Contact: Colleen Roche or Brenda Perez (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani was honored tonight for his leadership in making New York City accessible to people with disabilities at a banquet sponsored by WE Lifestyle Magazine, a new publication for people with disabilities. In honor of WE Magazine's debut/premiere, the Mayor proclaimed Monday, May 12, 1997 as WE Lifestyle Magazine Day in New York City.
Joining the Mayor were Mark Leeds, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities; Raymond Coppola, President and Publisher of WE Magazine; and Heather Whitestone, 1995 Miss America, who is hearing impaired and is featured in WE Magazine's first issue.
"I want to thank WE Lifestyle Magazine for this very special honor," said Mayor Giuliani. "This administration is proud of its many accomplishments to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities, increasing opportunities for work, business, housing, transportation, education, entertainment and all the services they are entitled to as a valuable part of New York City's population. I commend Commissioner Mark Leeds for his enthusiasm and hard work to continue fighting the fight to give people with disabilities the same advantages that all those who live in this great City enjoy."
Commissioner Leeds said, "Under Mayor Giuliani's leadership, we have done so much to make New York City a better place for people with disabilities. I thank WE Lifestyle Magazine for recognizing this administration's commitment to increasing the integration of people with disabilities into the mainstream of life in our wonderful City and for choosing New York to be both the birthplace and the home of this fine publication."
WE Magazine's first edition, already on the newsstands, covers a wide range of interests such as travel, dining, culture, relationships and cyberspace, from theviewpoints of people with disabilities.