Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today hosted a reception at Gracie Mansion to honor New York City’s Dominican community.  Among those attending the reception were Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Roman, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav, Dominican Republic’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ramone Osiris Blanco, and Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega.  The reception, which was attended by various elected officials and representatives of the Dominican community, included for the second year running music by famed merengue group, Oro Solido (Solid Gold) led by ‘El Presidente’ Raul Acosta, and children performing traditional folk dancing. 

“Tonight’s reception is a tribute to one of the leading ethnic groups of New York and we are honored to  be the destination of choice in the United States for many Dominicans, who enrich our great City with their vitality and cultural pride,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Last Friday, I saw first hand, not only the resilience of the Dominican people in the face of tragedy when I visited Baní, but also their rich culture while I merengued with the Mayor of Santo Domingo and attended the beautiful opening ceremonies of the Pan American Games. Tonight’s reception is symbolic of the relationship New York City has with its Dominican community, and the bonds we share with ‘La Republica Dominicana’.”

Last Friday, the Mayor traveled to the Dominican Republic with a delegation of community leaders to Baní, to pay his respects at a memorial built by the HHS Foundation in honor of the victims of Flight 587 with Mayor of Baní Nelson Camilo Landestoy, Governor of Peravia Francia Gonzalez, and U.S. Ambassador Hans H. Hertell. The Mayor also attended the Opening Ceremonies of the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo with President Hipólito Mejía, and was accompanied by Santo Domingo Mayor Robert Salcedo to a Unity Breakfast hosted by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

On Sunday, August 10th, the Mayor will march in New York City’s largest Dominican parade in Manhattan. The 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 this summer – La Gran Parada Dominicana del Bronx was held on July 20th, and the Brooklyn Dominican Day Parade will be held on August 10th.