Commissioner of Small Business Services, Kevin Kim: Good evening, everyone.Happy Year of the Dragon. Too often, the AAPI community in New York City has gone unseen and unheard. But I am proud to be serving in an administration — the Adams administration — that not only sees and hears all of us, but warmly embraces the AAPI community as a community filled with talented, hard‑working and courageous New Yorkers.
We make up 18 percent of all New Yorkers and own 23 percent of small businesses. In the Adams administration, the support for the AAPI community is not just words. Just take a look at Mayor Adams' historic senior leadership appointments. Not only do we have the first ever deputy mayor, AAPI deputy mayor, we actually have two first ever AAPI deputy mayors in Deputy Mayor Maria Torres‑Springer and Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi.
We also have the first ever Vietnamese American commissioner in the history of New York City in TLC commissioner David Do, and, the first ever Korean American commissioner, someone I know really well and I'm happy to introduce you to at one point.
And the list goes on and on for the senior leadership team who are in the AAPI community. And the list goes on and on for the support that Mayor Adams has done by bringing the first ever AAPI curriculum to New York City public schools.
But if I were to list all of those accomplishments, we'd be here for a really long time into the Year of the Snake, which we're going to be celebrating next year. So, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce to you the mayor who gets stuff done for the AAPI community, and the mayor who truly sees each and every one of you, Mayor Eric Adams. Adams.
Mayor Eric Adams: Wow. Wow. Look at this crowd. Just wanted to get a picture of the crowd that we have here, and have them bring me my iPad.
Just really excited to be here, and you know, to say to you, Happy New Year, you know, wish you many, many great years. What is this the year of, the year of the what?
Audience: Dragon.
Mayor Adams: The year of the what?
Audience: Dragon.
Mayor Adams: Love it, love it. And I'm joined by just a full complement of our Asian, South Pacific elected officials. who are here with me. Assemblyman Lester Chang, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkamar, Assemblywoman Grace Lee and Councilwoman Sandra Ung, give it up for them, fully represented here, the full strength and power of this amazing community as we bring in a new year.
Year after year we see how much this community has grown and continues to be such a vital part of not only the economic strength of our city, but as you see, the rich diversity of our city. We've had many events here at Surrogate's Court, but the energy you see here today is really amazing as we look around.
And I want to just say thank you. Thank you to the amazing Commissioner Kim, who spoke a few moments ago. What Commissioner Kim is doing for small businesses in this city continues to show how small businesses are the backbone of our city, and we're just really proud of what he has brought to the City of New York and will continue to do.
So, welcome to the Surrogate’s Courthouse. Normally, we host this celebration at Gracie Mansion, but we wanted to make sure that we would be out of the inclement weather, and we're doing it here and we're excited about that. This year we have moved downtown close to City Hall to be a real representation of your power and strength.
So many people RSVP'd to this event that they wanted to celebrate with you. It goes to show you that this community has continued to thrive and continue to grow. And I especially want to welcome the international dignitaries. We had international dignitaries here from Korea, a place that I visited, Vietnam, a place that I visited, China, a place that I visited, India, a place that I visited, and so many other locations.
Now, I think we got a translator, right? I'm so excited, I'm talking so fast.
Okay, see, that got everybody quiet. So, why don't I go again? Welcome to Surrogate’s Court. And this is clearly one of the largest celebrations of the Year of the Dragon. Here today we have many dignitaries from many of our Asian Pacific countries.
And as I stated, normally we have this at Gracie Mansion; this year, we're downtown here at Surrogate Court. And it shows the strength and power of this community.
And I want to welcome and thank our international dignitaries that are here. Many of your countries I visited personally. From Korea to China to Vietnam to India and others.
And I'm proud to be the mayor of a city with one of the largest Chinese and Asian-Pacific constituencies. And we bring it all together because of our amazing Asian Advisory Council. And I look forward to the great things the Advisory Council is going to do this coming year.
And you all know the Year of the Dragon is about action, innovation and prosperity. Or as we say in City Hall, it's about Getting Stuff Done.
Two years ago, we came into office with a clear vision: public safety, revitalizing our communities, making them more livable, and building our economic strength.
We're going to keep delivering on that promise. And we're proud of how we have expanded the rich tradition and history of this community.
And one significant part is the building out of the historic Kimlau Plaza in Chinatown. We look forward to building an arch there and building an arch in Brooklyn. This is a real symbol of strength for our city and for your community.
And so as I conclude, since I didn't say it in the right languages, I want to say it again to my electeds that are here: Assemblyman Lester Chang, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, Assemblywoman Grace Lee, and Councilwoman Sandra Ung. And the original Asian Pacific assemblyman, Alec Brook-Krasny
And so again, Happy New Year to you. May the Year of the Dragon bring you health, happiness and prosperity to all. Thank you very much.
And so we want to now bring on our honorees who have served this community so well and give them their citation for the great work that they have done.
[Honorees brought on stage.]
Commissioner Kim: And we invite everyone to stay and enjoy the rest of the night. Thank you very much for coming.