Transcript: Mayor Bill de Blasio Delivers Remarks at CUNY/SUNY Luncheon

March 19, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio: We are here in common cause. Everyone in this room understands what the City University of New York means for all the people of New York City. It is part of our heritage; it is part of what makes New York City great; it is part of what makes us a city for all. It must be protected at all cost.

[Applause]

And I’ve talked a long time about the tale of two cities that we have lived in our city for decades. And the fight begins with income inequality, which is now at the front-and-center of our national debate, finally. Well, if you want to end that tale of two cities – if you want to fight income inequality all roads lead to CUNY. I want to thank Jay Hershenson. For years he has been one of the driving forces behind the growth of CUNY. He is one of the people who organize this [inaudible] to do all we can do, and there’s never been a better booster for CUNY than Jay Hershenson, let’s thank him.

[Applause]

This is a – an important gathering because it combines so much of what this weekend is about. We’re focused on CUNY. For part of the SOMOS weekend, we also have a moment when so many people that are part of the Model State Senate are here. So, three wonderful institutions – three wonderful pieces coming together. And think about how they all work together. SOMOS is about empowerment; SOMOS is about fairness; about righting the wrongs of the past; about making sure our policies actually are for everyone – breaking down barriers. That’s what, in my opinion, SOMOS was created to achieve, and that’s what it focuses us all on year in and year out – organizing to make those fundamental changes. They’re good for our whole society. And they’re needed for our Latino communities that in so many cases have not had their fair share. They’re particularly need for our immigrants. And this is a moment in history when SOMOS matters even more because, again, the raging national debate; so many negative voices speaking out against our immigrants, which is more than ironic in a nation of immigrants and not tolerated in the city and state of immigrants here in New York.

[Applause]

So, SOMOS is more important than ever because these issues are being [inaudible] more dramatically than ever. And we have to fight. I said this at the outset; change isn’t handed to us on a silver platter. These issues are being drawn very, very clearly for us. If you believe in comprehensive immigration reform you better be involved in 2016. I’m not going to say anything political here today.

[Laughter]

I’m only going to say, if you believe in comprehensive immigration reform don’t give lip service to it, be involved this year. If you believe in a tolerant open embracing society for all you better be involved this year because the folks who want to take us backwards they’re making they’re points perfectly clear. There’s a lot of leadership in this room and a whole year playing out ahead. I hope people come out to the SOMOS conference fired up for action because we’re going to need it this year in every part of our city, our State, our nation. We’re going to need that action this year. Now, that’s the SOMOS piece of the equation. I want to talk about the Model State Senate, which has really worked. This is a model that worked and did a lot for a lot of people. I want to note one success story here before us. We know that the Model State Senate once had a member named Senator Jose Peralta. He is still Senator Jose Peralta.

[Laughter]

And I want to thank Senator Gustavo Rivera for his extraordinary service to the SOMOS Model State Senate program, and his belief in that program and all he’s done to build it – thank you. So, let’s thank both of them.

[Applause]

We already know that ambitious, creative, intelligent young people gone into the State Senate – the Model State Senate and then seen it through to a life in public service that’s made an impact on so many people. Now, I will offer my prediction, here today, that there are members of the Model State Senate here in the room, and I will predict that some of you will be serving in our State Legislature before too long. And I want you to remember that I predicted it first.

[Applause]

You can make it very personal, you can say I looked you in the eye – I’m looking everyone in the eye right now – and I said you will be in the State Legislature [inaudible]. There’s a lot here that reminds us of how we make change; now, a consistent energetic process for making changes. And I want to thank a lot of people in this room who are part of bringing about the changes we need. I want to shot out some very good people who I am honored to work with – first of all, Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie;

[Applause]

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli;

[Applause]

City Comptroller Scott Stringer;

[Applause]

Our City Public Advocate Tish James;

[Applause]

Assembly member and County Leader of the Bronx – and he has more titles than he knows what to do with right now – Marcos Crespo.

[Applause]

I want to thank our appointees to the CUNY board – our trustees from the City for all they do. I want to thank Rita DiMartino and Una Clarke.

[Applause]

And all of the CUNY presidents of the different schools and deans who are here and particularly Chancellor Milliken, thank you for your extraordinary leadership.

[Applause]

I know a number of elected officials are here from the Legislature. I want to thank also – not from the Legislature – I want to thank Borough President of the Bronx Ruben Diaz Jr, and Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez;

[Applause]

from the Legislature Assemblymember Eric Dilan and Assemblymember Victor Pichardo;

[Applause]

And Congressman Jose Serrano, thank you to all.

[Applause]

And one special thanks – you’re honoring someone I think the world of, and he’s been on my team for years and he does great work. And I know he’s part of the group being honored by the Model State Senate today. Let’s all thank Roberto Perez for all he has done.

[Applause]

So, as I said if we want a more inclusive society; a more equal society; a society where everyone has a shot that’s all about CUNY. CUNY provides the kind of education people need to achieve. SUNY does the same. And we see such powerful evidence – 40 percent of undergraduates, now, at CUNY were born outside the U.S. So, these are folks who are literally living the American Dream because CUNY makes it possible; 42 percent, the first in their families to attend college. This is what our nation is supposed to guarantee, and it happens at CUNY every day. Now, we in the city, we’re honored to make substantial investment in CUNY – invest in the community colleges every year; in the expense funding to keep the CUNY colleges going; in the capital funding to make them stronger. And then we go above and beyond. And we have invested an additional $130 million in CUNY because we believe there are some areas that deserve special focus and attention. In fact, this additional $130 million we have invested is the largest [inaudible] investment in almost 15 years by the city. What did we focus on? We focused on STEM programs in the community colleges because we look at these incredible technology jobs, solid middle-class jobs in our city being developed by the thousands – and you know what you here from the technology sector? They can’t find enough folks who have the degrees they need, but they also say to me only a two-year degree is needed for a lot of these great jobs. So, we’re investing city dollars to strengthen CUNY’s offerings with two-year STEM programs – so our young people can go right into that technology sector and start making good salaries now. That’s where we need to focus. And we’re focused on the ASAP program.

Clap for ASAP.

[Applause]

We put $93 million in ASAP for those of you who don’t know it is an accelerated study in associates programs. The ASAP program is literally – determine how to help young people succeed in their time in CUNY. And we know a number of young people go into CUNY not always having been given all the education they deserve before walking in the door. And we know there are ways that we can help them to navigate and get the most of their CUNY experience and to succeed. And ASAP has proven that it does that, and it makes that impact. 25,000 students are being served by this ASAP investment; 25,000 young people on the way to success.

[Applause]

So, we are committed to CUNY for the long haul. We recognize its extraordinary history of turning out leaders for our city and in fact for our nation. We recognize what CUNY has done to make a difference in the lives of thousands upon thousands of families. And we will stand by CUNY. And we know that no one should have their future either made easy by their zip code or made hard by their zip code, we are trying to develop a society where there is truly opportunity for all.

[Applause]

If I may offer a very brief summary in Spanish.

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish]

And that is what we aspire to, a city for all.

[Applause]