NEW YORK – During the coming months, the city Department of Transportation (DOT) in coordination with other municipal agencies will continue to unveil medallions on Avenida Las Americas in Manhattan alluding to the different nations and territories that make New York an inclusive city.
This Monday, the DOT commissioner, Ydanis Rodríguez; the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, Edward Mermelstein; and the commissioner of the Office of Immigration Affairs, Manuel Castro, participated in the installation event of the first nine restored signs. These refer to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, Argentina, St. Lucia and Uruguay.
The installation of dozens of additional medallions (shields) is expected to be completed in the coming months on light poles on said avenue from West 42nd streetsnaand West 59th.
New York has historically been a “lighthouse” for millions of migrants around the world and this is reflected in its quintessential symbol: the Statue of Liberty.
“The creation of the Avenue of the Americas in 1945 was a grand gesture that celebrated the cultures of our hemisphere, and these beautiful new medallions now honor the nationalities of many of the people who live, work, and visit New York City.” , indicated in a press release Rodríguez.
For his part, Mermelstein, who also thanked Mayor Eric Adams for driving the initiative, argued that the medallions are a reminder of the Big Apple’s cultural richness. “NYC is a global city and now people who walk along the Avenue of the Americas can admire and reflect on our rich history,” the official stated.
Castro added that the reinstatement is a reminder that immigrants are welcome in New York regardless of where they come from.
“Our city has been a symbol of hope for generations of immigrants and we must continue this commitment to the ‘American dream.’ As long as New Yorkers walk down this avenue and see these medallions, they will remember that they are welcome no matter where they were born,” she argued.
The consuls of most recognized countries also participated in the event.
According to a 2021 report from the New York City Office of Immigrant Affairs, the city is home to some 3 million immigrants who speak more than 200 languages. Currently, Dominicans are the largest immigrant population in New York.
More than 866,000 Dominicans reside in New York, which represents 40.5% of all immigrants.
The figures from said office do not include the approximately one million Puerto Ricans who have US citizenship and reside in the state.
Indeed, the Boricuas were one of the first groups of migrants to arrive in the City, starting in the 1920s, to contribute economically and socially to its development.
Neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Greenpoint were among the first to welcome members of this community.
Announcement comes shortly after the controversial removal of the “Avenida de Puerto Rico” sign
A few weeks ago, a controversy arose on social networks after Puerto Ricans in the area denounced that DOT personnel removed the sign that identified Graham Avenue as the one in Puerto Rico that has been in the neighborhood since 1982 in recognition of the legacy of the boricuas
The images that circulated on social networks and the questions inside and outside cyberspace led brigades to reposition the sign in a matter of hours. The agency claimed that it was a mistake.
“As soon as we found out about the mistake that had been made when removing the signs, we took the necessary steps to replace them within hours. We do it because Puerto Ricans have been an integral part of this city. Puerto Ricans, like Latinos and all New Yorkers, always deserve and will have the necessary respect to maintain the signs that play a historical role as well as all the different ways of being recognized,” Rodríguez said a little over a week ago in a video that was sent to community leader and event organizer Alejandro Zayas.
Despite Rodríguez’s statements, the community continues to be vigilant in the face of the problem of gentrification, the rise in housing rents, and evictions, which far exceeds the discussion over the sign.
For activists, community leaders, and residents, the uproar over the removal of “Puerto Rico Avenue” is just the “tip of the iceberg” of a much deeper problem that impacts not just Brooklyn, but other boroughs.
Sixth Avenue in Manhattan was renamed Avenue Las Americas by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia at the end of World War II. Nearly 300 medallions were originally installed during the presidency of Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower and the administration of Mayor Robert Wagner, as a symbol of a united hemisphere in the postwar period.
However, these identifications, over time, deteriorated due to oxidation and corrosion, while others were removed for security reasons.
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