Borough Report From Borough Report FromRUBENRUBEN DIAZDIAZ JR. JR. Bronx Bronx Borough Borough President President The OfficialThe Official Publication Publication Of Of TheThe OfficeOffice Of Of The The BOROUGH BOROUGH PRESIDENT PRESIDENT BoroughBoroughOur Next PresidentPresident 100 Years Diaz Diaz Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. celebratesOutlines Inauguration and the ‘Master Plan’ For OutlinesBronx Centennial kickoff ‘Master Plan’ For On January 9, 2014, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was joinedB by electedronx officials as well as business Redevelopment and community leaders for his inauguration ceremony and the official kick off to Bronx County’s year-round centennialBIn Third celebration.ronx ‘State of the Borough,’ Redevelopment Borough President Diaz Highlights Economic Growth The ceremony featured the swearing-in of the Borough President and the entire Bronx City Council delega- tion, a historical nod to the first swearing in that took In Thirdplace when ‘State Bronx County of was the created Borough,’in 1914. Those Borough President Diaz Highlights Economic Growth attending were also encouraged to use the hashtag #bronx100 to discuss the event on social media, a nod to the technology of today. “Today is a historic day. Not only is it the ceremonial start of my second term as Borough President of this great borough I love, but we are also marking a major milestone as we celebrate the first 100 years of Bronx County. It is our time to shine and let the world know that the Bronx is rich in history, culture and diversity and this is what we are going to showcase in our year- long celebration,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. at the event. “The centennial affords us an opportunity to look two ways. We look back 100 years to the origin of the Bronx County and the progress we have made since then. We look forward to using our past advance as a springboard to the future,” said Bronx Historian Lloyd Ultan. During the ceremony, Borough President Diaz and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce also unveiled a commemorative plaque celebrating the centennial. “The Bronx’s Centennial could not have come at a better time. What has been accomplished in the area of economic development in just the last five years will insure that the next 100 years provide our residents and businesses with a community where residents can work in their borough, receive excellent education and health care, our businesses will thrive, while tourists and visi- tors can shop and visit our sports many diverse sports venues throughout,” said Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation President Marlene Cintron. On January 9, 2014, The Empire State Building was lit up in blue, orrange and white, the official colors of our “This is an exciting time to be in The Bronx! The borough, as Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was joined by officials as well and community leaders entire year will be dedicated to celebrating the last 100 for his inauguration ceremony and the official kick off to Bronx County’s year-round centennial celebration. years that have brought us to where we are today and The ceremony featured the swearing-in of the Borough President and the entire Bronx City Council delegation. we are anxious to share that with the world,” said Bronx Bronx County was created in 1914. Tourism Council Executive Director Olga Luz Tirado. niversary celebration of the creation of Bronx County. to produce a special edition celebrate The Bronx and In addition, tonight the Empire State Building is lit Also, as part of the celebration, the office of Borough its centennial. A PDF of that publication can be read In May, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., togetherth with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Councilman Jimmy Vacca and Congressman Eliot Engel, joined Prestige Properties at the ceremonial in the colors of the Bronx flag to honor the 100 an- President Diaz partnered with the Legislative Gazette at: http://on.nyc.gov/1adg7QY groundbreaking of the Mall at Bay Plaza in Co-op City. The 780,000-square-foot enclosed mall is one of the largest projects currently underway in the borough and will create more than 2,000 con- struction jobs and more than 1,700 permanent jobs. The Mall at Bay Plaza will be the first enclosed fashion mall in the New York City area in almost 40 years. It is slated to open by next spring. n February, to a full crowd at Harry S. “The future development of the Kingsbridge “Not only will FreshDirect bring 3,000 total was issued in March, covering a wide variety Truman High School in Co-op City, Bronx Armory will serve as the foundation for the jobs to the Bronx, they will expand their busi- of education topics that face the Bronx and I Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. deliv- revitalization of the Northwest Bronx, in ways ness to neighborhoods across the borough. the entire City. ered his third annual “State of the Borough” that a retail mall never could,” said Bronx Over the next five years, FreshDirect plans to Address. During his speech, the borough Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “I am con- convert their entire delivery fleet to a cleaner, In addition, Borough President Diaz made president highlighted his administration’s fident that, working together with this admini- greener one,” said Borough President Diaz. it clear that increasing the health of Bronx accomplishments during this past year and stration, we can and will bring a new tenant “This is an unqualified victory for the Bronx.” residents is also at the top of his agenda, and announced several initiatives his office will - and living wage jobs - to this highly valuable announced that a “Bronx Health Summit” pursue in the upcoming year. and unique Bronx asset.” The borough president highlighted several will be taking place next year. other successful economic ventures the Bronx In May, Bronx Borough“While these President projects Rubenare scattered Diaz acrossJr., together the with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Councilman Jimmy Vacca and Congressman Eliot“Like Engel, our economic joined Prestige development Properties and at the ceremonial Borough President Diaz also emphasized his has experienced in the past year, including education summits before it, this event will groundbreakingborough, of the Mall they atwork Bay together Plaza in to Co-op move City. the Thecommitment 780,000-square-foot for a greener, enclosed healthier mall Bronx, is onea of plan the that largest will complete projects the currently revitalization underway of in the borough and will create more than 2,000 con- Bronx in a positive direction. We are enact- bring together the best minds on health and struction jobs and more than 1,700 permanent jobs. The Mallreiterating at Bay his Plaza administration’s will be the firstpolicy enclosed not to thefashion West Farmsmall in neighborhood the New York as wellCity asarea the in almostwellness 40 from years. across It is theslated nation to toopen devise by anext spring. ing our conceptual ‘master plan,’” said fund any new projects unless they comply genesis of a long-term deal that will maintain Borough President Diaz. “We are balancing comprehensive plan to put the Bronx on the with “green” standards of industry. One of Hunts Point’s status as the premiere produce right track,” Borough President Diaz said. the needs of individual neighborhoods with the main “green” projects Borough President market in the world, right here in the Bronx. n February,the to needsa full of crowd the entire at Harryborough, S. and our“The future development of the Kingsbridge “Not only will FreshDirect bring 3,000 Thetotal boroughwas president issued inclosed March, his speechcovering a wide variety Diaz focused on is the introduction of Smith Borough President Diaz also mentioned his emphasizing the importance of harmony Truman Highdevelopment School in Co-op agenda City, is moving Bronx forwardArmory Electric will serve to the borough.as the foundation This past year, for the continuedjobs to the support Bronx, of they the borough’swill expand small their busi- of education topics that face the Bronx and Borough Presidentbecause we Ruben are attentive Diaz toJr. those deliv concerns.”- revitalization of the Northwest Bronx, in ways ness to neighborhoods across the borough.among all Bronxthe entire elected City. officials, businesses, I manufacturer chose the Bronx as its new business community, noting that the Bronx community groups, non-profit organizations, ered his third annualOne of those “State initiatives of the Borough”is the developmentthat a retailhome, mall relocating never from could,” Missouri. said Bronx OverallOver Economicthe next five Development years, FreshDirectCorporation plans to and neighborsIn addition, to make the Borough borough a Presidentbetter Diaz made Address. Duringof the his Kingsbridge speech, Armorythe borough into a center Borough for President Ruben Diaz Jr. “I am con- offeredconvert assistance their entire to more delivery than 1,000 fleet small to a cleaner,place to live. economic growth - one of the projects on the top Smith Electric has already found a purchaser businesses in the borough last year. it clear that increasing the health of Bronx president highlightedof the borough his administration’s president’s list since he fidentfirst that,in FreshDirect, working onetogether of the mostwith recent this admini- major greener one,” said Borough President Diaz.“We have a great Bronx team right here, our accomplishments during this past year and stration, we can and will bring a new tenant “This is an unqualified victory for the Bronx.” residents is also at the top of his agenda, and took office in 2009. In January, Borough Presi- corporations to settle in the Bronx. Borough Improving education in the Bronx is also one own versionannounced of the New York that Yankees a “Bronx or the Health Summit” announced severaldent Diaz initiatives and Mayor his Bloomberg office will jointly- an and- livingPresident wage Diaz jobs noted - to that this his highly office valuablehas signed of Borough President Diaz’s top priorities.