City Comptroller Scott Stringer this week celebrated the heritage and culture of the Russian speaking Community at Brighton Beach’s Tatiana Garden Restaurant on Brighton 6 Street and the Boardwalk.
Several hundred Russian-Americans attended the event, in which Stringer honored and presented commendations to several local civic leaders and elected officials. This included popular social worker and radio host Raisa Ross, who has worked for 17 years at Brighton Neighborhood Association; the first Russian speaking City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst), son of immigrants from Ukraine; and Rafael Nektalov, Senior Coordinator for the Congress of Bukharian Jews from USA and Canada.
“For generations, Russian-speaking immigrants have come to our city, put down roots, and built up our neighborhoods. This community is a critical part of our City’s cultural fabric and economic success,” said Stringer, whose own grandparents came from the Ukraine and settled into the Bronx.
“This was an opportunity to recognize their contributions and celebrate this community’s unique heritage. It was my pleasure to spend great time at Brighton Beach with Russian speaking New Yorkers,” the Comptroller added.
Singer Anna Malkina performed a rousing and uptempo rendition of “God Bless America,” written by Irving Berlin, who immigrated from Imperial Russia with his parents and siblings when he was five, and is arguably America’s most prolific songwriter.
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Homecrest) congratulated all honorees and praised Stringer for coming to Brighton Beach to celebrate the Russian speaking community.
Also on hand were representatives of Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez (Alex Gurevich) and Assemblywoman Pamela Harris (Leah Moses).
The audience included many stakeholders from the Russian speaking community, including rabbis, priests, war veterans, Holocaust survivors, businesspeople, artists and journalists.
Among the notable attendees there were Gregory Davidzon, owner of popular 620 AM radio station, Democratic District Leader Margarita Kagan (45 AD), Republican District Leader Boris Pincus (45 AD), President of Brighton Neighborhood Association Pat Singer.
All speakers expressed appreciation to Stringer and to his community liaison and Democratic District Leader Ari Kagan (45 AD) for hosting the event in the heart of the Brighton Beach community.
