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World video travel guide
News • Lower Manhattan • New York City • United States • 2012-12-05
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
I fell in love with Lower Manhattan for the same reasons as everyone else: the dramatic architecture, winding streets, sweeping views, parkland, waterfront and unique shops and restaurants. But I stayed for the sense of community – the “little village” with the biggest buildings – that makes our one-square mile one of the best things about New York.
Though Lower Manhattan escaped the worst of Hurricane Sandy, the district was not unscathed, especially in the Seaport, along the Water Street corridor, at the Battery and on West Street. Here at the Downtown Alliance, our response has been true to our mission: to provide service, research, advocacy and information.
As the storm neared, our public safety and sanitation teams cleared the streets of debris, brought in street furniture, and deployed our Downtown Connection fleet to help evacuate residents to nearby shelter. While it raged, our Communications team worked round-the-clock to provide nonstop information, using social media, email blasts and frequent updates to our mobile app and website to bring you the most current news about details on site conditions, utility and public transportation services and where to go for help.
In the days and weeks that followed, our Economic Development team assessed the impact, reached out to business and property owners, fielded questions and helped to channel information about recovery efforts to residents, property owners and businesses, both large and small. Our field crews hit the streets to clean up debris and help restore the quality of life for which Lower Manhattan is treasured.
But that’s not all. Because small businesses are vital to the success of our district, we’ve launched a grant program targeting those most affected by the storm. We’ve worked with Con Ed and others to help restore vital customer services. We’ve told the story of how property owners are working tirelessly to restore temporarily off-line office and residential space, promoted local shops and restaurants, and advocated for assistance from the City, State and Federal governments. And, we are thinking to the future, compiling lessons learned and investigating new technologies, which may have citywide and regional significance.
We haven’t been alone in helping Lower Manhattan bounce back. I applaud our elected leaders – President Barack Obama, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York\'s two Senators, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Jerrold Nadler -- and Lower Manhattan’s hometown team: Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senator Daniel Squadron, Assembly Member Deborah Glick, Borough President Scott Stringer and Council Member Margaret Chin. We are also working closely with Community Board 1 and its new indefatigable chair, Catherine McVay Hughes.
Living and working in Lower Manhattan, I spend a lot of time out on the street. On my daily walks, I bear witness to countless examples of the hope and resilience that are second nature here: neighbors pitching in to support neighbors, small-business owners cleaning up and setting up shop anew, property owners welcoming tenants and, not surprisingly, Lower Manhattanites volunteering and supporting fellow New Yorkers more profoundly impacted by Sandy\'s blows. That’s who we are as a community.
The holiday season is a time for family and friends, for celebrations, gifts and festive meals. This year, why not support our local merchants and restaurants by shopping and dining right in the neighborhood? With more than eleven hundred retailers and food service establishments below Chambers Street, the choice is yours!
We must keep the momentum that has made Lower Manhattan the place to be for businesses, both long standing and start-ups, residents and visitors. All of us share a vision for Lower Manhattan that far exceeds the temporary setbacks that high winds and high waters may bring.
Whatever is thrown at us, we have prevailed. We are all part of a Lower Manhattan that will be stronger and better than ever, not just during the winter months but for decades – and centuries – to come.
Liz Berger
President, Downtown Alliance
Lower Manhattan • News
Lower Manhattan • 2013-05-30 •
HELP US IDENTIFY DOWNTOWN’S TOP 10 HIDDEN TREASURES (AND ENJOY AN EVENING AT ONE OF THEM ON US!) ...
Lower Manhattan • 2013-03-28 •
LOWER MANHATTAN HEADS TO TEXAS
...
Lower Manhattan • 2013-03-22 •
Downtown Alliance Releases Post-Sandy Report:
Lower Manhattan is Back to Business ...
Lower Manhattan • 2013-01-23 •
2013 MulchFest and Electronic Waste Recycling ...
Lower Manhattan • 2012-12-20 •
SUPPORT NYC SMALL BUSINESSES ...
