BP Fossella to Declare May 22nd “Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro Day” on Staten Island
Editor’s note: Readers may remember our coverage of the Sandy Ground Staten Island ferry boat named after the oldest continuously inhabited African-American settlement launched from Florida and destined for New York.
Sandy Ground’s church was a sister congregation to the Cherry Lane Church and cemetery that were paved over in the 1960s to make way for the shopping center that now occupies their former location. Readers can learn more about this forgotten graveyard, as well as the connections between the two churches who shared a pastor in our interviews with Heather Quinlan.
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella will deliver a proclamation to Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro in honor of her lifelong work serving Sandy Ground. The proclamation will be delivered at a press conference at Borough Hall on Wednesday, May 22nd at 1:00 PM.
Ms. Moody D’Alessandro is the retiring Executive Director of the Sandy Ground Historical Society, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and telling the history of the Sandy Ground neighborhood of Staten Island.
Sandy Ground was founded by free Black New Yorkers and Southern oystermen as a haven for African Americans during the mid-19th century, and accordingly was an important stop of the Underground Railroad. Sandy Ground is not only a Staten Island story, but also an American story.
A lifetime Staten Islander, Ms. Moody D’Alessandro spent several decades curating the Sandy Ground site and traveling to speak before audiences to spread the message of Sandy Ground’s importance in the annals of Staten Island and American history.
For her role in preserving and promoting a cornerstone of Staten Island history, Ms. Moody D’Alessandro will be honored with a proclamation declaring May 22nd “Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro Day” on Staten Island.
Banner Image: Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro and BP Fossella. Image Credit – Sandy Ground Historical Society
BP Vito Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.