Each year, the Queens borough president offers a speech and report on the State of the Borough, and the steps needed to lead it forward.

The following exerpts are from the first State of the Borough speech given in this new century.

Borough President Claire Shulman reports on the State of the Borough in January 2000.

"Here in Queens, the last century was a period of progress and growth. We have evolved into a strong, vibrant and diverse borough. Queens is now an economic engine which helps power the greatest city in the world.

"This success provides the solid foundation we need to build for our future. Today, we are well prepared for a new generation of advances in technology, medicine and communications.

"We are building the first new hospital the borough has seen in more than 40 years thanks to Mayor Giuliani. We have produced more school seats and almost two dozen new schools are on the horizon. The federal government is investing heavily in the borough, choosing Queens as the home for two new regional headquarters for the FDA and the FAA. And bolstered by the government’s confidence, the private sector is building major retail and housing developments throughout the borough.

"Since the turn of the century, New York City has had the largest public school system in the country. Today, we have more than one million students, more than 75,000 teachers and almost 1,200 school buildings. Unfortunately, even with all these resources, our borough’s schools are severely overcrowded with 30,000 more students than our system can handle.

"To make matters worse, some of our city’s best teachers are leaving the system for positions in higher-paying suburbs with fewer students in each class and better working conditions...

The Langston Hughes Library Cultural Center in Corona as it looked at its community beginnings, and as it looks in its new facilities for 2000.

"We must do everything we can to keep our best teachers and attract new, high-caliber professionals into our schools...

"Twenty-three new schools, with 35,000 new seats, will be built over the next five years. However, school overcrowding in Queens is so severe, that even after these additions, Queens will still be left with a shortfall of 22,000 seats...

"Our institutions of higher education also continue to expand to prepare their graduates for this new century.

"We continue to support Queens College’s efforts to build a permanent home for its AIDS Research Center – The Bernard and Gloria Sallick Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology...

"At York College, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s regional headquarters and laboratory is nearly complete and scheduled to open later this year. This project brings the second largest federal regional lab in the country to Queens, enabling students at York to gain valuable experience by working side-by-side with some of the nation’s top researchers.

"We are also working to help our libraries expand and grow. We continue to hold the distinction of having the largest circulation in the country, and our new Flushing Library is now the busiest branch library in the state drawing record crowds since its opening in 1998.

"Last Fall, we cut the ribbon at the long-awaited opening of the new Langston Hughes Library and Cultural Center. And, in December, we opened the new environmentally-friendly South Jamaica branch on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard...

"We have come a long way since our first hospital, St. John’s opened in Long Island City in 1861...

"Jamaica Hospital began work last September to expand its pediatric emergency facility, providing eight additional exam rooms and 15 new asthma stations. On this site, the hospital is building a 10-story parking garage for almost 1,000 cars.

"To address the needs of our growing senior population, St. John’s Hospital in Elmhurst created a geriatric evaluation and management program which provides a full range of medical services for our residents over 60 years of age...

"To address child abuse in the borough, the Victim Services Agency opened the Queens Child Advocacy Center in Borough Hall, and the Queens Child Guidance, Jamaica Family Center began an intensive early intervention program...

"Meanwhile, we broke ground on the new Family Court Facility in downtown Jamaica which is scheduled for completion at the end of next year. And planning is underway for further expansion of the Queens Criminal Court Building...

"Funding has been allocated to develop nine new senior centers throughout the city, four of which will be in Queens, bringing the new total to 82 senior centers in the borough. These centers will also provide meals and social services to our borough’s elderly and are slated to open later this year.

"Our borough’s unemployment rate continues to decline and, for the fourth consecutive year, was one of the lowest unemployment rates in the city.

"Throughout the year, the Council assisted more than 125 companies, with more than 4,000 jobs, to expand or relocate into Queens...

"More than one billion dollars has been allocated for major infrastructure improvements to our highways and bridges. Major projects include the nearly completed reconstruction of the Woodhaven Boulevard Bridge in Middle Village, and the ongoing $460 million rebuilding of Queens Borough Bridge...

"We continue to monitor the progress of the Queens Boulevard/63rd Street Subway Connection Project. Almost 90 percent complete, this project will provide significant relief to the 200,000 riders who use the ‘E’ and ‘F’ Lines daily.

"The Rehabilitation of the Flushing/Main Street subway station also nears completion. This $30 million project, which includes making the station fully handicapped accessible, should be finished later this year.

"We successfully fought to expand the Modernization Project scheduled the 74th Street/Roosevelt Avenue Station. Under the new plan, the existing structure, known as the Victor Moore Arcade, will be replaced by an efficient and convenient inter-modal facility. I have committed $4.5 million to ensure that this project becomes a reality.

"In June, Governor Pataki and I dedicated the newly restored Forest Hills Long Island Rail Road Station. This $5.4 million project returned the station to its original 1911 splendor.

"Later in the year, the $31 million rehabilitation of the Woodside Station was completed. A much-needed facelift to the Queens Village Station and the $8.6 million renovation of the Bayside Station will be finished by the end of this year. We will also continue to press for the reopening of the Elmhurst Station...

"According to the latest figures, Queens experienced significant reductions in nearly all of the seven major crime categories. While crime as a whole was down nine percent from 1998, rape in the borough decreased an impressive 16 percent, and auto thefts were down by almost 13 percent...

"The Fire Department continues its mission to project life and property from the ravages of fire. The dangerous nature of this mission takes hard work and dedication.

"While the number of structural and non-structural fires has increased slightly, response times to these fires continues to decrease.

"JFK and LaGuardia Airports are vital components of our transportation system, and the lifeline of our borough’s and region’s economy. Employing almost 50,000 people, and generating more than 275,000 jobs in related industries, our airports’ success is critical to our future.

"At Kennedy Airport, American Airlines broke ground on its new terminal last November, and construction of the new, state-of-the-art International Arrivals Building continued through 1999 and is scheduled fo4r completion next year. These two projects represent a $2.2 billion investment in Kennedy Airport.

"At LaGuardia Airport, a $24 million Air Traffic Control Tower, which will replace the existing antiquated structure, is currently in design.

"Last year, the Land Use Application was approved by the City Council for construction of the Port Authority’s Airtrain, the Light Rail System connecting the terminals at JFK Airport with Howard Beach and Jamaica. Half of the on-airport construction for this project is now complete.

"As of Jan. 1, federal noise regulations require all domestic airlines to meet much quieter "Stage 3" standards with regard to noise levels. Together with our Queens delegation, we continue to insist that our airlines replace their existing fleets with quieter aircraft instead of retrofitting them with "Hush Kits" which do not provide as much relief from airplane noise...

"To protect them from inappropriate development, I worked to rezone sections of Little Neck, North Corona, East Flushing, Ridgewood, and Forest Hills. Since my Zoning Task Force was formed, 24 neighborhoods across the borough have been successfully rezoned.

"Meanwhile, Destination Technodome is one of several major Land Use Proposals pending for the borough. This $1 billion Sports and Entertainment Center will bring a much needed revitalization to the Rockaway Peninsula. The developers have recently obtained conditional site control, and we continue to work with the city and state to secure funding for needed infrastructure improvements.

"In Northern Queens, my Creedmoor working group submitted a master plan to the state, outlining its recommendations for future redevelopment of the Creedmoor campus. Among these plans are the construction of three sorely-needed schools on the northern portion of the campus.

"A number of major proposals are also being considered for the Queens Boulevard Corridor in Elmhurst. Among them are the redevelopment of the Stern’s building, a significant expansion of the Queens Center Shopping Mall, and a new multiplex theater.

"Last year, the developer was chosen for the next phase of Queens West which will provide 350 new units of housing with access to this spectacular waterfront park in Long Island City.

"At the same time, private developers began construction of the first market-rate housing to be built in the Rockaways in more than a generation. This unique development, on the former Rockaway Playland site, includes more than 100 homes.

"In the Arverne Urban Renewal Area, the first phase of housing development, called "Water’s Edge," is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. My office provided more than $2 million for necessary infrastructure improvements.

"To increase affordable housing in the borough, the New York City Housing Partnership completed construction of 21 two-family homes in southeast Queens. One hundred and thirty additional units are scheduled for construction this year in the Edgemere Urban Renewal Area.

"Also in the Rockaways, the $170 million Hope Six Revitalization Project for the Arverne and Edgemere Houses, is moving forward.

"And, the New York City Housing Development Corporation’s "New Housing Opportunities" Program built 206 units of middle income housing. More than 400 additional units are in planning or under construction.

"By the close of 1999, 1,000 new units of housing were completed in the borough and almost twice as many were in construction.

"More than 350 families of Dunnolly Gardens in Jackson Heights breathed a sigh of relief this past November when we helped save their homes from imminent foreclosure. On behalf of these families, I would like to thank Queens County Savings Bank for refinancing the underlying mortgage...

"We also reached a milestone this year, in the largest construction project in New York City history, when the Queens portion of City Water Tunnel Number 3 was completed, ensuring the availability of quality water for future generations...

"The Fountain of the Fairs continues to be refurbished with funds provided by my office.

Mayor Giuliani and I have allocated more than $25 million to restore the former Ederle Amphitheater site, and to construct a year-round Olympic-sized pool facility. We will break ground on both projects this year...

"Here at home, the Mayor and I committed almost $10 million for the construction of the African American Hall of Fame at Roy Wilkins Park. The third and final stage of the 50-acre reconstruction of this magnificent park is almost complete...

"Meanwhile, Fort Totten was designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission as our newest historic district, and Stanley Cogan was sworn in as our new Borough Historian...

"The diversity of our cultural organizations is a reflection of the diversity of our borough. Our residents speak 117 different languages, and more than 36 percent of us are foreign born, representing virtually every nation around the globe.

"We continue to recognize and celebrate this diversity by sponsoring a variety of ethnic and cultural events throughout the borough...

"With your continued support and unwavering commitment, we will continue in this tradition bringing Queens proudly and prosperously through the next century and beyond.

"We are at the doorway to the new millennium. Let us walk through together with confidence and determination."