Marty Markowitz’s State of the Borough speech was yesterday and NY1’s Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.

After a musical tribute by Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the Brooklyn delegation, Marty Markowitz took center stage at Steiner Film Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for his annual State of the Borough address Thursday.

He talked about Brooklyn’s renaissance and offered the 2007 Lonely Planet travel guide’s Best of 2007 list as proof of that.

"Lonely Planet only chose three destinations in America: Hawaii, they’ve got beautiful beaches just like Brooklyn; New Orleans, which has culture, wonderful food, granted; and, who would’ve thunk it, the city of Brooklyn!" said Markowitz.

Markowitz says Brooklyn will add a second cruise ship terminal in Red Hook, make the lighting on the Parachute Jump in Coney Island more dazzling, and celebrate a second Sundance Film Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

"Last May, where did Robert Redford commemorate the 25th anniversary of his Sundance Film Festival? If you missed it last year, Sundance and my ‘older twin’ Robert Redford will be back this year from May 31- June 10,” said Markowitz.

He also hopes to break ground on the new arena for the Nets this year, build a state-of-the-art amphitheater in Coney Island on the site where he holds his summer concert series, and transform the 1920’s Loews Kings Theater on Flatbush Avenue into a performance venue.

But Markowitz also expressed his worry about development at Spring Creek, known to most as Starett City. The 6,000 apartment complex was bought by a developer and the borough president vows to keep the homes affordable.

"We will fight to preserve this development, which is the model for diverse, urban living in Brooklyn and America,” said Markowitz. “I’ve got a message: this won’t be Stuyvesant Town, part two!"

The borough president remembered prominent Brooklynites who passed away including Gilbert Rivera, founder of Park Avenue Home Center, and Carlos Lezama, the founder of the West Indian Day Parade.

In Lezama’s memory, Markowitz talked about opening a West Indian Museum.