UNION SQUARE PARTNERSHIP’S 24th ANNUAL MEETING ADDS NEW BOARD MEMBERS;
PRESENTS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

NEW YORK, NY (June 5, 2008) – Over 250 area businesses, residents, property owners, cultural and community groups, and other key neighborhood stakeholders gathered together for the Union Square Partnership’s (USP) 24th annual public meeting today. USP, a private, not-for-profit organization working to foster the best possible neighborhood, is comprised of a local development corporation (LDC) and New York City’s first business improvement district (BID), two organizations that have served as catalysts behind the area’s transformation.

The annual meeting, held at the W New York-Union Square, included welcome remarks by USP Board President and area resident/business owner Jim Gabbe, and guest speaker Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer; a review of past accomplishments and future goals by USP Executive Director Jennifer Falk; a presentation by Parks Department Manhattan Team Leader George Kroenert about the North End Project; a review of the organization’s financial position by USP Board Treasurer and area resident Ken Salzman; and the election of two new board members led by USP Board Secretary and local business owner Eric Petterson.

The annual meeting was followed by a networking reception, sponsored by W New York-Union Square, to celebrate the organization’s many successes of the past year.

“The Union Square district continues to thrive as the city’s one-stop destination for dinning, shopping and entertainment,” said Jennifer Falk, Executive Director, Union Square Partnership. “The past year saw many accomplishments ranging from safety and sanitation milestones to the highly-anticipated groundbreaking of Union Square Park’s north end renovation. With all these positive charges, the next year promises to be even better.”

During the meeting, two new board members were elected including: Angela Rakis, Executive Director of Purchasing/Marketing/Customer Experience in the Northeast Region at Whole Foods Market, and H. Jay Wisnicki, MD, Director of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Department of Ophthalmology. Both will serve as members of the BID Board of Directors. In addition, Gretchen Shugart, CEO of TheaterMania.com, Inc., joined the LDC Board of Directors earlier this spring when she was elected at the April board meeting.

USP Co-Chair Danny Meyer presented Deborah Hulse of the Department of Parks & Recreation with the “Union Square Partnership Community Service Award” in recognition of her many years of beautifying Union Square Park. For the past four years, Ms. Hulse has served as the head gardener in Union Square Park and provided her agricultural expertise and green thumb to ensure the Parks remains inviting year-round.

“Every year, the Union Square Partnership makes a series of targeted investments in the beautification of Union Square Park, and its partners like Debbie Hulse that help us to achieve our goals,” said Falk. “Debbie has poured her heart into making Union Square Park one of the most beautiful destinations in New York City and has been in tireless service to this community.

During her remarks, Falk reviewed highlights of the organization’s Annual Report, which includes an overview of services and a review of key accomplishment in 2007 in the following categories:

* Ensuring Public Safety – The neighborhood is at its safest point in its 168-year history. The USP Public Safety Team logged 11,873 hours in 2007. Throughout the year, they responded to 137,552 incidents, over 97% of which were requests for information such as directions.

* Keeping Union Square Clean – The USP Clean Team have earned the Union Square district top scores on the City’s Sanitation Scorecard; for the past 15 quarters, the district received 100% cleanliness ratings for our sidewalks. The removal of approximately 1,749 tons of trash last year ensures the neighborhood remains clean and inviting.

* Promoting the District – USP has increased the overall marketing and promotion of neighborhood programs and events with a new website, unionsquarenyc.org, circulating a free monthly e-newsletter to more than 3,100 subscribers, and a new free walking tour to promote the district. Additionally, USP unveiled its new “Visitor Map & Guide,” which highlights everything there is to eat, shop and visit in Union Square. Over 50,000 maps will be distributed in the area, and at tourist locations around the City.

* Sponsorship Programs – USP unveiled new sponsorship programs in 2007 including the co-branded Lamppost Banner Program, and the co-branded Trash Receptacles and 'Big Belly' Solar Trash Compactors Programs. In addition, USP offers a wide range of opportunities through our signature events including Summer in the Square, Harvest in the Square, to market and promote the district and its member organizations.

* Park Beautification & Upgrades – USP believes its annual park beautification and maintenance efforts are vitally important to the district’s continued growth and through a successful public/private partnership with the Department of Parks & Recreation. Efforts included the reseeding of lawns; installation of a new irrigation system; planting of hundreds of new shrubs, perennials and annuals; a playground associate; a Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) Officer to ensure the park remains safe; a gardener to maintain the park; year-round extermination services; and a series of other maintenance efforts.

USP combines the resources of its business improvement district and its local development corporation to fund a wide array of public safety, sanitation, marketing and special events, and economic development services. For download the Annual Report or find out about upcoming summer events, visit unionsquarenyc.org.