FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 3, 2002 PR-178-02 www.nyc.gov |
MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND LMDC CHAIRMAN JOHN WHITEHEAD ANNOUNCE
INFORMATION CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE ONE CONVENIENT SOURCE FOR ESSENTIAL
NEWS AND UPDATES ABOUT LOWER MANHATTAN
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) Chairman John C. Whitehead and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel L. Doctoroff announced today a plan to create one comprehensive source for essential information about Lower Manhattan. Numerous city, state and federal agencies, and countless private organizations have been working tirelessly to rebuild downtown in the wake of September 11th, but to date, there is no central, authoritative resource for information affecting the varied constituencies including residents, businesses, tourists, those involved in redevelopment efforts as well as the families of September 11th victims. Information about air quality, traffic and street conditions, rebuilding milestones, construction plans, area events and assistance programs will be delivered through the use of a website, a newsletter and other communications tools.
The campaign is being made possible by funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and is being jointly administered by the Mayor's Office and the LMDC. The New York City Economic Development has selected Edelman Worldwide, a global communications firm, and Company 39, a global technology solutions firm, to coordinate the information dissemination campaign. The campaign will include the development, daily updating, and promotion of a comprehensive Lower Manhattan website, a monthly area-focused newsletter, information packets for local businesses and their employees, and community outreach.
"The recovery of Lower Manhattan is progressing at a rate none thought possible just ten months ago," said Mayor Bloomberg. "With unprecedented intergovernmental and private sector cooperation, we completed the recovery effort months sooner than originally anticipated. In addition, roads have been repaved, bridges, tunnels and subways reopened and Lower Manhattan is open for business. Despite this progress, critical needs exist. With this information dissemination campaign, we will create a clearinghouse for the distribution of current news and updates generated by city, state and federal agencies and the private sector regarding Lower Manhattan to get the public what they need, when they need it."
"Now more
than ever we need to begin to build confidence and assure residents
and businesses in, and visitors to Lower Manhattan that the area is
a safe and viable place to work, live and visit," said Deputy
Mayor Doctoroff. "Communicating in a clear and consistent manner
with the diverse constituencies affected by the events of September
11th is key to our efforts to rebuild the
area. Our goal is to keep the public updated on the latest breaking
news regarding important issues like air quality, security concerns,
transportation changes, and the process by which they can play a part
in the rebuilding of downtown."
"Effective communications are critical to the success of the
rebuilding and revitalization of Lower Manhattan," said Chairman
Whitehead. "This new program will reach out to the many constituencies
who want to know details of important ongoing activities. Now they
will have a convenient one-stop source for information."
"Accurate information remains critical to the recovery efforts in New York," said Brad Gair, FEMA's Federal Recovery Officer. "Anything we can do to enhance the communication efforts moves us closer to President Bush's pledge of doing whatever it takes to assist the people of New York."
In order to provide
the most up to date information, the campaign will coordinate information
from city, state, and federal agencies and non-governmental entities.
A special effort will be made to reach non-English speaking segments
of the Lower Manhattan population, particularly in Chinatown. The
campaign, including the website, is expected to launch in late summer.
www.nyc.gov
Contact: | Edward
Skyler / Jennifer Falk (212) 788-2958 |
Matthew
Higgins (LMDC) (212) 962-2300 |
|
Justin
Blake (Edelman) (212) 704-8165 |