Ben Kallos, Re-Elect to New York City Council in 2017 - Roosevelt Island

Cornell Tech Campus Opens on Roosevelt Island, Marking Transformational Milestone for Tech in NYC

Feed — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Roosevelt Island

Cornell Tech Campus Opens on Roosevelt Island, Marking Transformational Milestone for Tech in NYC

“Tech now has a new home in New York City on Roosevelt Island at Cornell Tech. We are growing jobs and educating the next leaders of the tech economy right here on Roosevelt Island so the next big thing in tech will be 'Made in New York,” said City Council Member Ben Kallos, a tech entrepreneur. “Welcome to Cornell Tech, Dean Dan Huttenlocher and thank you to former Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the vision, Mayor de Blasio and RIOC President Susan Rosenthal for making it happen, and the Roosevelt Island community for being a part of this every step of the way. I look forward to working with Cornell Tech on bringing millions in investment to growing companies on Roosevelt Island and in New York City.”

NEW YORK CITY – Cornell Tech today celebrated the official opening of its campus on Roosevelt Island with a dedication event attended by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Cornell University President Martha Pollack, Technion President Peretz Lavie and Cornell Tech Dean Daniel Huttenlocher. Cornell Tech is the first campus ever built for the digital age, bringing together academia and industry to create pioneering leaders and transformational new research, products, companies and social ventures. Today marks the opening of the first phase of the Roosevelt Island campus, which features some of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient buildings in the world.

In 2011, Cornell Tech was named the winner of Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s Administration’s visionary Applied Sciences Competition, designed with the goal of diversifying the economy and creating a national hub for tech. The project, managed by the City’s Economic Development Corporation, has been carried forward by the de Blasio administration, with the campus breaking ground in 2015. The City estimated in 2011 that the new campus would generate up to 8,000 permanent jobs, hundreds of spin-off companies and more than $23 billion in economic activity over a period of 35 years. The campus is built on 12 acres of City land.

“With the opening of Cornell Tech, Cornell University, in partnership with the Technion, is defining a new model for graduate education -- a model that melds cutting-edge research and education with entrepreneurship and real world application,” said Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack. “We are so grateful to the City of New York for offering us a chance to launch this venture, to the many other partners who have helped bring us to this day, and to Mayor de Blasio and his administration for their continued commitment and support. Today marks the beginning of a new era of opportunity not only for Cornell and the tech campus, but also for New York City, the state and the world.”

“Today’s Cornell Tech campus opening marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute’s ongoing work to foster innovation in New York and beyond,” said Professor Peretz Lavie, President of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. “In partnership with Cornell, we’ve developed a model of graduate-level technology education that is unlike any other – one that’s tailor-made not only for New York City but for the challenges of the digital revolution.”

“Thanks to our investments to foster key industries, create good-paying jobs, and attract top talent, New York is the center of the world for finance, advertising, media, the arts and international commerce, but we are still building our reputation as an internationally-recognized hub of cutting-edge science and technology. By harnessing the engineering expertise of Cornell and the entrepreneurial spirit of Technion, Cornell Tech’s new campus will strengthen New York’s future competitiveness and produce innovations that will change the world,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“As we work to keep New York City a leader in the 21st Century economy, we celebrate the opening of the Cornell Tech campus and the opportunities it opens up for our city and our people. I am proud to welcome our newest leading educational institution, which will become a tremendous catalyst for our tech sector. We won’t stop here. Through Computer Science for All, the Tech Talent Pipeline and the new Union Square Tech Hub, we are building on the progress Mayor Bloomberg set in motion, and helping more New Yorkers become a part of this extraordinary success story,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"Cornell Tech is an investment in the future of New York City — a future that belongs to the generations to come, and the students here will help build it. Technological innovation played a central role in New York City becoming a global economic capital – and it must continue to play a central role for New York to remain a global economic capital. The companies and innovations spawned by Cornell Tech graduates will generate jobs for people across the economic spectrum and help our city compete with tech centers around the world, from Silicon Valley to Seoul,” said Mike Bloomberg.

“I’m thrilled that the Cornell Tech campus is finally opening on Roosevelt Island,” said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney.“With its proximity to Manhattan and to industrial space in Western Queens, Roosevelt Island is the perfect setting for an educational institution, which is which is why I worked hard to ensure that it was selected when the City was considering locations for the new applied science campus. Cornell Tech will help us diversify our economic base and bring jobs through new startups. A New York school generates New York businesses and employs New Yorkers. As students are welcomed to the new campus, we know this is just the beginning – and that the future for this institution will be bright.”

“Cornell Tech will create the leaders of tomorrow, bringing the brightest minds in the field of technology to Roosevelt Island. The digital age has not only improved the efficiency and productivity at the workplace, but created competitive high-paying salaries and stable jobs that keep overall unemployment rates lower. Cornell Tech is ahead of the curve by providing academic programs and training that will make this a world-renowned institution,” said Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright.

"The new Cornell Tech campus is a wonderful addition to Roosevelt Island and will continue to propel New York City as a leader in technology and innovation. Not only will this state of the art campus generate thousands of permanent jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity over the next 30 years, but is also environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Many thanks to Cornell Tech and all of my colleagues in government and on Roosevelt Island that helped to complete this special project,” said New York State Senator José M. Serrano.

“This milestone is a game-changer – and this campus is a New York City gem. As it prepares students for jobs of the future today, Cornell Tech will keep our city competitive in emerging industries tomorrow. This transformative project truly cements New York City as a global tech hub, and it illustrates what happens when government, academia, and industry all work together. Every stakeholder in this project should be exceptionally proud,” said Comptroller Scott M. Stringer.

"As our world becomes more tech-centered, the Cornell Tech campus will allow New York City to be at the heart of the innovation, leadership -- and most importantly, jobs -- in this space. This campus will bring academics, research and business together and educate the bright minds of our future. I look forward to seeing all that Cornell Tech has to offer our City, and to working with Cornell Tech to ensure that New Yorkers from every corner of our City benefit from this world-class institution," said Public Advocate Letitia James.

"Cornell Tech is a tremendous boost to New York's growing tech community and a welcome addition to our city's pantheon of world-class academic institutions," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "It's been thrilling to watch the campus' buildings rise on Roosevelt Island and to see the community partnerships this institution has already made possible.”

“The dedication of the Cornell Tech campus is an incredible achievement for New York City that has been almost seven years in the making,” said New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Not only does the addition of this institution enhance an already impressive slate of educational offerings, but its presence brings New York City’s drive for innovation to the cutting edge. I look forward to the thousands of students and faculty who will bring their research and insights to the five boroughs, and I am proud of the partnership between Cornell, the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and the New York City Council that saw about $300,000 allocated toward making this dream a reality.”

“The opening of Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island is a victory for Western Queens and New York City that will create jobs and reassert the region as a global leader in tech and innovation,” said City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “Just one stop on the F train to Western Queens, the proximity of the new campus and tech incubator to Western Queens will be beneficial for the people of my district and for the students of Cornell Tech looking to start new businesses. With unmatched resources for small businesses, including a diverse and talented workforce, Long Island City will be a natural place for new tech businesses to call home, develop breakthroughs, and create jobs. I thank all involved in this historic project for their good work and look forward to working closely with our new neighbor, Cornell Tech.”

Academic Program & Research

Cornell Tech started up in a temporary space generously provided by Google and has already graduated more than 300 masters and doctoral students, with most entering the New York City tech sector after graduation by joining local companies or starting their own. Masters students across all programs -- computer science, law, business, electrical engineering, operations research, connective media and health tech -- spend time learning and working collaboratively together in a Studio curriculum with extensive engagement with the tech industry. The projects students pursue in the Studio encourage them to practice entrepreneurship, product design, tech and public policy, management and other skills, helping them graduate with tangible, marketable experience and a portfolio of completed work that will help launch their career.

Cornell Tech’s 30-member faculty has launched cutting-edge research groups in the areas of Human-Computer Interaction and Social Computing, Security and Privacy, Artificial Intelligence, Data and Modeling, and Business, Law and Policy. All of the faculty have a focus on applied research and having a real world impact.

“We are entering a new era for tech in New York, and the Cornell Tech campus is at the heart of it. Cornell Tech was given the rare opportunity to create a campus and academic program from scratch. The opening of our new campus brings together academic disciplines critical to the digital transformation of society and the economy, together with companies, early stage investors, and government to spark innovation and help improve the lives of people throughout the City, country and world,” said Cornell Tech Dean Daniel Huttenlocher.

“Cornell Tech is a natural 21st-century expression of Cornell University’s founding principles,” said Robert S. Harrison, chairman of the Cornell University Board of Trustees. “The new campus is both completely transformative – and completely consistent with our values and our mission to pursue knowledge with a public purpose. While Ithaca remains the heart of the university, we serve New Yorkers through outreach and engagement in all 62 counties of New York state and have been deeply integrated in New York City for more than a century. The innovative programs at Cornell Tech affirm our institution’s vision, enhance our land-grant mission, and reflect the spirit of all Cornellians.”

The Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech is a unique academic partnership of two leading global universities, the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and Cornell. The Institute houses the Health Tech and Connective Media programs, where students receive dual degrees from Cornell and the Technion, and the Jacobs Runway Startup Postdoc program for recent tech PhDs.The Runway program has been responsible for about half of the more than 30 companies that have spun out of the Cornell Tech campus with more than $20 million in funds raised and employing more than 100 people.

“The Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute is a cornerstone of Cornell Tech, combining Cornell’s commitment to discovery with Technion’s global leadership in applied research and entrepreneurship. From our dual masters degree programs, to our groundbreaking faculty research, to the innovative companies spinning out of the Jacobs Runway Startup Postdoc program, our partnership and impact will grow on our new campus. Through the Jacobs Institute, Cornell Tech and New York City as a whole will always be on the leading edge, experimenting with novel ways to educate, discover, and innovate,” said Ron Brachman, Director of the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute.

“By steering students through Cornell Tech, and its soon-to-come Verizon Executive Education Center, we can build students and business people into lifelong learners and inspire them to be more innovative and impactful leaders. Our investment in Cornell Tech, is a testament of our belief that technology can be a transforming force in our society. This unique institution will be a model for the future and a shining example of how to solve big challenges and make people’s lives better,” said Lowell McAdam, Chairman and CEO of Verizon.

"Even without a permanent campus, Cornell Tech has already established a proven track record of developing innovative companies and top tier talent here in New York City. Now in its beautiful new home on Roosevelt Island, Cornell Tech immediately establishes itself as one of New York's premier tech institutions—helping us attract and retain the technical talent and companies our industry needs to grow and thrive,” said Julie Samuels, Executive Director of Tech:NYC.

Campus

Cornell Tech’s mission of collaboration and innovation is reflected in the physical design of its Roosevelt Island campus. It is a new type of urban campus that provides space to think, but is also integrated—in both mission and design—with the city. The campus master plan was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and includes a number of innovative features and facilities across a river-to-river campus with expansive views, a series of green, public spaces and a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor areas. The campus has some of the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient buildings in the world.

“We felt strongly that the framework should stimulate invention — both architectural and scientific. We designed a campus framework that would encourage the creative process now and into the future, flexibly accommodating a growing and evolving institution,” said Colin Koop, Senior Designer on project and a Director at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.

The first phase of the campus includes:

The Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Center is the first academic building on campus. Cornell University received a $100 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2014 for the campus. Designed by Morphosis Architects under the direction of Pritzker-Prize winner Thom Mayne and Principal Ung-Joo Scott Lee, the building is a departure from traditional academic facilities with a variety of spaces designed to support different learning modes, including flexible spaces to encourage collaboration as well as private work spaces, adapting open plan offices from the tech world to the academic arena. The Bloomberg Center aspires to be among the largest net-zero energy buildings in the United States, with all of its power generated on campus through a variety of site-specific strategies to reduce energy demand and use renewable energy. The art-in-architecture is also a key component of the Bloomberg Center, with newly commissioned works throughout the building by artists Alison Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Riedel, Matthew Ritchie and Matthew Day Jackson. It also features a space designed specifically to house a Works Projects Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project mural by Ilya Bolotowsky from the decommissioned Goldwater Memorial Hospital previously on the Cornell Tech site as well as a ground-floor cafe that is open to the public.

“The aim of Cornell Tech to create an urban center for interdisciplinary research and innovation is very much in line with our vision at Morphosis, where we are constantly developing new ways to achieve ever more sustainable buildings and to spark greater connections among the people who use our buildings. With the Bloomberg Center, we’ve pushed the boundaries of current energy efficiency practices and set a new standard for building development in New York City,” said Morphosis founder and design director Thom Mayne.

The Bridge, designed by WEISS/MANFREDI and developed by Forest City New York, is a first-of-its-kind building where an extraordinary mix of cutting-edge companies from diverse industries will have the opportunity to work alongside groundbreaking Cornell academic teams: from recent Cornell Tech graduates hustling to commercialize a new idea, to start-ups on the verge of explosive growth and established companies developing leading edge technologies and products. The building features gathering areas on each level, including a light-filled, multi-level Tech Gallery and a rooftop terrace sheltered by a solar trellis. Tech and investment firm Two Sigma is opening a Collision Lab in the building where engineers from its R&D team will tackle difficult challenges away from the company’s main campus, and where innovative start-ups backed by Two Sigma Ventures can thrive in an intense, productive and creative environment. Citigroup is taking space to engage with Cornell University students, faculty, researchers, and startups to work on emerging technologies such as blockchain, machine learning and big data applications, biometric authentication, Internet of Things, and cyber security. Ferrero International S.A., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolates, is taking space for its Open Innovation Science division to explore digital age innovation in the food industry.

“By bringing academia and industry together under one roof at The Bridge, we are driving innovation and economic growth for New York,” said MaryAnne Gilmartin, President and CEO of Forest City New York. “The Bridge is welcoming an incredible mix of companies who want to work alongside some of the top tech talent New York City has to offer, and get a competitive advantage to bring their ideas and new products to market.”

“The building is a crystalline social condenser, one that reveals expansive skyline views and creates spaces for academics and entrepreneurs to slow down, talk to one another, and generate ideas in unprecedented ways,” said Marion Weiss and Michael A. Manfredi, co-founders of WEISS/MANFREDI.

The House, designed by Handel Architects and developed by The Hudson Companies and Related Companies, is the tallest and largest residential Passive House high-rise in the world. Passive House is the strict international building standard that drastically reduces energy consumption while creating a healthier and more comfortable living environment for a fraction of residents’ usual energy costs. Cornell faculty, staff and students live at The House, giving the campus 24/7 activity.

"We are very excited to bring this first of its kind building to the New York City market. We have been humbled to be a part of this amazing campus, working with an incredible team of architects, engineers and contractors,” said David Kramer, President of The Hudson Companies. “We hope that The House can serve as a model for other developments to continue to build big, build more sustainably and push the (super sealed) envelope.”

“The opening of the Cornell Tech Campus on Roosevelt Island is a historic moment for New York, and would not have been possible without the vision and foresight of the City and the State. This new campus will serve as a hub for technological innovation and will be a tremendous addition to New York City,” said Related Companies CEO Jeff Blau. “We are proud to have partnered with Hudson Companies and Cornell on ‘The House’, likely the most sustainable residential tower to ever be built, and to have played a role in making this great project a reality."

“The House is a groundbreaking example of sustainable architecture -- the largest and tallest Passive House building in the world. It's our answer to the call for change to combat global warming,” said Gary Handel, President of Handel Architects.

The open space, designed by James Corner Field Operations, anchors the campus, fostering collaboration and innovation while simultaneously inviting the public into the campus. The campus is a river-to-river experience, engaging Roosevelt Island’s esplanade and extraordinary water frontage while maximizing views of Manhattan and Queens. The heart of Phase 1’s 3.5 acres of open space is the Campus Plaza, a multi-use central gathering space that can accommodate larger events. Connected to the Plaza is the quarter-mile long Tech Walk, a central spine that features a series of active and social spaces that are linked by pedestrian pathways. Throughout the campus, outdoor and indoor spaces are synergistically connected to allow people to move easily and comfortably in and out during the course of the day. The open space features comprehensive resilient design, including rain harvesting for irrigation, subterranean gravel trenches that hold and slow down stormwater; a series of bio-filtration gardens that treat stormwater runoff non-mechanically before it enters the river; and a geothermal field that provides energy to The Bloomberg Center.

“With Cornell Tech’s new campus, we have been able to integrate technology, sustainability, and landscape architecture to create a unique urban campus,” said Karen Tamir, James Corner Field Operations’ Principal-in-Charge. “Each of the open spaces work together to provide settings for students, faculty, staff and visitors to sit, talk and collaborate, creating a lively, welcoming, and social environment.”

“On behalf of the Roosevelt Island Community, I am excited to welcome Cornell Tech and the promise of innovation it brings to the Island, the State and the world. Cornell will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the quality of life here, bringing together talented and diverse young entrepreneurs with our active and inquisitive residents,” said Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

Later this fall, Cornell Tech will begin construction on the Verizon Executive Education Center and Graduate Roosevelt Island Hotel, targeted for opening in 2019, providing a venue for academic conferences, executive programs and academic workshops.

When fully completed over the next few decades, the 12-acre campus will be home to more than 2,000 graduate students and hundreds of faculty and staff.

NYC Ferry service to Roosevelt Island began in August, bringing more New York City neighborhoods within reach of the campus.

Commitment to Community: Building a More Diverse and Inclusive Tech Talent Pipeline

Cornell Tech is committed to having an impact beyond its campus, and to build and diversify New York City’s tech talent pipeline so that more people can share in the rapid growth of the tech economy. Fulfilling its promise to New York City to spur K-12 tech education, the campus has partnered with more than a dozen local schools, including PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island, and is coordinating professional development opportunities for teachers to gain experience in incorporating tech thinking into their teaching. To date, Cornell Tech has impacted over 5,000 students and 350 teachers. Cornell Tech is also committed to building and diversifying the base of the technology talent in New York City. In partnership with CUNY and many tech companies in the city, Cornell Tech’s Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship in New York (WiTNY) program provides the access, incentives and support needed for girls and women to succeed in the tech industry. To date, the curriculum has been implemented at more than a dozen CUNY campuses with 2,000 students impacted each year.

New York City Applied Sciences Competition

Cornell Tech was founded when the partnership of Cornell University and the Technion were selected in December of 2011 as one of the winners of New York City’s visionary Applied Sciences NYC initiative, created under Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor Robert Steel. The Economic Development Corporation, then led by Seth Pinsky, sought proposals for a university or partnership to develop and operate a new or expanded campus in the City in exchange for City capital, access to City-owned land and the full support and partnership of City government. Cornell Tech’s proposal was selected ahead of submissions from 17 world-class institutions from around the globe. The Cornell Tech proposal was selected by the City as the first winner of the competition and was provided with land on Roosevelt Island and $100 million in City capital to build the $2 billion, 2 million square foot tech campus.

About Cornell Tech

Cornell Tech brings together faculty, business leaders, tech entrepreneurs and students in a catalytic environment to produce visionary results grounded in significant needs that will reinvent the way we live in the digital age. The Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute embodies the academic partnership between the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Cornell University on the Cornell Tech campus.

From 2012-2017, the campus was temporarily located in Google’s New York City building. In fall 2017, 30 world-class faculty and about 300 graduate students moved to the first phase of Cornell Tech’s permanent campus on Roosevelt Island, continuing to conduct groundbreaking research, collaborate extensively with tech-oriented companies and organizations and pursue their own startups. When fully completed, the campus will include two million square feet of state-of-the-art buildings, over two acres of open space, and will be home to more than 2,000 graduate students and hundreds of faculty and staff.

About Cornell University

Cornell University is a world-class research institution known for the breadth and rigor of its curricula, and an academic culture dedicated to preparing students to be well-educated and well-rounded citizens of the world. Its faculty, staff and students believe in the critical importance of knowledge—both theoretical and applied—as a means of improving the human condition and solving the world’s problems. With campuses in Ithaca, New York, New York City, and Doha, Qatar, Cornell is a private, Ivy League research university and the land-grant institution of New York state.

Our Town Kallos’s State of the District by DANIEL FITZSIMMONS

Feed — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 04:12:09 +0000

Our Town

Kallos’s State of the District

http://www.ourtownny.com/local-news/20160112/kalloss-state-of-the-district

DANIEL FITZSIMMONS

01/12/2016

East side councilmember wants to meet every person in the district

Councilmember Ben Kallos touted his office’s work with constituents on housing issues in his recent state of the district address, and looked forward to several initiatives in 2016.

“As a constituent and advocate myself, then candidate, and now council member, I have always been frustrated with how government can be opaque, closed, unaccountable and broken,” said Kallos, addressing a room of community leaders and residents at Memorial Sloan Kettering on East 67th Street. “What if we started to change all that - empowering our community - what would that look like?”

Kallos said his constituent services team and roughly a dozen graduate students in social work have helped more than 4,000 people in his district, and that legal clinics supplied by his office have provided individual counsel to nearly 250 other constituents, “who are trying to stay in their homes or get heat back in their apartments.”

He also revealed a lofty goal: to personally meet all 168,413 people who live in his district.

Kallos said his team worked with constituents facing everything from poor conditions to evictions, with the goal of protecting housing in the district. “I grew up here; I want to raise a family and grow old here, too,” said Kallos. “We must protect our affordable and public housing, and combat the forces of overdevelopment.”

One of Kallos’ signature achievements occurred when he, Borough President Gale Brewer and State Senator Liz Krueger opposed Mayor Bill de Blasio’s housing plan, which called for adding height to the contextual height caps that allow for the East Side’s quiet side streets. “We opposed the measure…so developers wouldn’t tear down rent stabilized buildings to get more height,” said Kallos. “And the Department of City Planning heard us, and agreed to protect the midblock.”

Midblock buildings in the district are capped at 75 feet, Kallos said.

Fighting superscrapers has also been a theme for Kallos. When residents of the Sutton Place alerted his office to a proposed 90-story building in the neighborhood, he said, his office worked with local residents to form the East River Fifties Alliance.

“Under the leadership of President Alan Kersh, the alliance has worked with our office to organize the community behind an effort to rezone the neighborhood to draw the line on billionaires row at residential neighborhoods,” he said. “Integral to this community effort are Herndon Werth, the ‘Sage of Sutton,’ and Charles Fernandez, who have rejected buyouts and resisted harassment, and stayed in their apartments, saying the light and air and history of our neighborhood are too important to demolish for a superscraper.”

Kallos said all of these campaigns, whether they’re local or citywide, “are meant to address the issues that you have brought me and my team.”

But, Kallos noted, the best is yet to come.

He said he plans, as chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations, to continue to focus on improving democracy, transparency, and increasing access to government resources.

Kallos touted legislation he’s sponsoring that would provide government benefits to everybody who qualifies automatically, with no application or renewal required, using information the government already has to increase efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.

Kallos’ said in the meantime his office can already help residents get the benefits they’re entitled through a 25-minute screening process at his office or online at nyc.gov/ACCESSNYC.

“Whether or not you have a title, all of us in this room are leaders in some aspect of this neighborhood and city,” concluded Kallos. “Whether on the community board, your neighborhood association, your building, your PTA, or in your home, your experience and expertise in our community can bring value to the rest of us. Thank you for your partnership and I hope to see you over the next year as we work to make the Fifth Council District and New York City an even better place to live.”

Issue:

Affordable Housing

Community

Education

Elections

Environment

Good Government

Health

Israel

Jobs

Marine Transfer Station

Public Safety

Roosevelt Island

Second Avenue Subway Construction

Tax Reform

Technology

Transportation

Other

Roosevelt Island Daily IDNYC Pop-Up Launches Today at Carter Burden by David Stone

Feed — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 03:32:09 +0000

Roosevelt Island Daily

IDNYC Pop-Up Launches Today at Carter Burden

http://rooseveltislanddaily.prosepoint.net/142732

David Stone

10/11/2016

The Office of Immigration Affairs opened a one week pop-up today at the Carter Burden Center on Roosevelt Island. A team will assist residents in applying for the IDNYC card. Unexpectedly, on the same day, a slipshod report in the New York Post attacked the popular program. Council Member Ben Kallos used the occasion to briskly knock the report down.

"What I love about this ID Card is it shows that what is good for older people is good for everyone," said Bill Dionne, Executive Director of the Carter Burden Center for the Aging.

Carter Burden, which oversees the Roosevelt Island Senior Center at 546 Main Street, is hosting the week long pop-up. It runs daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and until noon on Monday, October 17th. While Dionne and others spoke, Office of Immigration Affairs staffers could be seen at their computers in an adjoining room, already working with early applicants.

Deputy Commissioner Kavita Pawria-Sanchez reported, "As of today, enrollment has grown to 900,000 cardholders, already one out of every ten New Yorkers."

http://rooseveltislanddaily.prosepoint.net/sites/default/files/imagecach...

Issue:

Roosevelt Island

New York Times Development-Weary Neighborhood Tries to Block a New Luxury Tower by CHARLES V. BAGLI

Feed — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 03:02:28 +0000

New York Times

Development-Weary Neighborhood Tries to Block a New Luxury Tower

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/nyregion/development-weary-neighborhood-tries...

CHARLES V. BAGLI

07/11/2017

“New Yorkers are exhausted by overdevelopment,” said Ben Kallos, the city councilman who represents the area and a leading opponent of the tall tower. “This is about standing up and showing the city that there’s another way to do things.”

Critics of the project say that supertall towers in residential areas tend to overwhelm the neighborhood and displace less wealthy residents. Still, both Mayor Bill de Blasio and his predecessor, Michael R. Bloomberg, rezoned large sections of the city for ever taller buildings.

The zoning change, which was proposed by Mr. Kallos and other elected officials as well as neighborhood residents, has been in the works for two years. The proposed rezoning was recently approved by the Manhattan borough president, Gale Brewer, and unanimously endorsed by the local community board. Mr. Kallos hopes that the City Council will approve the proposal after the city’s Planning Department holds a public hearing on the matter in August.

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/07/12/nyregion/12SUTTON-02/12SUTTON...

Issue:

Roosevelt Island

49 New Pre-Kindergarten Seats Open at Roosevelt Island Day Nursery

Feed — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 15:36:26 +0000

Roosevelt Island

49 New Pre-Kindergarten Seats Open at Roosevelt Island Day Nursery

Roosevelt Island, NY – Today forty-nine 4-year-olds will be able to attend free pre-kindergarten at Roosevelt Island Day Nursery thanks to the advocacy from Council Member Ben Kallos, organizing by Roosevelt Island Parents Network, and last minute intervention from Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

Roosevelt Island Parents Network’s Eva Bosbach and Susana del Campo helped to organize a list of more than 90 families that agreed to send their children to Universal Pre-Kindergarten on Roosevelt Island. Council Member Kallos reached out to every Pre-Kindergarten and childcare provider on Roosevelt Island and the East Side to ask them to participate in Universal Pre-Kindergarten. Roosevelt Island Day Nursery led by Executive Director Pamela Stark was the only provider on Roosevelt Island to stand up for their community to serve their needs. Council Member Kallos helped Roosevelt Island Day Nursery through the bureaucratic Department of Education application process through approval. Once approval was obtained an obstacle arose that Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s President Susan Rosenthal was able remedy leading to the on-time opening of Roosevelt Island Day Nursery to serve forty-nine 4-year olds on Roosevelt Island.

Council Member Kallos, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation and Parents Network Support for Day Nursery Leads to Department of Education Approval and Opening

Since taking office Council Member Kallos and organizers in the community have also successfully doubled the number of seats at P.S./I.S. 217 on Roosevelt Island. As of 2016 the number of seats in the Upper East Side and on Roosevelt Island has more than quintupled from 123, as was originally reported by WNYC in 2014, to 646 as of the today.

“Universal Pre-Kindergarten means having a seat for every four-year old in their neighborhood where children can get an education and parents get the help they need in order to afford to live, work and raise a family in the city,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “Thank you to Pamela Stark Executive Director at Roosevelt Island Day Nursery and the many Parents for working with me and the Department of Education to bring Free Pre-Kindergarten to Roosevelt Island.”

“RIOC is thrilled about the UPK opening at RIDN. Ben Kallos, the Department of Education, the FDNY and Manhattan Park have demonstrated that, when we put the interests of the public ahead of individual concerns, we can successfully overcome all obstacles,” said Susan Rosenthal, President of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

“The Roosevelt Island Day Nursery is thrilled to be able to offer three full day Universal Pre-K classes this year, making RIDN the largest UPK provider on Roosevelt Island and helping address the significant need for additional on-Island UPK options in our growing community. For more than 40 years, RIDN has provided Roosevelt Island families with high quality early childhood education. We are confident that our UPK program will help prepare our students for kindergarten and the years ahead. We are very grateful to Council Member Kallos’ office, Susan Rosenthal of RIOC, RIDN's Board members, and to the Department of Education officials who all worked so diligently to help make this happen,” said Pamela Stark, Executive Director of the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery.

“Roosevelt Island could not be more thankful for 49 additional universal Pre-K seats for our families! For more than a year members of the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network including Nisha Nihan, Danielle Goldblatt, Josie Chamla, Susy del Campo Perea and Heart Sugiyama teamed up in an effort to get more local UPK seats for our children. We collected lists of names, called and e-mailed our elected officials and requested more seats from the DOE. The mission of the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network is to serve its over 500 member families, keeping them connected through a discussion forum and various activities, and to advocate for their needs. We thank Council Member Ben Kallos and his team for working with us and bringing more local UPK seats to RI! Having a sufficient number of UPK seats on Roosevelt Island strengthens our commitment to the international, diverse, mixed income island neighborhood, a community that is welcoming to all,” said Eva Bosbach of the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network.

Following reporting by WNYC in 2014 that Yorkville, Lenox Hill and Roosevelt Island had 2,118 four-year-olds and only 123 Pre-Kindergarten seats Council Member Ben Kallos has worked to bring new seats to the district. This included identifying parents with four year olds who pledged to send their children to Universal Pre-Kindergarten, working with schools and providers to become UPK locations, and working with the Department of Education through the application process to open more seats in the 5th Council District on the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island.

The list of locations with available in the Upper East Side and on Roosevelt Island are:

Roosevelt Island Day Nursery (RIDN) (NEW)
4 River Road, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044
2016-17 Seats: 49 Full day

P.S. 183 Robert Stevenson (NEW)
419 East 66^th Street, Manhattan, NY 10065
2016-17 Seats: 20 Full day

P.S. 6 Lillie Blake (NEW)
45 East 81^st Street, Manhattan, NY 10028
2017-17 Seats: 40 Full day

P.S. 151 Yorkville Community School (NEW)
421 East 88^th Street, Manhattan, NY 10128
2016-17 Seats: 20 Full day

UPK Center at Wagner (NEW)
220 East 76^th Street, Manhattan, NY 10021
2016-17 Seats: 60 Full day

Manhattan Schoolhouse (NEW)
1608 First Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10028
2016-17 Seats: 36 Full day

P.S. / I.S. 217 Roosevelt Island
645 Main St, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044
2016-17 Seats: 40 Full day

Renanim Manhattan
336 East 61st St, Manhattan, NY 10065
2016-17 Seats: 14 Full day

East Side Elementary School, P.S. 267
213 East 63rd St, Manhattan, NY 10065
2016-17 Seats: 20 Full day

Ella Baker School
317 East 67th St, Manhattan, NY 10065
2016-17 Seats: 60 Full day

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
331 East 70th St, Manhattan, NY 10021
2016-17 Seats: 80 Full day

P.S. 158 Bayard Taylor
1458 York Ave, Manhattan, NY 10075
2016-17 Seats: 80 Full day

Cassidy's Place
419 East 86th St, Manhattan, NY 10028
2016-17 Seats: 18 Full day and Half Day

Eisman Day Nursery
1794 First Ave, Manhattan, NY 10128
2016-17 Seats: 39 Full day

P.S. 198 Isador E Ida Straus
1700 Third Ave, Manhattan, NY 10128
2016-17 Seats: 50 Full day

Lexington Children's Center
115 East 98th St, Manhattan, NY 10029
2016-17 Seats: 20 Full day

###

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New York Observer Supporters and Opponents of Hillary Clinton Converge on Roosevelt Island by Will Bredderman

Feed — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:12:16 +0000

New York Observer

Supporters and Opponents of Hillary Clinton Converge on Roosevelt Island

http://observer.com/2015/06/supporters-and-opponents-of-hillary-clinton-converge...

Will Bredderman

06/13/2015

Public Advocate Letitia James and Manhattan Councilmen Ben Kallos and Corey Johnson were among the elected officials who crowded around the enormous H-shaped stage and shook hands with the Democratic front-runner. Ms. James—who earlier this year demurred before endorsing the former first lady’s candidacy—told the Observer that she saw Ms. Clinton as a “she-ro,” and applauded the emphasis Ms. Clinton put on paid sick and family leave in her speech.

“She’s a woman. I want to be on the right side of history,” the public advocate said, noting that Ms. Clinton would be the first female commander-in-chief. “She touched on 90 percent of the things I care about”

Mr. Kallos seemed overjoyed that the ex-senator’s campaign launched in his Manhattan district.

“Pleasure to welcome the next POTUS Hillary Clinton to my district,” Mr. Kallos tweeted, cheering Ms. Clinton’s previous calls for automatic, universal voter registration.

A bevy of New York politicians and a number of conservative activists joined the thousand-strong crowd on Roosevelt Island for ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s campaign kickoff today.

Mr. Kallos seemed overjoyed that the ex-senator’s campaign launched in his Manhattan district.

“Pleasure to welcome the next POTUS Hillary Clinton to my district,” Mr. Kallos tweeted, cheering Ms. Clinton’s previous calls for automatic, universal voter registration.

For Mr. Johnson, a gay man representing the West Village and Chelsea, the stress Ms. Clinton—a former opponent of gay marriage—placed on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues distinguished her from the large field of Republican presidential contenders.

“Hillary has mentioned LGBT Americans three times so far in this speech,” the councilman posted on Twitter during the address. “Meanwhile GOP are trying to outmaneuver each other on anti-gay rhetoric.”

But not everyone present was a supporter—or a Democrat. A number of young representatives of the Republican National Committee traveled from Washington, D.C. to attend the event.

Despite their “Stop Hillary” t-shirts and signs emblazoned with the word “Hypocrisy”—the “H” modeled on Ms. Clinton’s campaign logo—a few managed to get in to the event. One of them was RNC deputy press secretary Raffi Williams, son of Fox News anchor Juan Williams, who highlighted the scandals surrounding Ms. Clinton’s decision to use a private email server to handle State Department business and surrounding donations to the Clinton Foundation non-profit.

“She’s running into problems, financing questions, and she’s not talking to people,” Mr. Williams told the Observer.

A number of opponents gathered just outside the entrance to Four Freedoms Park, where the kickoff took place, carrying signs with slogans like “Hillary: Deport All Illegals” and “We’ve Had Our Fill of Bill and Hill.” Among them was Ben Kunst, who told the Observer he flew in from Miami to protest what he saw as Ms. Clinton’s insufficient support for Israel, and her decision to hold the event on the Jewish Sabbath, an offense he compared to the political tactics of the Nazis.

“She thinks my 5,000 year covenant with God means nothing,” Mr. Kunst said.

Issue:

Roosevelt Island

Capital New York Clinton calls for the restoration of 'America's basic bargain' by Dana Rubinstein

Feed — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:12:16 +0000

Capital New York

Clinton calls for the restoration of 'America's basic bargain'

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/06/8570135/clinton-calls-resto...

Dana Rubinstein

06/13/2015

As Clinton talked about some of the structural challenges facing America—changes in technology, the rise of global trade—Ben Kallos, the councilman representing Roosevelt Island, posed for a selfie.

Two months and a day after Hillary Clinton announced her bid for the presidency with an online video that Jon Stewart compared to a State Farm ad, she spoke in person to a crowd of supporters at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorial on Roosevelt Island.

“America can’t succeed unless you succeed,” said Clinton, who wore a vivid blue pant suit. “That is why I am running for president of the United States.”

Clinton has been campaigning since April, but her campaign described Saturday’s event as her “official launch speech.”

Her choice of the FDR Memorial on Roosevelt Island was filled with political symbolism.

One World Trade Center rose to the south of the former junior senator from New York State. The United Nations rose to the former secretary of state’s left.

And she described Roosevelt’s vision of “equality of opportunity" as an inspiration for generations of Democrats, her husband, Barack Obama and herself included.

“It’s America’s basic bargain,” said Clinton. “If you do your part, you ought to be able to get ahead. And when everybody does their part, America gets ahead too. That bargain inspired generations of families, including my own.”

She suggested that Republican policies had eroded that bargain, enabling the economic crisis from which the country is still recovering.

“Prosperity can’t be just for C.E.O.s and hedge fund managers,” she said. “Democracy can’t be just for billionaires and corporations. Prosperity and democracy are part of your basic bargain too.”

A police boat plied the waters between Roosevelt Island and Long Island City.

Clinton kept talking.

“These Republicans trip over themselves promising lower taxes for the wealthy and fewer rules for the biggest corporations, without regard for how that will make income inequality even worse,” she said.

Clinton promised to “rewrite the tax code so it rewards hard work and investments here at home, not quick trades or stashing profits overseas.”

She said she’d offer new incentives to companies that give their employees a greater share of the profits, create an infrastructure bank, cut red tape, make America “the clean-energy superpower of the 21st century,” and make preschool and child care available to “every child in America.”

She said if needed, she’d support a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

And she promised “creative and confident leadership that enables us to shape global events rather than be shaped by them.”

As the speech neared its end, and its climax, she talked about her mother, and how she wished she could have seen an America where a “father can tell his daughter: yes, you can be anything you want to be. Even president of the United States.”

As she concluded her speech, her family joined her on stage.

Issue:

Roosevelt Island

AM New York De Blasio, Bloomberg at Cornell's Roosevelt Island tech campus groundbreaking by Ivan Pereira

Feed — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:12:15 +0000

AM New York

De Blasio, Bloomberg at Cornell's Roosevelt Island tech campus groundbreaking

http://www.amny.com/news/de-blasio-bloomberg-at-cornell-s-roosevelt-island-tech-...

Ivan Pereira

06/16/2015

Councilman Ben Kallos, who represents the island and used to run a technology consulting firm, said the school's location makes sense because it easily connects to the headquarters of east side and Long Island City tech firms.

"It will make the tram, ferry service and F train a viable corridor," he said.

Roosevelt Island took its first step into a tech-infused future Tuesday with the groundbreaking of Cornell's highly anticipated campus.

Mayors Bill de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg joined community members and school officials for a grand ceremony touting the transformative effects for NYC of the future Cornell Tech, which will teach 2,000 graduate engineering students. The school, which will open in 2017, is expected to provide a pipeline of fresh young talent into the booming local tech industry while simultaneously increasing the appeal of the island.

"It's providing CPR to Roosevelt Island," said James G. Clynes, the chair of Manhattan's Community Board 8, which oversees the neighborhood.

The 12-acre campus will be located on the southern portion of the island, under the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, and the three phases of construction will be done by 2037. The first phase includes The Bridge, a center where tech companies, students and school staff can meet and hold events such as hackathons, and a 26-story residential tower called the Passive House that will be one of the greenest buildings in the city.

"We created a space where different expertises come together," said Cornell President David J. Skorton.

Bloomberg announced Monday night that he donated $100 million to fund the construction of the main academic building, which will now be known as The Bloomberg Center. The former mayor created a competition that called on universities from around the world to create a tech campus in the city.

The start-up industry has been surging over the last decade, accounting for 300,000 city workers and recently beating California in terms of investments in tech companies.

"It will make the tram, ferry service and F train a viable corridor," he said.

Clynes said Cornell has actively approached the community to hear them out on concerns about the construction, and so far they've been cooperative. The school will use barges to transport construction material and will add new green space to the southern part of the island.

"The project is respecting the Roosevelt Island way of life with a river to river experience," Clynes said.

Judith Berdy, the president of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, said Cornell will be a respectful neighbor.

"We have a strong foundation for history and science already," she said. "We will balance the community's needs with the school's needs."

Issue:

Roosevelt Island

NYC.gov Office of the Mayor Macy's and Mayor de Blasio Announce that the 39th Annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks - the Nation's Largest Independence Day Display - Will Return to Celebrate America's Birthday Live from New York City thi

Feed — Fri, 22 May 2015 23:02:29 +0000

NYC.gov Office of the Mayor

Macy's and Mayor de Blasio Announce that the 39th Annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks - the Nation's Largest Independence Day Display - Will Return to Celebrate America's Birthday Live from New York City this Year From Two Locations on the East River

http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/328-15/macy-s-mayor-de-blasio-that-...

The Press Office of the Mayor

05/20/2015

“With fireworks on the East River, Roosevelt Islanders and East Siders should have a great vantage point with which to view them,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “I am thrilled that the fireworks have been moved back to where many New Yorkers, from Brooklyn to Queens to Manhattan can enjoy them.”

Macy’s and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that on Saturday, July 4th, the 39th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® will rumble to life over New York City, igniting the skyline over the East River with the nation’s largest Independence Day pyrotechnic display. This year, extending to two locations, the show will begin at approximately 9:20 PM and dazzle the shorelines of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn with an unparalleled spectacle of color, light and sound set to commemorate the holiday with a very big bang!

America’s most explosive party will take place from two locations on the East River in midtown and within the South Street Seaport historic district. Brave, the theme of this year’s show, will fire more than 40,000 pyrotechnic shells during a 25-minute synchronized display. Designed in collaboration with PyroSpectaculars by Souza, the show will be fired from four barges positioned between 23rd and 37th Streets in Midtown and from one double-barge positioned below the Brooklyn Bridge.

“Last year, we brought Macy’s incredible fireworks back to the East River – and this year, with barges up and down the river, even more New Yorkers will be able to take part,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This celebration will light up the sky for millions in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. There’s no question: this will be a dynamite 4th of July for New Yorkers across the city.”

“Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks are the nation’s premiere Independence Day celebration and we are thrilled to once again bring the City of New York a front row view to this one-of-a-kind nationwide spectacle,” said Amy Kule, Executive Producer of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. “With two locations, firing 1,600 shells per minute, this year’s show will cover a large stretch of the City’s famed skyline with incredibly vibrant color and fantastic effects.”

“As we prepare to celebrate another July 4th in New York City, we’re proud to once again present Macy’s dazzling fireworks show for the occasion,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I welcome New Yorkers to join in the Independence Day festivities by taking in this timeless tradition that will once again light up Manhattan’s skyline with a world class fireworks show for all to enjoy.”

“Each year Macy’s presents an amazing 4th of July fireworks show that is an incredible visual spectacle as well as a stirring celebration of our nation’s independence,” saidQueens Borough President Melinda Katz. “That’s why it’s great news that this year’s show will once again take place on the East River, where it will be viewable from Long Island City and therefore more easily accessible to the 2.3 million residents of the Borough of Queens.”

“Oh say, can you see East River fireworks this 4th of July? Yes! The red, white, and blue will burst brightly o'er Brooklyn's shores, delighting thousands of local families as well as visitors whose celebrations will bring a boost to our local businesses. I thank Macy’s and Mayor de Blasio for their commitment to an Independence Day that can be enjoyed by as many New Yorkers as possible,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams

“This year’s Fourth of July will be another great ‘East Side Story’ for New Yorkers,” saidState Senator Daniel Squadron. “Fireworks over the East River means more New Yorkers ‘own the night like the Fourth of July’ as Katy Perry would say. I’m pleased to have worked with Mayor de Blasio and Macy’s to ensure these festivities can be part of the holiday for millions of New Yorkers. Hopefully they will be for years to come.”

“Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks display is always a great treat for New Yorkers and I’m thrilled that Queens once again has a front row seat to the show,” said Congressman Joe Crowley. “It is a hallmark of our Independence Day celebration and I’m proud to share this rich tradition with millions of Americans who gather each year to watch the rocket’s red glare over the East River.”

“Once again the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks spectacular will light up the East River skyline!” said Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “I have advocated tirelessly for years alongside Mayor de Blasio to bring the fireworks back to the borough of Queens. Today we are delivering on our promise and bringing borough residents an opportunity to enjoy one of our nation’s most spectacular events. Residents from Hunters Point in Long Island City and all of western Queens will rejoice welcoming thousands into their neighborhoods to celebrate. Staging the fireworks along the East River will give our local small businesses a boost and draw attention to all we have to offer here in Long Island City. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and Macy’s for helping us keep this promise and making this day a reality.”

“The Macy’s 4th of July Spectacular is truly a classic New York City tradition and I’m excited that the fireworks are once again back where they belong – and where the most New Yorkers can enjoy them – right here on the Brooklyn/Queens waterfront along the East River!” said Council Member Vincent Gentile. “Not only will the fireworks light up that iconic New York City skyline, but local businesses will enjoy a real economic spark! I thank Mayor de Blasio and Macy’s for making America’s largest 4th of July celebration truly a citywide celebration.”

“I am thrilled that this year’s full Fourth of July fireworks show will be home on the East River where it belongs,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “I thank the Mayor for working to make sure that more New Yorkers can celebrate and enjoy this display.”

“There is a long standing tradition in my district to arrive early to the East River Park on July 4th. My neighbors barbeque and lay in a blanket until the sun goes down patiently waiting for Macy’s to light up our east side skyline. We look forward to continuing our tradition,” said Council Member Rosie Mendez.

“I am glad to see the fireworks are back on the East River again – where freedom-loving spectators in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn can enjoy the show, a safe distance from New Jersey,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick.

Revelers enjoying the show are encouraged to enjoy the full explosive experience by tuning in to radio station 1010WINS-AM to hear the musical score to which the show is choreographed.

Independence Day spectators from coast-to-coast can catch all the action by tuning to NBC’s two-hour national broadcast of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacularbeginning at 8:00 PM ET (check local listings). In addition to the pyrotechnic splendor, the 4th of July’s most popular entertainment special will feature performances from the nation’s hottest musical acts.

For more information on the 39th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, please visitwww.macys.com/fireworks or call the Macy’s Fireworks Hotline at (212) 494-4495, as of June 2, 2015.

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks are made possible in part by signature partners Cracker Jack®, The Howard Hughes Corporation, Kool-Aid® and Planters®, and are presented in partnership with the City of New York.

About Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks are the nation’s largest 4th of July pyrotechnic display. Produced by Macy’s and designed in conjunction with PyroSpectaculars by Souza of Rialto, CA, Macy’s Fireworks are a digitally synchronized display of firepower that is choreographed to a rousing patriotic score. Annually fired from various locations across New York City, Macy’s Fireworks feature shells from all over the world. Seen by more than 3 million spectators and millions of viewers nationwide, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks have become the nation’s premiere 4th of July celebration event.

Issue:

Roosevelt Island