Office Of The Mayor Of New York City: Transcript: Mayor De Blasio Delivers Remarks At Ribbon Cutting For The Final Section Of Brooklyn B ...

New York City NY

10 December, 2021

12:50 PM

Description

Press release from Office of the Mayor of New York City: December 9, 2021 Mayor Bill de Blasio: I think that's, like, one of the best titles anyone could ever have, a true and fellow Brooklynite. That is feeling good to me. Chris, congratulations to you and your family. It's a really amazing day, and I had this feeling that some real justice is being done here today. Some recognition of who actually got us here as a borough, as a city, who did the great things and the everyday things along the way that made us who we are. So, for your family, I hope there's a sense of both joy and pride, but even in a way of vindication that the truth and the recognition that she has so long, fully deserved is now finally happening. Congratulations to the whole family.   [Applause]    Emily Warren Roebling is an example to me of the greatness of this city that we are still experiencing today, and I want to talk about this moment in the context of what we've all been through and fought through in the last couple of years. But I need to for a moment thank, first of all, all my colleagues in government. Everyone who fought, elected officials, and members of administration, who worked for years and years to make this a reality. And there's a lot of people, as I look around, I see a lot of friendly faces, a lot of good friends who believed in this, but I need to remind everyone, you'd think Brooklyn Bridge Park, that that would've been an obvious thing that would've unified all people, let's have a beautiful park. Now 85 acres. That's what's being finished today. 85 acres for the people of New York City. That's a beautiful, beautiful thing.   [Applause]   And you think something like more green space for kids and families would be a unifying reality, but some of us were around 15 years ago, 20 years ago, when in fact there was a controversy. Now, I love my borough and I love my city, but we do manage to come up with a controversy for every occasion, even when it comes to creating a park out of a swath of land that no one could go into and enjoy. So, today to all the people and I consider you, park patriots, who believed in this vision and worked for it. Some of you literally for 20 years or more. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all of you.   [Applause]   Thank you to everyone, I'm not going to name names, but I know some of these people, Eric, Regina, people I've known I feel like my whole life, and so many others who this was a passion for years and years. My old friend, Marianna Kaval, I don't know if she's here. She kept the fire burning, so many good people. But I want to get a special shout out to our Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman, because we were shoulder to shoulder, and there were many times where there were controversies that were not easy at all to mediate. And Hank, maybe you're a thrill seeker in some way, Hank, but Hank said, let me see if I could bring people together, and he actually managed to do it more than once. So, I know this was a labor love for you, and I want to honor you. And also, I just want to say on behalf of the people of this city because you're serving us in so many ways and you have. My condolences for your loss, Hank just lost his dad who has a World War II vet. How old Hank? 101-years-old World War II vet who served his country. Let's give him a round of applause that he could hear.   [Applause]    But what does it mean? What does this place mean? Well, to all of you, and again, everybody who put your heart and soul into this, and I see so many good people and everyone, thank you, because this is another example of strength and resiliency of creativity, of the idea that is New York City, and certainly the idea that is Brooklyn.    These last two years, we went through more than we ever could have imagined and more than any people could ever be asked to bear, but what has become more and more evident to each of us, but also now to the world, is our spirit does not allow us as New Yorkers to ever surrender. We don't know how to surrender. It is just who we are and what we're made of. And Emily, I think you'd agree, was an exemplar of that spirit years and years ago, but also that spirit that says we will not leave anyone out. If Emily had been left out, this city would've been forever held back and each of us in our lives can think of so many people who have done so much for us, but have been treated as something less than they deserved. I see today as a crowning achievement for Brooklyn and for the City of New York, I see it as a triumph of the sheer determination of so many good people here who believed it could and must happen, that this whole park, 85 acres had to happen for the good of people. It is a triumph for egalitarianism because this park was never, ever a preserve for the privilege, it was a people's park from day one, and we made sure all of you, all of you made sure that happened.    [Applause]    But also, it's a reminder that something great can happen. We are finishing this park while still fighting a global pandemic, only in New York do you see that spirit and determination. It's a day we should all be very proud of and a day that reminds us to get to the work, to get to work on the next great thing, because that's one last trait I want to name about us. We finish something great, and we immediately plan the next great thing. Let's keep making this a city for everyone. Thank you, everybody.     ### This press release was produced by Office of the Mayor of New York City. The views expressed here are the author's own.