Helen Of Queens Progressing with compassion

Though he stands a diminutive three feet, David Sookhoo, 5, had a packed crowd at Queens Borough President Helen Marshalls State of the Borough address singing and cheering for him. For the culmination of her oratory, Marshall had the young boy from Jamaica who is currently battling leukemia come on stage at the Colden Center and then announced that those in attendance were about to make New York state history. "Songs of Love," an organization that writes personal songs for ill children was recording one for David and needed the audiences participation to make it their largest sing-along ever. As the crowd joined in cooing how he liked hide-and-seek, pineapple pizza and Thomas the Train, David beamed a wide smile.
"Dont worry about your voice everyone in Queens has a good strong voice that I can assure you," Marshall encouraged the crowd, demonstrating the compassionate leadership which has become the hallmark of her office.
Tuesdays address not only highlighted this idiosyncracy but her accomplishments over the past year. It also outlined what residents could expect in 2004, including a major park initiative that will have repercussions on the Queens Museum of Art and the citys Olympic hopes.
"I am thrilled to announce today that working with Mayor Bloomberg, our long-awaited pool and ice rink at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park will now be built!" said Marshall.
The news marked a thawing of relations between Marshall and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Since taking office, Marshall has pushed for the world-class ice rink and pool, whose plans have been in place since former borough president Claire Shulmans administration. However, financing problems under Bloomberg had stalled construction.
Marshall and the mayors recent straightening of the projects wrinkles will allow the facility to come to fruition and, consequently, allow the Queens Museum of Art to expand. The museum shares space with the parks current pool and rink. It will now be able to take over that area.
The borough president thanked hizzoner for "helping us get in the swim of things" and presented him with an orange bathing suit for future use at the pool.
Adding to her list of park achievements, Marshall also stated that she had earmarked funding for a dozen park improvement projects across the borough. They will include new fields, upgrades and renovations at Victory Field, Frank Golden Park, Lefferts Park, Hoover Playground and McConnell Park.
"I loved the initiatives with the parks," said Councilman Joe Addabbo, who until last week, was the chair of the Councils Parks Committee, lauding Marshall for sorting through the bureaucratic entanglements involved in the ice rink and pool facilitys plans. Addabbo also praised her help in making the Joseph P. Addabbo Health Clinic in Arverne a reality.
Updating the audience on promises made in her first State of the Borough address, dubbed the "Marshall Plan," the borough president told the audience of her health care efforts. Her office, she said, had given $2 million for the Addabbo Health Clinics construction, which, in turn, leveraged $9 million in contributions from many public and private sources. A groundbreaking is slated for February 20.
The borough president also had good news about the commitments to education, housing, social services and economic development that she had made a year ago.
"Today I can report that the Marshall Plan is in action and yielding results," said Marshall, noting that her hope of obtaining more housing and schools in Queens was progressing nicely.
She detailed new housing opportunities in Arverne-by-the-Sea, Edgemere, the completion of 38 two-family homes in Jamaica with 56 more expected, and last weeks opening of a two-family development in Woodhaven at the former St. Anthonys Hospital site. She added these homes would complement her task force on illegal conversions a problem, she said, that plagues the borough more so than homelessness.
The borough president also said that under her watch in 2003, 10 new schools had opened in Queens, and crowed that the Parent Advisory Board she initiated "has become a vocal and knowledegeable force."
Marshall also presented a list of development projects and job initiatives she will focus on this year.
She called on Governor George Pataki to create a development authority to produce a new generation of building in this neglected area that would be similar to Queens West. She also noted that 500 new jobs are coming to College Point Corporate Park, because of a new Crystal Windows and Doors facility, a Hudson Development and Ares Printing building, and a new technical school by the Greater New York Auto Dealers.
In continuing the revival of downtown Jamaica, she spotlighted the addition of artwork of famous Queens jazz musicians to the AirTrain station, landscaping efforts along the Van Wyck corridor and the upgrade of the area around Sutphin Boulevard and Archer Avenue from her administrations Commercial Corridor improvement program.
"I am happy that she is making that a priority," said Councilman James Gennaro, noting that Marshalls revitalization efforts in the Jamaica section of his district will complement the areas BID and AirTrain.
Citing the Port Authoritys recent lease renewal of the two Queens airports, Marshall also requested to be a member of the mayors oversight board that will delegate how $50 million earmarked for those communities impacted by the airports will be spent.
Toward the end of her address, Marshall took a moment to identify 10 citizens of distinction, including two park workers, Elaine Goodman and Dwight Skeeter, who recently foiled a mugging in a Flushing Meadows-Corona Park bathroom. She also bestowed lifetime achievement awards on two Queens citizens. St. Albans resident Illinois Jacquet, an internationally-renowned jazz saxophonist, was honored for his contribution to the arts. And, Frank Principe, known as the "Mayor of Maspeth," was honored for his civic work as the chairman of Community Board 5.
At the conclusion of her marathon address of updates, upcoming initiatives, recognition to outstanding Queens residents, and song to the young David Sookhoo, Marshall invited the mayor to speak.
Bloomberg reiterated her efforts to bring more jobs to Queens. He then took a moment to praise Marshalls two years in office and paid her a high compliment.
"You are the best Queens borough president we ever had," said hizzoner, then adding a minor qualification, "…since I became the mayor."