MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT SCOTT M. STRINGER VISITED US

DATE: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 

   On the January 23, 2007, Scott M. Stringer, the Manhattan Borough President, visited the Turkish Cultural Center. After an introduction from Executive Director Haldun Yavas and a video presentation, Mr. Stringer spoke briefly:

   "I want to pledge to you tonight, that we want to not just come to your receptions, not just taking your honor and your respect, but also give back to the community, because while we see great wealth and opportunity in this borough, and in this city billions of dollars are being invested here, so much is happening here, we see these big skyscrapers going up and we think that everything's ok.

   But, new immigrants in particular, people who come here and want to start a life as Americans did immigrants did generations ago It has not always been an easy road, people need help to establish themselves, people from other countries who come here view this as a gateway to hope and opportunity.  But unfortunately there are some barriers along the way and part of what a cultural center will do is also to be inviting the people who come from Turkey as other cultural centers whether it be Dominican or others I could name as many different groups but we have to be mindful that we have to help people who don't always have the resources to sustain themselves here and whether it is making sure there's daycare and good education opportunities at the end of the day American New York City and Manhattan thrive when we really lift up the next generation of kids who'll be running things for all us... and they're going to come from Turkey, and they're going to from Israel, from African nations, and they're just going to be from all different places."

   His speech was followed by a reception where he met various Turkish-Americans from the metropolitan area.

click for more pictures of the visit..