Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Appears Live on the Dean Obeidallah Show

January 31, 2017

Dean Obeidallah: Happy now to welcome to the show, Mayor Bill de Blasio – the 109th Mayor of the great City of New York. Mayor de Blasio, thank you very much for making time to be on my show today.

Mayor Bill de Blasio: My great pleasure, Dean. And thank you for being a voice of conscience.

Obeidallah: I‘m trying. And your office and your voice have been so needed in this time. You were great on CNN on Friday, saying you’re going to defy Donald Trump – President Trump on the sanctuary cities. I was on a conference call today with your commissioner on Immigrant Affairs, Nisha Agarwal, talking about how the City is ready to prepare to fight on the Muslim ban. What’s your view on Trump’s Muslim ban and the ban on refugees?

Mayor: Look, I think they are both un-American. I think – and I don’t mean that just as a catch phrase – I mean that as literally, look at the constitution – as we had that beautiful dramatic moment at the Democratic Convention when [inaudible] pulled the copy of the constitution out of his jacket. And you know – this is what we have to get back to in this discussion. What does our constitution say; what are our foundational values? This is a nation founded, not only on religious tolerance, but religious liberty – as a place to receive those who have been prosecuted because of their religion. And the timing – just think about it – the [inaudible] was incredibly – the notion of recognizing and respecting each religion that was present in the 13 colonies. And the country was built with that. My – you cannot separate people by religion in any way. You can’t do it through a travel ban. You can’t do it through a registry. It’s not acceptable. I would extend that concept over to the executive order related to quote/unquote sanctuary cities, where further I find that un-American because of the notion of denying our history as an immigrant nation and attempting to impose on states and localities a federal ideology, which again, goes against the very concepts of our constitution that respect local rights on so many issues; policing, and education and so many other matters. So, I think what is going to happen here, Dean, is I think there is going to backlash, but not just the usual opponents of Trump’s policies. I think this is going to start to poison the well with the number of Republicans and Independents and Libertarians. And people do not want to see the federal government violate privacy rights, violate civil liberties; who are very jealous of their own religious liberties and don’t want to see other people’s religious liberties undermined. I think this is opening up a much bigger debate that’s going to in fact engender more opposition to the Trump administration.

Obeidallah: I hope so. And it truly is a stark contrast between those of us, like yourself, Mayor, and other progressives, who believe in the idea of [inaudible] that from anyone – this country is embracing. My father is an immigrant, Palestinian and Muslim; on my mom’s side, my Sicilian grandparents came here for the promise of a better life. And it seems like Trump wants to close that wall. But I want to speak specifically about the Muslim community because right now our community feels really under siege. There was just a terror attack in Quebec a few days ago by a right-wing activist who hated Muslims. What can you say to Muslim-Americans who are feeling concerned in New York that they could have a sense of security now?

Mayor: Well, I want Muslim New Yorkers to understand several things. First of all, not only the horrible attack in Quebec City, but also the attack on the mosque in Texas.

Obeidallah: Yes.

Mayor: These are tangible things; these are real things that have – if people didn’t feel fear I would say they were being numb to the reality. They should feel fear. It is fair and right to feel fear when you’re a presidential candidate stereotypes the Muslim community horribly and suggest registries and bans; and then see an uptick in anti-Muslim hate crimes including this week. I mean, that is a reason for real fear. I think the answer in New York City is clear; this is a City that truly respects our Muslim community. We showed that in the last few years by making two of the EID holidays – formal school holidays with the same status as Christian or Jewish holidays in New York City. We have shown that by honoring the 900 Muslim-American members of the NYPD. That’s something – everywhere I go and I said this – President Trump – straight to his face – 900 police officers protecting us every day who happen to be Muslim and protect all people. So, we’re a city that really values the community and wants a close working relationship with the community. And so we have said it very clearly, if the community is under attack we will stand by the community. As soon as we heard the tragic news from Quebec City we dispatched specialty elite groups within the NYPD to key public locations. We dispatched them to major Islamic Centers and mosque to send a message to communities that they are being protected. And anybody – anybody whether they’re Muslim or another background in New York City [inaudible]. We need to know it because we will act on it immediately to protect them.

Obeidallah: And I also think – I am chatting with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio – also the fact that you dismantled the surveillance program of Mayor Bloomberg makes it easier to see the police coming there and being our partners and our friends, because, if it was under Bloomberg, we would have felt they were just doing security under the guise of protecting us. So that’s why I think it is so important we really have partnership with the police. And you’re right – I have spoken at the NYPD Muslim Association. They were packed. They have a lot of energy. I don’t know if you have been to their events, they are a lot of fun those guys. I like those guys. So –

Mayor: They are wonderful band they are very admired in the community, but, think about it – 900 I mean that is bigger than entire police forces of some medium size cities. That’s an incredible credit – and I have to give a lot of credit to our previous Police Commissioner Bill Bratton who was very quick to say that surveillance program was not only against our values, it wasn’t working. It was alienating the very people who we needed to be our partners and allies since we’ve taken it away and since we started to celebrate the community and celebrate the community’s contributions to our overall safety through this 900 good men and women. You know, we have seen much greater solidarity, much greater communication. Yes, we had a horrible attack on a women – a police officer who was in her civilian clothes, off-duty. She was told by a man in Brooklyn – in her own neighborhood – go back to your country. And the great and powerful irony is she was a 11-year veteran of the NYPD, she was born and bred in Brooklyn and I got our police commissioner – Jimmy O’Neill and I – stood with her the day after and said she is in her country and she is protecting here fellow New Yorkers and she was there in uniform with a hijab and it sent a powerful message that this is not just tolerance – this is partnership.

Obeidallah: And that was moment that I can tell you people in our community really, really appreciated – you standing with her. It was an emotional moment in fact watching it. And, you know when I look back – you’re also of Italian heritage and my mom side – when my grandparents came to America they were demonized for being Italian and for being Catholic. And the history of our country tells Muslims that we can look forward to the future, it will get better. But what can we do? Is there anything, Mayor de Blasio, you think we can do in the Muslim community to hasten this process because I want us to move past this? I don’t want another group to be demonized either, don’t get me wrong. But what can we do about trying to build bridges with our fellow Americans to try to breakdown these misconception stereotypes about who we are?

Mayor: Well, a couple of things I’d say, first of all, you have a keen sense of your Italian heritage because it is true.

Obeidallah: Yes.

Mayor: And I have heard it from my own older relatives, the discrimination they faced. And everyone needs to understand that if a current generation and community is facing discrimination it is simply the latest version of what our own ancestors went through and there needs to be a sense of solidarity. But very tangibly, one of the things we found helps a lot is to invite people into the community, into mosque, into especially community leaders be they teachers or clergy of other faiths, police officers of other faiths, bring them in and help them to understand the community and also to be thanked for their support for the community. I think that is a very productive – and part of how we fight this hatred and this bias is by bonding the other. We’ve had such a positive example in New York City building our different relationships between police and community and get together. And in general to get people into houses of worship for example has a very powerful emotional effect on those who don’t come from that faith to understand another faith and to feel embraced by it and thanked for their willingness to learn. It really goes a long way. To me that may sound a little soft, but to me it’s very, very powerful because every additional person who is given a chance to get away from the horrible stereotypes that are presented by the mainstream media all the time about the Muslim community and just get to know their neighbors who overwhelming are contributors to society and folks who would just want the exact same thing – the people who run small businesses; people who contribute to society, pay taxes, create jobs. We need to create those personal relationship and those personal experiences that will help put these stereotypes behind us, and I believe that human experience, and word of mouth, and things that are real and tangible in the media are much more powerful than the misinformation spread too often by the mass media.

Obeidallah: If there’s a message that you could give to both the Muslim refugees who want to come to this country and to Donald Trump who – I assume you probably know Donald Trump through the years of New York – what could you say to Donald Trump to make him look at this issue differently and understand immigrants are a cornerstone of our nation and Muslims are a vital part of our country. They’ve been here since the time of slavery – brought here.

Mayor: Well I’ll tell you – I would say to him first of all every single one of us – except for those who were brought here in chains and except for our Native American brothers and sisters – everyone else had an immigrant experience, and it was never easy. It was never easy almost without exception. And bias and discrimination were tangible realities. By the way, Donald Trump’s family is German. Germans were treated with great disdain particularly during World War I. Even if they were law abiding lovers of this country, they were treated very negatively. Every community understands this so part of it is I think about the people in your family. Think about the people in your life. Everyone knows immigrants and should see through a human lens what that means, and I would say to him that if he has any hope of being productive as a president he has to end the tendency towards division, and he has to rethink some of the people around him. I mean, we all believe a lot of this is being driven by Steve Bannon. If Trump wants to do anything productive I don’t know how he does it with Steve Bannon in the White House because he’s just driving constant frustration and division. That’s my advice to him.

To the broader community I would say – and to anyone thinking about coming here who’s a refugee – stay strong. The America that has existed for generations is the same America. This is a moment where by a fluke of the Electoral College and with three million votes less this man became president, but the ideals of America are not going anywhere. They haven’t changed. Our values – I say this as a New Yorker – our values as New Yorkers haven’t changed. And people have to remember that and stay strong and recognize that, you know, America went through a lot over the years. You’re a student of history. America went through McCarthyism, which was much deeper in many ways and more dangerous moment than some of what we see now. That went on for years, but what was good about American overcame that climate of fear and that irrational moment in our history. We have to believe the majority – the good and decent majority, and I think increasingly a progressive and inclusive majority – will overcome this moment, and we will again be a beacon for immigrants and refugees around the world.

Obeidallah: That was a good pep talk for us as progressives and for anyone who wants to come here. Last question – there’s a lot of debate about the congressional Democrats – should they be working with President Trump or not? Should they stonewall his confirmation? Delay? Or not? What do you suggest? What do you think the most effective way of resisting Donald Trump is?

Mayor: Well, I think the way that he has come out of the box with such profoundly divisive actions suggest on some areas that we have to be very strong. We’ve said for example on the two executive orders on the sanctuary cities and the refugees that we are going to either lead or join any – as legal actors or as amicus brief writers – we will join any legal action to stop these things from succeeding because we know they’re un-American. We know they’re counterproductive. I think the growing fear an extremist Supreme Court nominee justifies actions by Democrats that say, you know, if it’s not going to be a mainstream nominee the Democrats should do exactly what Republicans unfortunately did last year and not allow progress on it because unfortunately we can’t afford to lock in such divisive and unconstitutional ideas. So I do think it’s a moment for strength. I believe – and I say this about Donald Trump who I don’t know well, but I can say one thing about the personality type – I believe he will respond much more to strength than to weakness. I think people should stand up, protest, use legal action. Democrats in the Senate in particular should use all their tools to full effect, and only if we see some moderation and some actual effort at constructive action should we consider any effort on a specific issue to find any area of agreement. But if it’s going to be more of this, I don’t know why moderation gets us anywhere.

Obeidallah: I agree with you, and I want to thank you Mayor de Blasio and I’d love to have you on in the future. If you’re ever in the area, come to the studio. I’d love to see you in person. I want to thank you for spending time on this show tonight on this show on the Dean Obeidallah show.

Mayor: My great pleasure, Dean. Keep up the good work.

Obeidallah: Thanks, you too, Mayor. Take care.

Mayor: Take care.