NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined CBS 2′s Don Dahler to reflect on the state of the borough over the past year.

It marks the first in what will be a series of the state of each borough in New York City on CBS 2.

“We know New York City begins in Brooklyn. Come on, the rest of the boroughs are Brooklyn wannabes,” the famously outspoken borough president told CBS 2′s Dahler.

Many would argue the worst part of the year for Brooklyn was superstorm Sandy, which devastated many neighborhoods across the borough.

Markowitz said the recovery effort is still very much under way and said there is still a long road ahead for the hardest hit areas.

But the borough president said the ill effects could be better treated with federal funding requested by President Obama.

“Here’s the bottom line: The faster the House of Representatives can pass President Obama’s recommended $60.4 billion package, that is as fast, because the state and the city are prepared to really pump that money into the impacted communities in Brooklyn and, of course, the rest of New York and Long Island and New Jersey, and get these homeowners back in their homes to the fullest degree possible and get small businesses up and going again,” Markowitz said.

Markowitz blasted any lawmakers in the House and Senate who may hold up or even block approval of the federal aid.

“How dare they even question it,” he said.

“In my opinion, New York City is America’s national city,” Markowitz said. “Give us the respect. We pay more out to you than you pay to us.”

On the flipside, one of the highlights of the year for Markowitz was the opening of Barclays Center.

The borough president said he made a promise when he was first elected to bring a professional sports team to Brooklyn.

“To me, it’s a dream come true,” Markowitz said. “Brooklyn is back.”

The Nets already call Brooklyn home and the Islanders are slated to move to Barclays Center in 2015.

What was your highlight of the year? Sound off in the comments section below…