Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

NEW YORK—Mayor Michael Bloomberg took his oath of office for his third term Friday, and pledged to focus on immigration policy with the same tenacity he had when he took on the campaign against illegal guns during his second term.

In his inaugural address, he vowed to work with President Barack Obama and others to bring about meaningful changes to the nation’s immigration policies.

"With leaders from across the country, we will assemble a bipartisan coalition to support President Obama’s call for comprehensive immigration reform that honors our history, upholds our values, and promotes our economy," Bloomberg said upon being sworn in for his third term as mayor.

Bloomberg said immigrants have made critical contributions to the economy and to the country’s values.

"Immigrants helped make New York City the world capital of opportunity and entrepreneurism, and now we will make City government a global leader in supporting and encouraging entrepreneurs," Bloomberg said.

The mayor also recognized the central role that immigrants and small businesses have always played in creating a dynamic and prosperous city, as he signaled that both areas would become major focuses during his upcoming term.

"No city on Earth—no city—should hold these principles higher aloft than this city of immigrants, because no city on earth has been more rewarded by immigrant labor, more renewed by immigrant ideas than New York City," he said.

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( Published January 8, 2009 in Asian Journal New York p. 1 )