After a one-year absence, Christmas lights are back on Harlem’s 125th Street, bringing some holiday spirit to a neighborhood hit hard by the recent economic recession.
An estimated crowd of 300 people gathered in front of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Building in freezing weather Tuesday night as Telemundo correspondent Isolda Pequero hosted a music and dance program preceding the lighting ceremony.
Attendees listen to speakers at the lighting ceremony. Photo by Martin Markovits/Northattan
“We usually have to travel far to see these kind of things going on,” said Harlem resident Enera Boli, who brought her two children. “We go to Washington Square or 42nd Street. But Harlem is growing and we are more together and we would like to see more of these things going on,” said Boli.
The 125th Street Business Improvement District, a local business advocacy group, launched the holiday lighting program in 1994 when Harlem was in midst of an economic renaissance.
But last year due to budget constraints, the group suspended putting up the holiday lights, breaking a 15-year tradition.
Telemundo correspondent Isolda Pequero hosted the music and dance program preceding the lighting ceremony. Photo by Martin Markovits/Northattan
Earlier this year, 125th Street Business Improvement District CEO Barbara Askins, decided to reach out to the community to raise money for the event, after the group considered suspending it for the second year in a row.
“That’s when we decided to talk to the community so people could understand what was happening and the best way to do it was for all of us to come together,” said Askins.
Harlem vocal group, Renaissance honors U.S. troops overseas. Photo by Martin Markovits/Northattan
Askins teamed up with Harlem community boards 9, 10, and 11 to hold fundraisers, and send out mailers which raised the necessary $60,000 to put the lights back on.
Holiday lights shine on 125th Street. Photo by Martin Markovits/Northattan
Donnette Dunbar, a media consultant at Dash Media, which helped promote the event, believes the lights will not only lift the spirits of the Harlem community, but also help local businesses hurt by the weak economy. ,
“Once the lights are on, it encourages the people to actually shop and purchase and be in the mood for the holidays.” Said Dunbar.
The lights will shine on 125th Street nightly until the end of the first week of January.
Cars pass under the holiday lights on 125th Street. Photo by Martin Markovits/Northattan
