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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 270-08
July 13, 2008

MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES TOURISM AND ALL-STAR WEEK IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg’s weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on

“Good Morning.  This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

“This week, the eyes of every baseball fan will turn to New York City in anticipation of the 2008 All-Star Game.  The game will be an incredible moment in New York baseball history and a wonderful way to say farewell the most storied ballpark in the world, Yankee Stadium.

“And before the first pitch is thrown, there are plenty of ways for everyone to join in the fun.  Working with Major League Baseball, we’ve planned exciting activities across town to celebrate the ‘Midsummer Classic’. 

“Today through Tuesday, you can take part in the baseball FanFest convention at the Javits Center, and on Tuesday we’ll host an All-Star red carpet parade up Sixth Avenue.  It will feature legendary Hall-of-Famers, including such greats as Willie Mays and Reggie Jackson.

“The influx of All-Star Game fans and visitors will bring new business to our city’s shops, cultural institutions, and restaurants – and give every New Yorker something to cheer about this week.  We anticipate that the game and all of the activities leading up to it will generate nearly $150 million in economic activity for our city. 

“Tourism is a key industry for New York.  It supports more than 370,000 jobs.  We want to make sure that all five boroughs benefit from the economic activity that visitors bring, and that all visitors benefit from the cultural opportunities in each borough.  That’s why NYC & Company, the City’s marketing and tourism arm, has been working closely with local elected officials to help each borough showcase its great attractions. 

“For example, last week, Gray Line New York Sightseeing added Staten Island to its famous ‘hop on, hop off’ bus tours.  That one step will make the island’s attractions even more accessible to the more than one million tourists who already ride the Staten Island Ferry each year.  And it will also make it easier for New Yorkers to explore top borough destinations, such as the historic Alice Austen House and the Staten Island Zoo.

“There’s a reason why a record 46 million people came to visit us last year – and why we’ve remained the top U.S. destination for foreign tourists in 2008.  We’re the greatest and most diverse city anywhere – and we’re always working to be better than ever.

“Someone once asked New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio what motivated him to play so hard every single game.  He said it was because there was always some kid who might be seeing him play for the first time or the last time – and he owed him his best. 

“That’s a great philosophy – and it’s one we should apply to every person visiting our city.  When you run into tourists on the street, you never know if they’re seeing the Big Apple for the first time or the 50th. 

“So this week, if you come across a tourist puzzling over a subway map, or wondering where to get a great slice of pizza,  why not be an All-Star New Yorker and offer some expert advice?

“This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.  Thanks for listening.”







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser   (212) 788-2958




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