FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR- 240-11 July 6, 2011 MAYOR BLOOMBERG, SPEAKER QUINN AND NEW YORK CITY CLERK MCSWEENEY ANNOUNCE ALL CITY CLERK OFFICES WILL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS ON SUNDAY JULY 24 – THE FIRST DAY OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN NEW YORK Hours Also Extended Monday through Friday in All Five Boroughs for Expected Increases in Applicants for Marriage Licenses and Civil Ceremonies Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and City Clerk Michael McSweeney announced the New York City Clerk’s offices in all five boroughs will be open for a full day of business on Sunday, July 24th and fully prepared to implement New York State’s new Marriage Equality Law for all couples, whether same or opposite sex. In addition, from Monday, July 25th through Friday, July 29th, all five City Clerk Offices will stay open two hours later than usual. The Mayor, Speaker and Clerk also announced that New York State judges will volunteer to perform ceremonies and review waiver requests of New York State’s 24 hour marriage waiting period on Sunday, July 24th. “This is a historic moment for New York, a moment many couples have waited years and even decades to see – and we are not going to make them wait one day longer than they have to,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “New York City became the greatest city in the world because we are the freest city, a place where all people have the freedom to be who they are, to worship as they wish, and to love whom they choose. Achieving marriage equality is the next big step in our City’s long march toward full freedom, and on July 24th, wedding bells will ring out in all five boroughs.” “So many of us have waited a lifetime for the day we could see full equality for all New York families, now that day is finally in sight. The City of New York will be the place to be on July 24th and we are proud to welcome all couples and their families to have a meaningful ceremony in the Clerk’s office, right here in the greatest city on earth,” said Speaker Quinn. “When you get married in New York, you’re getting married in the State where the Legislature said that all people are equal and all families are important in the eyes of our government.” “We are going to be part of history,” said City Clerk Michael McSweeney. “Our staff will be ready for a large numbers of people on the first day.” The Manhattan City Clerk’s Office is usually open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. The City Clerk’s Offices in other boroughs are usually open from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. For one time only, all five City Clerk’s Offices will be open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on a Sunday, July 24th. Because of the large volume handled by these offices, applicants must be through the office’s doors by 3:45 PM to be guaranteed service. For the rest of the week of July 25th, all five City Clerk’s office locations will be open from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and applicants will have to be through the doors by 5:45 to be guaranteed service. The Clerk’s Office locations are:
For more information on the application process and to begin the process online, please visit the City Clerk’s website at http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov or call 311. MEDIA CONTACT: Stu Loeser / Marc La Vorgna (Mayor’s Office) (212) 788-2958 Jamie McShane (City Council and City Clerk) (212) 788-7116 STAY CONNECTED Twitter YouTube Flickr |
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