To the members of the CUNY Board of Trustees, welcome to Brooklyn Borough Hall, the People’s House, and may your hearings prove to be uplifting and insightful.

A s a proud and grateful graduate of Brooklyn College , evening session, and in my previous political position of State Senator, I learned in a very personal way that the key to pulling out of poverty can be found in the classrooms and laboratories of institutions of higher learning such as CUNY. When I began my term as Borough President, I already knew about CUNY and its good works. Now, after six years of moving through the entire Borough of Brooklyn and meeting with its residents, I find that the spirit and energy that drives Brooklynites is intimately tied to The City University and its Brooklyn campuses. It is not just higher education that benefits, but also Brooklyn ’s economic development, health care, scientific research and cultural ambiance.

James Baldwin once wrote that there is nothing more dangerous than someone who has nothing to lose. Today, with the stresses of our personal lives and global conflicts, people more than ever need to wake up each morning with hope in their hearts, and believe in themselves and the possibilities of a better life. As Borough President, I have always strived to ensure that those hopes and possibilities were available to all Brooklynites—so that they can share in the opportunities that have been afforded me.
Despite budgetary constraints over the years, The City University today walks tall, with its head held high, among its sister institutions. I am most proud of a City University system that does not rest on its laurels, and aspires to nothing short of greatness. For the Borough of Brooklyn, whose future knows no bounds, our partnership with the City University bodes well for all of us.