Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter 212-788-2958
At the reception the Mayor also honored Congress of Italian American Organizations (CIAO) Executive Director Mary Sansone. Joining the Mayor at the reception were Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington; Anthony Carbonetti, Chief of Staff to the Mayor; Mico Licastro, President of The Institute for the Italian American Experience; actress Lorraine Bracco from the hit HBO show The Sopranos; the Honorable Giorgio Radicatti, Consul General of Italy; Dr. Angelo Gimondo, Founder and Chairman of the Italian Heritage and Culture Month Committee; and New York City Tax Commission President James DeCuzzi.
"Tonight we celebrate the contributions of the Italian American community to New York City," said Mayor Giuliani. "Italians and the Italian culture have had a tremendous influence in all areas of our City from Italy's great works of art, its architecture, its literature, its music and, of course, its wonderful food. This evening's event also gives us an opportunity to celebrate our heritage as Americans, and that means celebrating the freedoms immigrants enjoyed after coming to America. Our Italian forefathers made the most of that opportunity, and so much of New York City was literally built with their hands. More than anywhere else in the world, New York City relies on the new ideas, energy and vitality of immigrant communities that have developed and continue to develop our great City. It is an honor to proclaim the month of October as Italian Heritage and Culture Month in New York City."