Downtown Alliance Honors Six For Exceptional Service in Lower Manhattan

The Alliance for Downtown New York presented Exceptional Service Awards Tuesday to six individuals who have helped make life better for residents, workers and visitors in Lower Manhattan.

“From streetscape and park improvements to advocacy to security services, the recipients—from the public and private sectors—played a major role in helping create the remarkable, livable work in progress that is Lower Manhattan,” said Downtown Alliance President Elizabeth Berger at a breakfast at Trinity Place Bar & Restaurant in Lower Manhattan.

Tuesday’s event was the 10th annual installment of the awards, given out by the Downtown
Alliance, the city’s largest Business Improvement District.

For photos of the breakfast, go to the Downtown Alliance’s Flickr page at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/downtownny/

The honorees were:

o Deputy Chief Vincent Giordano, New York Police Department. A leader in the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau, Chief Giordano has been instrumental in protecting the city from terrorist attacks. He understands Downtown’s unique conditions and streetscape. And he has shown sensitivity about keeping the district attractive and convenient for commercial tenants, residents and visitors— without compromising security.

o Glenn Kaalund, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. As a Project Manager in the Parks Department’s Revenue Division, Mr. Kaalund has played a major role in helping the Downtown Alliance secure concession agreements in certain Lower Manhattan open spaces. He knows the importance of the City’s smaller parks. And he helped the Downtown Alliance bring the Picnick Smoked concession to Wall Street Park last summer.

o Luis Sanchez, New York City Department of Transportation. As Lower Manhattan Borough Commissioner at the New York City DOT, Mr. Sanchez has been a terrific advocate for Downtown’s drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. He helps everyone in Lower Manhattan navigate a district that currently has more than 60 construction sites. And he has promoted an increase in bike racks, pedestrian plazas and other improvements to the Downtown streetscape.

o Keith O’Connor, Department of City Planning. A Senior Planner for Lower Manhattan in the Manhattan Borough Office, Mr. O’Connor has coordinated a cohesive way-finding and signage program for Downtown and the World TradeeCenter site. He also has identified ways to enhance open space and improve east-west crossings in the Greenwich South area. And he is working to bring new park space to a renewed Fulton Street.

o Paul Goldstein, Office of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. As District Office Director for Speaker Silver, and before that as District Manager for Community Board 1, Mr. Goldstein has been a tireless community advocate. A long-time resident of Downtown, he has been a particularly strong voice for progress at the World Trade Center site, for construction of new schools and for transportation and public-safety improvements.

o Jeremy Moss, Silverstein Properties. As Vice President of Leasing for Silverstein Properties, Mr. Moss has shown a creative approach to streetscape and open space enhancements. He is a partner in the ongoing enhancement of Wall Street Park. And he has brought exceptional enterprises—such as the Capital Grille—to Lower Manhattan.