[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 182 (Tuesday, December 20, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF GINA ARGENTO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 20, 2016

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in 
recognition of Gina Argento, who was honored for her achievements as 
part of Women's History Month. Ms. Argento is President of Broadway 
Stages, one of New York's largest film, television, and music 
production facilities which is located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
  Ms. Argento and her brother, Tony, opened Broadway Stages in 1983, 
turning a rundown movie theatre into a sound stage. Over the past 32 
years, Broadway Stages has expanded both its physical size and 
capabilities. Broadway Stages now has over half a million square feet 
of space with 38 state-of-the-art stages and support facilities. 
Offering full service film, television, photography and music 
production facilities, Broadway Stages has served an extensive list of 
hit movies and television shows including ``The Good Wife,'' ``Blue 
Bloods,'' ``Mr. Robot,'' ``Madam Secretary,'' ``Unbreakable Kimmy 
Schmidt,'' ``Limitless,'' ``Broad City,'' ``Unforgettable,'' and 
``Master of None,'' in addition to commercials, print and music videos. 
Broadway Stages has facilities in Brooklyn and Queens and is currently 
in the process of building a 69 acre facility in Staten Island.
  Under Ms. Argento's leadership, Broadway Stages has exhibited an 
unparalleled commitment towards the local community in Greenpoint, 
Brooklyn. In addition to creating hundreds of local jobs, Broadway 
Stages helps neighboring residents, small businesses, and community-
based organizations. Broadway Stages has donated food, equipment, and 
additional resources to local soup kitchens, partnered with the 
McGolrick Park Neighborhood Alliance to clean up the beloved park 
located in the center of Greenpoint and hosted family-friendly 
neighborhood block parties during the summer. Most recently, Broadway 
Stages joined the television show ``Blue Bloods'' and CBS to give 
$25,000 to the families of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu 
who were brutally murdered in Brooklyn.
  Ms. Argento is also committed to supporting young people. Broadway 
Stages provided new audio equipment to St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic 
Academy, sponsored a 5 Boro Basketball team for teens, created a 
``Green Science Week'' at PS110, and partnered with community 
organizations to hold a local ``Schoolfest'' fair for students and 
their families. Broadway Stages also funded the SYSTEM Teen Summer 
Program, which provides high school students the opportunity to 
participate in hands-on activities focused on green technology, 
engineering, gardening, and community service.
  Broadway Stages is an incredible community partner that is committed 
to building a strong and environmentally sustainable future. Under Ms. 
Argento's leadership, Broadway Stages has become a model of the way 
private industry can champion energy sustainability and 
environmentally-sound community development. By installing 50,000 
square feet of solar photovoltaic systems on the roofs of 7 of its 
sound stages, Broadway Stages created the world's first solar powered 
sound stage and the largest private solar power installation in New 
York State. The solar roofs have offset 30 percent of Broadway Stage's 
annual electricity consumption. Broadway Stages also created an organic 
vegetable farm called ``Eagle Street Rooftop,'' located on top of a 
warehouse in Greenpoint. The 6,000 square foot rooftop farm features a 
variety of educational and volunteer programs and a farmer's market 
during the growing season. Broadway Stages is also involved in cleaning 
up a Brownfield site at 359 Kingsland Avenue.
  Ms. Argento has worked with YMCA Greenpoint, Boy Scouts of America, 
Kings County Democratic Club, Greenpoint Chamber of Commerce, Solar 
One, and EWVIDCO, an advocacy organization for industrial businesses in 
Greenpoint. Ms. Argento is a loving mother to her three sons, John, 
Anthony, and Paul. She and her husband, John Ciafone, make an 
incredible team.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
remarkable work of Gina Argento, a successful businesswoman, 
environmentalist, and fantastic neighbor.

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