Assembly Resolution No. 29

BY: M. of A. Rajkumar

COMMEMORATING the 400th Anniversary of the city of
New York, New York to be celebrated in 2025

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and
commemorate the proud and distinguished histories of the communities
which comprise the noble body of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the city of New York, New York; and

WHEREAS, The city of New York officially recognizes 1625 as the year
of its founding; and

WHEREAS, New York City traces its origins to the 1620's, when the
Dutch West India Company founded a settlement on what is now Governors
Island; and

WHEREAS, European settlers arrived at a time when the Lenape,
Canarsie, Mohican, Wappinger, and Rockaway tribes lived in the area,
which humans have occupied for an estimated 13,000 years; and

WHEREAS, The modern borders of New York City date to 1898, when
municipalities consolidated to form the Five Boroughs of Manhattan,
Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, and today each borough
makes its own unique contributions to the vibrancy of the city; and

WHEREAS, For four centuries, New York City has been the global
epicenter of human activity, commerce, industry, the arts, and culture,
rightly earning the title of Greatest City in the World; and

WHEREAS, A defining feature of New York City is its unparalleled
diversity with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, religion,
language, and values; and

WHEREAS, Since the founding of New York City, people from all over
the world have converged on the city, many in search of opportunities
and freedom from persecution, and today New York City is home to many of
the largest diaspora communities in the world; and

WHEREAS, Besides those who come to live in New York City are the 65
million tourists annually who come to take in the sights, sounds, and
tastes, making the city the most visited in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Through all its diversity, what unites New Yorkers is
respect and tolerance for everyone's customs and beliefs, and people of
every background live side-by-side; and

WHEREAS, The history of New York City is one of resilience: whether
British invasion, fiscal crisis, terrorist attack, or pandemic, New
Yorkers have always come together to triumph over every challenge and
emerge stronger than ever; and

WHEREAS, New York City is the economic engine of our Great State and
the entire world, boasting a $1.2 trillion GDP, and home to the world's
two largest stock exchanges and the most Fortune 500 companies of any
city; and

WHEREAS, A cultural powerhouse, New York City is home to world class
museums, the Broadway theater district, concert venues, the Garment
District, numerous arts repertories, and restaurants offering every
cuisine imaginable; and

WHEREAS, In honor of its Quadricentennial, New York City has
launched a year-long Founded by NYC campaign, with celebrations across
the Five Boroughs; and

WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of
growth and change, the city of New York continues its commitment to
enhancing the quality of life of its residents, ensuring a positive
business and social climate; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the city of New York to be
celebrated in 2025, recognizing the significance of the role it
continues to play in the life of the community of the State of New York
as a whole; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the mayor of the city of New York, the public advocate of
the city of New York, the comptroller of the city of New York, the
speaker of the New York City Council, the New York Historical, and
various institutions in the city of New York.