History of New York City (1898–1945) overthrown in 1933 by reformers who elected and repeatedly re-elected Fiorello La Guardia. Heavy federal patronage helped convert the city to a stronghold of the New Deal Coalition and the model of heavy government spending on infrastructure. The modern five boroughs, comprising the city of New York, were united in 1898. That year, the cities of New York—which then consisted of present-day Manhattan and the Bronx—and Brooklyn were both consolidated with the largely rural areas of Queens and Staten Island. The total population was 3.4 million in 1900, leaping to 5.6 million in 1920 and leveling off at 7.9 million
New York City Regional Center areas of New York City in need of long-term economic growth. Examples include: • $220 million to finance ground-up construction in the Bronx; • $108.5 million to finance ground-up and redevelopment projects in Washington Heights (an Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone); and, • $767 million to finance ground-up, redevelopment, and infrastructure projects in Brooklyn, including seven projects totaling $339 million in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Examples of economic development projects utilizing loans provided by NYCRC-managed funds include the following: • A new wireless infrastructure network in New York City’s subway stations • Redevelopment of a new cargo facility at JFK International