Dear SIEDC Supporter... Photos from the 6Th Annual Staten Island Film
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Dear SIEDC Supporter... Photos from the 6th Annual Thanks to the work of staff, our Resource Development Staten Island Film Festival: Committee and several other members, our Membership is at an all-time high. As of the date of this letter, the ONLY openings we have for new membership are within the Business Council, Building & Developers Circle and Green and Clean Council. All other memberships have maxed out. I believe this success is a testament to the good product we put out, the service we provide our membership and most importantly, the quality of the membership. Congrats to everyone! I never received more of a positive response to an email than after we sent out the June 5th email blast - “Staten Island’s Lack of Product May be the Biggest Hindrance to Future Development.” Every call and email we received was in agreement with our evaluation. Only one property owner has stepped forward with a new entry. When it is all said and done, we may only have 100 acres of turnkey, industrial and commercial developable property left on Staten Island. Please keep the submissions coming. We only have 7 sites that have made the cut so far. A quick note on our South Shore Project – there is no bigger supporter of small businesses on the South Shore than Councilman Ignizio. See the feature article in this edition of SIEDC News. Our partnership with the Councilman has led to great strides in these towns. Lastly, just a reminder to everyone – please dine at our nine Executive Dining Network locations this summer. Support those businesses that support economic development! Cesar J. Claro President & CEO, SIEDC PHOTOS COURTESY OF FINE ART FOTOS. SIEDC NEWS Chair SIEDC NEWS Chair Joseph Carroll Keith Cummings Citibank KCM Plumbing ELECTRONICS & METAL RECYCLING The SIEDC is not sure what to do with them,” off ers DONJON pleased to Recycling’s Marketing Coordinator, Lisa Coster. announce its “Our program helps businesses properly recycle partnership with DONJON Recycling for our equipment which is wasting space in the offi ce own electronics and metal recycling program. as well as sheds light on how anybody can The SIEDC Electronics and Metal Recycling recycle electronics with DONJON Recycling. “ program builds upon the model of the SIEDC’s Commercial Paper Recycling Project Here As a scrap metal and electronics recycler, members currently enrolled in the Paper DONJON Recycling can accept both metal and Recycling Project can schedule a one-time FREE electronic items from individuals and businesses pick up of electronics or metal by DONJON at their Arthur Kill Road facility. This ability to Recycling. DONJON Recycling will coordinate accept and recycle both metal and electronics the pick up, transportation and recycling of is a key diff erence that sets DONJON Recycling all your electronics and metal such as offi ce apart from other scrap yards and electronics equipment at no charge to you. recyclers. In addition, DONJON Recycling is very proud to provide this green service right here in The goal of this program is to illustrate how Staten Island, NY. easy it is for businesses to recycle unwanted and out-of-date equipment and better utilize offi ce The SIEDC is optimistic that all our members space. DONJON Recycling’s friendly associates will want to take advantage of the free, one- will work with your staff to schedule the pick time pick up service by DONJON Recycling. up as well as which items can be recycled. The program is initially being rolled out to our Scheduling the pick up can be coordinated members in the Commerical Paper Challenge through www.donjonrecycling .com/siedc.html but any SIEDC members can participate. To or 718-984-4100. schedule your offi ce’s pick up, visit www. DONJONRecycling.com/siedc.html or call 718- The SIEDC recently took advantage of their free 984-4100. off er and recycled offi ce computers, monitors, printers and other offi ce electronics. “The process went very smoothly and easily,” stated Marisol Paulino, Outreach Coordinator and contact for the pick up. Following the advice of the DONJON Recycling team, Ms. Paulino also reached out to SIEDC associates and encouraged them to bring in items from home for recycling. “It’s amazing how many people have old electronics at home sitting in their basements. They know they shouldn’t toss them in the garbage but they are 2 2nd QUARTER ECONOMIC INDICATOR REPORT 3 2nd QUARTER ECONOMIC INDICATOR REPORT 4 2nd QUARTER ECONOMIC INDICATOR REPORT 5 2nd QUARTER ECONOMIC INDICATOR REPORT 6 2nd QUARTER ECONOMIC INDICATOR REPORT 7 2nd QUARTER ECONOMIC INDICATOR REPORT 6TH ANNUAL SI FILM FESTIVAL The 6th Annual Staten Island Film Festival, held June 8-12th, was a great success. Featuring: -Over 70 fi lms from around the world were showcased at the St. George Theatre and Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden -Harry Belafonte opened the Festival and entertained fi lmgoers with a Q& A Session after the documentary fi lm, “Sing Your Song”, which chronicled his life. -Angelina’s Ristorante was host to 150 attendees at the Celebrity and Sponsor Party -600 Attendees enjoyed an evening of cocktails and fi reworks and participated in the celebration of 21 award winning fi lmmakers. Categories included Best Comedy, Documentary, Drama and many more. Award winners are posted on www.sifi lmfestival.org 8 FROM MERCHANT PROJECT TO B.I.D This year, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation and Councilman Vincent Ignizio launched an ambitious plan to bring the services and benefi ts of a Business Improvement District (BID) to three Staten Island towns. In just a few months, The South Shore Merchant Project has already brought holiday decorations, street cleaning, banners, and landscaping to the business centers of Annadale, Eltingville and Great Kills. The purpose of this pilot program is to let the business community taste what they could be receiving if they elected to form their own BID. Throughout New York City, sixty-four BIDS are already giving small business owners the opportunity to manage their own municipal services. The concept of a BID represents a huge step in the decentralization of City Hall and the empowerment of the business community to make decisions for itself. As merchants around the South Shore begin to notice the additional services, we hope they consider the possibilities and long term benefi ts of a BID. The novelty of these organizations has worn out. More and more, municipalities around the country are turning to BIDs as a practical solution of how to manage city services. Nearby cities like Philadelphia are now routinely using them as a means to turn around otherwise depressed areas, and its suburbs are using them as tools of economic growth. BIDs operate simultaneously as a merchant association, community organization, and a branch of local government. The combination of these duties under one umbrella, funded and run by the store owners themselves, has led more times than not to a thriving economic environment. The rest of New York City is clamoring for this self-reliance, its time Staten Island joins them and establishes its second BID. The success of the South Shore Merchant Project is already evident. Business owners from outside the pilot area have been reaching out to SIEDC and Councilman Ignizio demanding the same services. Shoppers in the three towns have remarked how clean the sidewalks are. Soon, private security will begin routine patrols for quality of life problems, and summer decorations will be on display. As a result, Ignizio has secured funding to operate the project into the next fi scal year. During that time, both he and SIEDC will be working on forming a Local Development Corporation (LDC) for the area. This is the fi rst step towards formally organizing a BID, and they are hopeful that members of the business community come forward to volunteer on the board. With cooperation and hard work, anything is possible. Joseph Borelli Chief of Staff , Hon Vincent Ignizio 9 2011 SIEDC CABINET The Cabinet was created in an eff ort to groom local business leaders to eventually become SIEDC Board Members. SIEDC Cabinet Members have an active role in SIEDC policy, meet with developers seeking to relocate or expand on Staten Island and make recommendations to the SIEDC Executive Committee regarding long-term SIEDC initiatives. Ralph Branca Ram Cherukuri Walter Daszkowski Phil Guarnieri William Spiezia Victory State Bank New York Fragrance Daszkowski, Tompkins & Weg P.C. Empire State Bank Rogers Surveying PLLC SIEDC FOCUS Focus on SIEDC Ambassador... John R. Merlino, Jr., Merlino & Gonzalez For over 10 years, THE LAW FIRM OF MERLINO & GONZALEZ has been dedicated to the practice of law in New York and New Jersey. Our primary practice areas include Real Estate, Trusts and Estates, and Elder Law. Collectively, we have over 25 years of legal experience. We are experienced in representing individual and business clients in all types of residential and commercial real estate transactions, including purchases, sales, refi nances, and leasing. Additionally, we represent numerous lenders in residential and commercial loan closings, and serve as agent to Chicago Title Insurance Company under our affi liated company, MGM Gotham Abstract LLC. Moreover, we are skilled in all aspects of elder law, estate planning and estate administration, with an emphasis on asset protection and wealth preservation. Through the implementation of various types of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies and strategically planned asset transfers, we help our clients minimize estate taxes, protect assets from creditors, and insure that that their estate passes quickly and effi ciently to the decedent’s intended benefi ciaries. Our goal is to provide high quality, yet aff ordable legal representation.