Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today hosted a reception at Gracie Mansion to celebrate the 8th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade.  The parade will be held Sunday, June 8th along 5th Avenue from 44th to 86th Streets.  The National Puerto Rican Day Parade was established to enhance the pride of the Puerto Rican people and promote their contributions to the United States. Among those attending the reception were Puerto Rican Day Parade New York Honoree and Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Román, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for Film, Theatre and Broadcasting Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the Department for the Aging Edwin Méndez-Santiago, Musician and Community Leader Willie Colón, Salsa and Music Artist La India, the Mayor of San German Isidro Negron Irizarry as well as other Puerto Rican Mayors and New York City officials.

The Mayor also announced that Deputy Mayor Robles-Román, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel Doctoroff and Commissioner Oliver will be organizing a committee of industry experts in an effort to make New York City the ‘Latin Media and Entertainment Capital of the World’.  The committee will work to make New York City the headquarters of this multi-billion dollar industry by bringing business, jobs and entertainment broadcast events such as The Latin Grammys, The ALMA Awards and The Latin Billboard Magazine Awards to New York City.  This committee is being organized in the spirit of this year’s parade theme: Puerto Rico: Its Music and Songs. 

“It is a pleasure to celebrate The National Puerto Rican Day Parade by marching this weekend and hosting this reception,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The contributions of Puerto Ricans to this City are invaluable, and the spirit and vitality of this community is something we want to continue to bring to this City by bringing Latin business and media to the World’s Second Home.”        
          
The parade dedication this year goes to the Puerto Rican Municipality of San German, honoring this important City as the oldest on the island, which is celebrating 430 years. The National Grand Marshall is golf legend José “Chi Chi” Rodríguez.

Mayor Bloomberg presented Ralph Morales, Chairperson of The National Puerto Rican Day Parade, with a Proclamation at the reception in recognition of the Puerto Rican community and their contribution to New York City.  The parade will be broadcast live by WNBC, the official television station of The National Puerto Rican Day Parade; Latino Mix 105.9 FM and 1280 Radio WADO are the official radio stations. The official print media representatives are HOY and Newsday.