's 2002 Ball. On October 20th, Marty was joined by members of his staff and more than 5000 Brooklynites in Prospect Park for the American Cancer Society's 1st Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Kudos to Community Board 2, Kingsborough Community College, P.S. 327 and various other organizations for bringing such large groups of walkers.

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