Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Jack Deacy (212) 788-2958
"Every year the Mayor's office answers many of these letters to Santa Claus," Mayor Giuliani said. "And every year I make several visits to deliver the gifts that these young New Yorkers have requested from Santa Claus. It's one of the nicest things I get to do during this wonderful holiday season. It's all about giving and we all know that New Yorkers are the most generous people on earth."
The Mayor visited Jason and his family at the apartment of his grandmother Matilde Matar on Upper Broadway in Washington Heights. Jason and his family reside in the Bronx but spend weekends in Manhattan with his grandmother. Also joining Jason and his grandmother today were his mother, Daisy Clemente, his five- year-old sister, Raquel, three cousins, Salvador, 8, Eduardo, 2, and Christian, who will be two years old on Christmas Eve, and their mothers, Lucie and Maranela.
During the Christmas season the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit distributed over 2000 gifts that were donated by members of the Mayor's staff, Mayoral agencies and a toy manufacturer. They made personal visits to deliver the gifts to 44 civic associations throughout the city and visited 42 families in their homes.
Jason's Sotomayor's letter to Santa Claus is attached.