Staten Island's 'downtown' To Get $30g In State Money

A $30,000 infusion of state money geared to enhancing Staten Island's "downtown," on the borough's North Shore, will be announced tonight by state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn).

The funding, for community enhancement initiatives, will go to:

The new Rethink Downtown Staten Island marketing program to attract businesses and residents to the area; the Downtown Youth Council, a 10-week program to give students hands-on experience in community work and local politics and exposure to career opportunities; the Adopt-A-Town-Center program of streetscape enhancement; Downtown Drive-In Movies, and NYC Clean Streets.

Said Ms. Savino: "I am proud to be sponsoring these quality of life programs that are so important to people's everyday lives. We've seen the successes of revitalization projects in other boroughs, like Brooklyn and Manhattan, there is no reason why we can't see these initiatives thrive here. What is unique about (these) programs ... is that they enrich the community on every level, from promoting family time, the arts and local businesses, to engaging our youth."