LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Council of Neighborhood Organiza-
tions, Inc. upon the occasion of hosting its 25th Annual Dance

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Council of Neighborhood Organizations, Inc. upon the occasion of
hosting its 25th Annual Dance on Thursday, June 11, 2009, in Brooklyn,
New York; and
WHEREAS, In addition, this special event will present several distin-
guished honorees with awards for their outstanding service, dedication,
and contributions to their communities; and
WHEREAS, These dignified individuals include: Dr. Dutsi Behm, the
Josephine Steo Humanitarian Award; Dr. Salvatore Degliuomini, Physician
of the Year Award; Inspector Robert Thursland, Public Service Award;
Karol Joswick, the Priscilla Celano Community Service Award; and
WHEREAS, The Council of Neighborhood Organizations, Inc. (C.O.N.O.)
was formed in 1978 to insure that the quality of life for the residents
of the Boro Park, Sunset Park and Kensington sections of Brooklyn would
be safeguarded; local community residents as well as leaders came
together and formed C.O.N.O.; and
WHEREAS, In the years that followed, C.O.N.O. put together a full
range of social service programs, housing programs as well as youth
programs; it provides assistance in obtaining help from the most needed
programs such as Public Assistance, Food Stamps, Medicare, Medicaid,
SCRIE, HEAP, IT-214, SCHE, and STAR; and
WHEREAS, The housing market within the community is largely made up of
two, three and four-unit privately owned homes; with an ever growing
immigrant and senior citizen population as well as gentrification play-
ing a major role, housing availability is the number one priority; and
WHEREAS, C.O.N.O. takes a two-pronged approach to housing, working
diligently to educate the residents of the neighborhood of their rights
as tenants and helping them unify in the form of tenant associations as
well as block associations; since its inception, it has found that
educating and unifying tenants is the most effective way of maintaining
and improving quality of life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Council of Neighborhood Organizations, Inc. upon the occa-
sion of hosting its 25th Annual Dance; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Council of Neighborhood Organizations, Inc. and to the
aforementioned honorees.