Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today hosted a reception at Gracie Mansion to celebrate the vitality and culture of New York City’s Dominican community and honor the work of the three Dominican Parade Committees in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan.  Mayor Bloomberg also swore in Guillermo Linares as the new Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs.  Joining the Mayor at the event was the chief organizer of Manhattan’s Dominican parade, Nelson Peña, Commissioner Jeanne Mulgrav, and various elected officials and representatives of the Dominican community.  Performing at the event was the talented merengue group, Oro Solido (Solid Gold).

“Tonight’s reception is very special as we celebrate the many achievements of the Dominican community and swear into our Administration, as our new Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, one of the community’s finest members, Guillermo Linares,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Guillermo exemplifies the enormous contributions that this community has made to our City and I am proud to have him serve in our Administration.”

This Sunday, August 8th, the Mayor will march in New York City’s largest Dominican parade. The Manhattan parade celebrates the anniversary of The Restoration of the Dominican Constitution on August 16, 1863, when a group of patriots led by Santiago Rodriguez crossed the Dominican border from Haiti and raised the Dominican flag. Two other Dominican parades take place every summer – La Gran Parada Dominicana del Bronx and the Brooklyn Dominican Day Parade.  New York is the home to the largest number of Dominicans living outside of the Dominican Republic. 

Earlier this year the Mayor hosted President-elect of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández, and discussed how City government could provide assistance to the people of the Dominican Republic, following the tragic floods in Jimani.  The New York City Office of Emergency Management sent down a team of three Disaster Management Specialists who provided technical assistance in infrastructure, sanitation and mass casualty care.