INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
There are those rare moments in time when History becomes a powerful message for the future. New York City is entering just such a time as February 2, 2003 approaches. It can be reasonably argued that February 2, 1653, was and is the most important date in the very long history of our great city. It is one of the pivotal dates in our nation's history. There were some impactful dates prior and many since, but none of them possess the unique character of February 2, 1653, and as such that day this coming year and the entire year should be celebrated throughout our city, so it is once again remembered as it should, and never forgotten.
On February 2, 1653, New York, then called New Amsterdam, became a city, and even much more a self-governing city; the first ever in what would be these United States. An enlightened Charter was presented that day to the colonists in Fort Amsterdam, which stood at the southern tip of Broadway, exactly where the Alexander Hamilton United States Custom House stands today. Presentation of the Charter created a government body, first called simply the Council, afterwards the Common Council, and today the City Council. 350 years of uninterrupted self-government. Our own New York City Council is the longest serving and oldest municipal government in America,. First there was the Council, and only later a mayor.
The message of February 2, 1653 is even more dramatic in that the new Charter for the first time ever in this New World established the principle of self-government, which is the bedrock on which the United States is built. What happened here on February 2, 1653, is the very first act that planted the seed that 123 years later would culminate in the Declaration of Independence proclaiming the right of these former Colonies to self-government. It was the very same location where the Charter was established in 1653 that New Yorkers celebrated Independence on July 9, 1776, the day the Declaration of Independence reached New York from Philadelphia.
That is why it is so logical that the Council be the focus of attention, and that the Council lead the effort to Celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the Birth of the City of New York, rather than the mayor. The Mayor and the Council are the two co-equal branches of our city's government, but it is the Council, which predates the office of the mayor, that will celebrate its 350th year on February 2, 2003. The day our city was founded is the day the Council was founded. Each is synonymous with the other, and that is the basis for these proposals presented today, both in concept and outline.
New Amsterdam as it appeared about 1653 in this early map. The large structure with the pointed corners is Fort Amsterdam. The large open space to its left Bowling Green, which becomes Broadway and continues north. The line toward the right edge of the map going north - south from river to river is the Wall where the city ends. Around the edges of the map lightly drawn is later landfill that became part of Lower Manhattan.
THE PROGRAM
2003 may present one of the most unique opportunities in the 350-year history of our city to renew and reinvigorate our city for New Yorkers themselves, and for people all over the world, by an imaginative program, that will bring to life the fact of the City of New York’s singular importance in the evolution of urban life and self-government. 2003 can be the very attractive symbol of our rebirth once again after 9/11/01. This program will reestablish an appreciation of the City of New York Council as the government body that best carries with it the meaning of self government in its 350 years of uninterrupted continuous existence.
The opportunity to achieve these goals lies within the power of the Speaker and the Council to enthusiastically embrace their 350th Birthday and proclaim its importance in a series of events and projects, on which it gives it’s Blessing and fully participates. Myself and a Committee I am forming can be charged with implementing those aspects of the Celebration generally agreed to, and working with the Speaker and the Council in whatever way Speaker Miller thinks is best.
The main purpose of this report is to outline a unified view of a series of realistic initiatives with citywide content and an historic focus within our City, as it existed back in 1653. Please note these are a series of well-integrated proposals built around the concept of celebrating the 350th Anniversary, each can certainly be modified, even eliminated in favor of others. And while I have concentrated here on the more transitory aspects of the Celebration, it is my hope and intent that more substantial projects, which may exist long after 2003 ends, will become enduring elements of our 350th Birthday. Those will be detailed in later reports, and such programs might best be announced beginning February 2, 2003, as noted below.
COUNTDOWN TO THE CELEBRATION
I have been working to find the right location and visible project to be the very first event in the series, and to occur just prior to the Anniversary Year. Having worked with the Bowling Green Association in the past, and the fact that Bowling Green is the site of the founding of the original colony in 1625 and the city in 1653, it is the natural choice to announce the 350th. Bowling Green has a 17-year tradition of erecting either the tallest or second tallest Christmas tree in our city each year. With their full support, and the chairman of the Association, a very supportive advisor to myself and this project, we have agreed to dedicate this year's towering tree to the 350th Birthday of New York City and if this plan is realized adorning the tree with 350 special ornaments, placing the City flag at the pinnacle of the tree at the Lighting Ceremony, placing 51 smaller trees within Bowling Green Park symbolizing our City's 51 Council districts, and reflecting the growth of our city over these 350 year. And finally planning a very special Lighting Ceremony early in December that will be presented at the start of the countdown to February 2, 2003 and the entire Anniversary Year.
Photo from site of Fort Amsterdam, where the Charter was presented to the local citizens on February 2, 1653, now the United States Custom House at Bowling Green, looking north to the large space that had been in front of the fort which became Bowling Green Park. and from there the original stretch of Broadway north toward Wall Street and beyond.
PROCLAIMING THE 350TH
I have attached a draft for a Council resolution which I hope Speaker Miller and the entire Council might unanimously endorse, and clearly and officially announcing that the Council created February 2, 1653, is the one and only body that should make such an Official Declaration, and place itself at the center of the Celebration. Such a Resolution ceremoniously signed by each and every Council member led by Speaker Miller can and should become a priceless artifact and legacy of the 350th Anniversary, to be proudly displayed in the Council Chambers for all time as a reminder to future generations of Council Members of historic significance of the Council in which they will serve in future years. And to insure that the Council, every February 2nd from now forward remember this date each year, and that every 25 and 50 years hence that special celebrations be organized.
This is the exact site of Fort Amsterdam where the small colony became America's first city with its own Charter of self government, and its own governing body, the Council, on February 2, 1653.
FEBRUARY 2, 2003
The day itself, Sunday, February 2, 2003, is the defining point for this Celebration. The exact date 350 years ago in the exact location inside Fort Amsterdam, now the Alexander Hamilton United States Custom House at Bowling Green provides the unparalleled opportunity to focus the attention of the city, the nation, even the world on New York City, and 350 years of continuous self government, a distinction that cannot be proclaimed by any other place in America. Every other town, village, city, state and our very nation, must date the genesis of their own self-government and their own governing body to what took place here inside Fort Amsterdam on February 2, 1653, and the Council created there that very day.
Council Speaker Gifford Miller and the entire Council, along with Mayor Bloomberg, if he is agreeable, should all join in a celebratory event at the Custom House at Bowling Green, a Gala that will feature various special elements, and quite possibly the entire Council, each Member signing the Resolution Declaring the 350th Anniversary for the entire year of 2003 beginning that very day February 2, 2003.
350 SPECIAL NEW YORKERS
One very attractive way to symbolize our 350th Birthday and to clearly make it a Citywide celebration can be to name 350 outstanding New Yorkers representing every one of the 51 Council districts and every one of the many ethnic groups that make up our city. Introducing 350 special individuals on February 2, 2003, at the United States Custom House during a Gala celebration could prove a very attractive concept, with each Council Member nominating equal numbers of New Yorkers from within their own district.
MARCH 13, 2003
350TH ANNIVERSARY OF WALL STREET
Depiction of the famous Wall as it would have appeared from
the river's edge and the crossing entire island east to west
After the Council was created on February 2, 1653, the seven member original Council, in its first significant action less than six weeks later on March 13, 1653, made a truly historic decision, that established its historic credibility for all time. That fateful day the Council meeting with Director General Pieter Stuyvesant did agree to construct a Wall at the northern edge of the new City from river to river. That Wall was destined to become over the next 350 years the most famous street in all of human history, and one of the truly defining aspects of our city, that will live on for as long as human history, Wall Street.
Thursday, March 13, 2003, provides another extraordinary opportunity for the city and the Council to highlight the power of the 350th Birthday of New York City in our creating an event or events right on Wall Street that day and to highlight the City of New York as the business capital of the world. The United States Congress met at Federal Hall in a ceremonial session early last September, and followed with a grand luncheon right on Wall Street, at The Regent Wall Street. I am recommending that we duplicate that well received format by the Council convening a Ceremonial Session at Federal Hall on Thursday, March 13, 2002, the exact 350th Anniversary of the very day the Council approved construction of the Wall that became Wall Street. That was very first significant act of self-government in America.
I recommend that following that session we organize a luncheon, dinner or reception at The Wall Street Regent Grand Ballroom, before a large audience to celebrate 350 years of business in the City of New York and its status as the business capital of the world today and tomorrow, with Speaker Miller delivering the Keynote Address and standing arm in arm with the entire Council. Mayor Bloomberg, various other elected officials, and business leaders from throughout New York City.
Maybe the greatest Parade in the City’s New York City's history took place in 1788 when New Yorkers celebrated the ratification of the Constitution by honoring Alexander Hamilton for his leadership. The scene above is the focal point that was centered at the Fort, on the left, and Bowling Green, right.
MAY 4, 2003
May 4, 1626, marks the actual day that the first Governor General Peter Minuit arrived at what would become Bowling Green, to officially make what had been a very tiny unorganized trading post into an actual colony, having been ordered to do so the previous year 1625 in Amsterdam by the Dutch West India Company. There is a direct line from Peter Minuit's arrival here, and his early success, that led to one of his predecessors Peter Stuyvesant and the Dutch West India Company 28 years later incorporating this growing colony of 800 inhabitants representing 18 nationalities into the City of New Amsterdam with its own governing Council.
July 4, 2003, right in the midst of summer, would be a perfect opportunity as part of the 350th Anniversary Year to invite community, ethnic and school groups from within the City of New York and others from beyond our city, to Parade up Broadway from the site of Fort Amsterdam, and past City Hall, in a triumphant celebration of 350 years of our growth and diversity inviting everyone to come out that day to cheer on the marchers and this tribute to our 350th Birthday. Such a parade would be the very first up Lower Broadway since before 9/11/01 and be a very useful message about the return of Lower Manhattan.
NEW YORK CITY'S
JULY 4TH CELEBRATION
350TH BIRTHDAY PARADE
The Parade itself could be segmented into 51 distinct groupings, one representing each Council District, and each segment led by the Council Member from that district, once again highlighting the fact of 2003 being the 350th Birthday of the City of New York Council. Weaving the theme of the 350th Birthday of the City of New Yorky into this festive day of patriotic celebration throughout our city July 4th is another obvious means of projecting the importance of the Anniversary. We can dedicate the big fireworks display in honor of the Birthday of the City of New York.
SUMMER LONG EVENTS
Encouraging individual communities and Council Members to make the 350th the basis for various events in their districts and working with the 350th Birthday Committee to facilitate these activities.
CITY SCHOOLS
Throughout the school year that takes place during 2003, both the Spring and Fall semesters, principals and teachers should be asked to give special attention to the history of the City of New York and the importance of February 2, 1653, and the events surrounding the City's first charter and the creation of the Council.
CONCLUSION OF
350TH BIRTHDAY YEAR
Late in the year next year official activities to bring the Celebration to a formal conclusion that could include a conference or hearings on the " next 50 years " hosted by the Council, a report summarizing the last 350 years of the city and looking toward the future. A closing Gala at which all those who participated actively in the 350th Anniversary Year can be acknowledged and thanked, and with Special Awards presented.
As noted earlier in the report initiatives that have an ongoing life after 2003 undertaken in honor of the 350th Birthday of the City of New York would be a fitting way to remember and gain value for our City, all its citizens and especially our young people. In a later report I will outline some possible projects with a long term potential, and a mechanism to develop others for review and consideration.
350TH BIRTHDAY WEBSITE
In the 21st century unlike when New York City celebrated its 300th Birthday in 1953, or even less 350 years ago, now electronic technology can be a tremendous asset for celebrating and announcing throughout the year all the elements of the 350th Birthday. Rather than an independent Website some consideration should be given to making the City Council's own Website the "home" of the 350th Birthday's Web based information center. Doing so would bring many more individuals to the Council Website where they can also learn about the activities and members of the Council.
350TH ANNIVERSARY MEDALLION
While much outlined here can be accomplished with limited resources, and certainly without direct financial assistance from the Council, still an obvious fund raising mechanism that will enhance the Celebration seems attractive. With the Blessing and a design approved by the Council, a limited edition of 3500 or possibly 35,000 one ounce silver 350th Anniversary medallions, could become the primary funding source that allows a variety of activities to be underwritten from the proceeds, thereby creating an item that will be valued and also reflect the 350th Celebration in 2003 far into the future.
THE ROLE OF THE SPEAKER AND THE COUNCIL
In presenting a multifaceted concept for celebrating the very significant 350th anniversary and birthday of both the City and the Council, I believe the Council and the Speaker should play a very important symbolic role, and a more active role if the Speaker and the Council feel they should. That is for the Council to decide and why I have prepared this extensive report. I do know that as an organizer for what might take place simply the acknowledgment of the worthwhile nature of these activities, and a willingness for the Council to participate at various events, as you see fit, will tremendously enhance the ability of myself and my supporters on this project to gather the resources that will be required for certain aspects of the project.
THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR
I have made a conscious decision beginning with my contacts to Councilman Jackson and Councilman Perkins, and through them to you, to concentrate my energy in bringing this matter to the Council and the Speaker. For one very simple reason February 2, 2003, is the birthday of the city and the Council, not the city and the mayor. Our city had no powerful local city leader, a mayor, until 20 years after the creation of the Council. Until then, and under British rule later, the Dutch and their Governor General remained the final authority. Furthermore I hope that the Council will see the advantages in taking the lead in such an important celebration as opposed to the normal situation in which the Mayor takes the lead and the Council has a tangential or even no participation. I believe the Council and the Speaker should ask the Mayor to join with them in celebrating 350 years as the Council and the Speaker see fit as the Council of the City of New York is the first and longest serving government body providing local self government anywhere in America.
FINAL WORDS
My hope as the individual who has embraced the City of New York’s 350th for almost a decade now, and those who support these efforts, that in the wake of 9/11/01 and for our city's future that the 350th Birthday of our great city and its Council, and all that both have meant to the emergence of these united colonies and our throwing off tyranny in favor of self-government, and as a result these United States becoming the beacon for the entire world community, and the City of New York the greatest city the world has ever seen, that the 350th Birthday Year and that February 2, 2003, most of all, will bring us all together to appreciate who we are and from where we came and most of all to convince us of our even more promising future. Speaker Miller and the entire City Council, in my view, by their show of support and pride in its own history, can and I hope will be the foundation upon which much can be accomplished this 350th year of our existence, our growth, our hope, our promise, so help us God, and all of us who call ourselves New Yorkers.
Roland Rogers
November 12, 2002
END OF REPORT
ATTACHMENT
NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL
350TH ANNIVERSARY
RESOLUTION
(DRAFT)
Whereas, the City of New York, first known as New Amsterdam, has its very roots in its charter of self government, which enumerated the rights and the responsibilities of the citizens of this city, and became our foundation for diversity and inclusion, uniting the citizens of our young city who came here from many lands, becoming the first such municipal charter in the American colonies, which would later become the United States of America, and
Whereas, the said charter of self government, did also create our great city's first government, then known as the Burgomasters and Schepens, today the City Council, and thus becoming the first municipal government body in American history, and today being the longest continuously serving local municipal government in America, and
Whereas, as its first notable act, the said Council, just weeks after its
creation, on March 13, 1653, did order a wall be built to protect the young city at its northern extremity, did thereby bring into existence what would becomes the world's most famous street Wall Street, and
Whereas, one year after the treacherous attacks of September 11, 2001, upon our city, and our need and our desire, to rebuild once again, in this first and oldest self governing city in these United States, with the first municipal government in the land, and a most notable first act of self government, our roots are a powerful message regarding the indomitable spirit and the
unquenchable vitality of the citizens of the City of New York to rebuild and grow again and again over these many years, that now is a pivotal time for the entire world to learn of our rich 350 year history, and
Whereas, February 2, 2003, is the 350th anniversary of America's first charter of self government, and the creation of the first municipal government body, and further as its first significant act soon thereafter on March 13, 1653, did undertake the building of what was destined to become the world's most famous street Wall Street, where George Washington was Inaugurated our first President, and where the first Capitol of the United States stood, and where the Bill of Rights was drafted and ratified, and where the home of capitalism and what is now the New York Stock Exchange has stood since its formation more than 200 years ago,
For these reasons and so many more that spring from these Beginnings,
Be it resolved, that the Council of the City of New York, declares all of 2003, to be New York City's 350th Birthday, and that February 2, 2003, to be a very special day of celebration, pomp and circumstance, throughout the entire City of New York, and that for the entire year that follows this date that many events be held in each of our five boroughs, and our hundreds of individual neighborhoods, to celebrate, to educate, to remember that which took place and began February 2, 1653, at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, and thereby to further promote diversity and inclusion as our city's finest message, and
Be it further resolved, that the Council of the City of New York, recognizes and honors Roland Rogers, citizen of Harlem, in the City of New York, for his singular devotion to bringing the 350th anniversary of New York City's birth to the attention of the Council and the City, and for his efforts for a number of years, undaunted by rejection and disinterest, to mount various events in expectation of the 350th anniversary, and to be the tireless messenger for this most important milestone in our city's history, and
Be it further resolved, that the Council of the City of New York does this day appoint Roland Rogers to officially lead the Council's own participation and programs in celebration of the 350th Birthday of our great City,
As Agreed to this Day by the Members of the City Council of New York
