Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #11-57

Contact: Seth Solomonow/Nicole Garcia (212) 839-4850

NYC DOT Commissioner And S.I. Elected Officials Join Staten Island Yankees To Announce "You The Man" Contest

Promotion celebrates City’s designated drivers and their role in making streets safer

New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, Council Member Debi Rose and Staten Island Yankees President Joseph M. Ricciutti today announced the launch of the “You the Man Summer Shout-Out” contest, building on the agency’s ongoing efforts to curb drunken driving by encouraging New Yorkers to rely on a designated driver whenever plans include drinking. The contest, supported by the Staten Island Yankees, lets New Yorkers put their wit to work and submit their best shout-out for their favorite designated driver. The winning entry will become the newest You the Man slogan. Commissioner Sadik-Khan, Borough President Molinaro, Council Member Rose and Yankees President Ricciutti highlighted the new contest at the Staten Island Yankees game at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George.

“Designated drivers are true all-stars and help make our streets and roadways safer for everyone,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. “They step up to the plate time and time again, ‘delivering’ safe rides home wherever the celebration takes them.”

“The people of Staten Island are proud to join the Department of Transportation Commissioner Sadik-Khan in alerting the citizens of New York City in the dangers of DWI and finding solutions to prevent accidents and in many cases, fatalities,” said Borough President Molinaro.

“I want to commend Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan for launching this important message, particularly now, as we head into Independence Day weekend,” said City Council Member Debi Rose, 49th District/Staten Island. “It’s a holiday weekend in which we celebrate the 4th of July with outdoor parties, barbeques, beer and other alcoholic drinks. You don’t have to drink to have fun but if you do, don’t buy the lie that it’s OK to drink and drive. Be smart, plan ahead, ride with a designated driver and remember—‘You the man’—and exercise good judgment.”

“We are proud to be partnering with the Department of Transportation for another season and look forward to kicking off the You the Man program at Richmond County Bank Ballpark,” said Joseph M. Ricciutti, President of the Staten Island Yankees.

Participants can submit a fill-in-the-blank form online at YouTheManNYC.org or use a paper ballot available at Staten Island Yankees’ home games from June 30 to August 12. The winner will be announced in mid-August and will receive a VIP suite at the Staten Island Yankees’ August 25 game. As part of the prize, a You the Man bus will be provided for transportation to and from the game for up to 20 people, courtesy of the Staten Island Yankees.

To expand its safety message, You the Man street teams will once again distribute1,000 free single-ride MetroCards over the Fourth of July weekend to remind New Yorkers that the city’s many bus and subway operators and taxi and livery cab drivers can step in as designated drivers for a safe, reliable ride home. It also mirrors the City’s sustained push to reduce traffic crashes and make New York’s streets even safer, and follows four years of record-breaking lows for traffic fatalities in New York City history. Giveaways will occur on July 3 from noon to 4 p.m. at soccer fields 1 to 5 in Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park and on July 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Meadow in the Bronx’s Pelham Bay Park.

The You the Man campaign first launched in February 2010, and targets men ages 21-39, who statistics show are most likely to get into a DWI-related crash or accept a ride from an intoxicated driver. The public education campaign relies on peer-to-peer language to celebrate designated drivers and its latest iteration feature summer-themed scenarios to drive the important safety message home that designated drivers are vital to both a fun and safe time out. Online ads will run through September, and outdoor ads will run through August. Visit YouTheManNYC.org to check for upcoming giveaways for safe rides home using mass transit, and other resources for planning a safe time out.

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