Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the Museum of Natural History Vaccination Site

April 23, 2021

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Ellen, I am removing the additional height. There’s going to be a lot of height references today with the whale and the Band-Aid and everything. But, Ellen, I am so appreciative to you. You've been an absolutely amazing partner to the city in so many ways and you have, in my view, people's sense of this museum. You think of this as a place for everyday people, you have done so much to open it up to all the people in New York City. This is one of the indispensable places in this entire city and that's saying a lot because city full of magical places, magical experiences, this is one of the must dos, but you've made it a place for everyone, and I really want to honor you and your whole team for that. Also, Ellen, where the heck did you find that Band-Aid, that is not available in stores. Okay, I just want to say – yeah, is there, like, you could go look in the pharmacy for a long time and you will not find that Band-Aid, but I'm glad you found it for this whale. The whale needed it. I keep wanting to see the syringe, but no one will show it to me. But this is amazing that we have the museum as a full, energetic, passionate partner in this effort.

Now, I talked to a lot of folks who had gotten vaccinated, and they all said, this is a remarkable place, a memorable place, someday, people saying, I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life. And someone said that they read about it in the papers, and the minute they saw it, they said, I'm going there to get vaccinated. They've been thinking about getting vaccinated. They really hadn't gotten around to it. The second they saw you could get vaccinated beneath the blue whale, they said, I'm going to do that. I'm dropping everything. I'm going to get vaccinated. And I think you're going to see a lot of people excited to be vaccinated here, because it literally will be a life memory and a beautiful positive memory as we overcome COVID, and we bring this city back.  

Now, everyone here – Henry, thank you to your colleagues. All the people in the union who make this place work, everyone here has contributed to this environment. The folks here, the vaccinators, they're doing this because they really care. They really believe in it. And they know this is going to be a special experience for folks, but I want to go and say, the museum then went the extra mile. I need everyone to include this in your reporting, please, you get vaccinated, you get a voucher for four general admissions for free to this museum. So that is the kind of offer, the kind of opportunity I think is going to cause a lot of people to want to come here, get vaccinated, be safe for themselves, for their family, for their city. Very generous that the museum's doing this and it's going to make a big difference. So, you want to come to the museum, you want to bring family, you want to bring friends who are visiting? Here's your chance. Come get vaccinated for free general admissions once you do.   

I want to thank the elected officials who all have been incredibly supportive as we've been fighting back against COVID. I said to Congressman Jerry Nadler, so much of what we're able to do now is because the Congress was there with the most amazing stimulus in American history. Congressman Nadler, you're one of the most important members of the House Representatives, thank you to you and your colleagues and Speaker Pelosi for all you've done.   

[Applause]  

I want to thank the Borough President who has everyone knows his omnipresence and has been out there making sure people get the help and support they need during this crisis. Thank you, Borough President Gale Brewer.   

[Applause]  

And Council Member Helen Rosenthal joined me this morning in our press conference, thank you, especially because you've been supporting our nonprofits, we just announced a lot of funding to help community-based nonprofits that have been in the lead protecting people during this crisis. Let's thank the Council Member for that.  

[Applause]   

So, everyone, this is historic by every measure. We've never had crisis like this, but we also never had amazing solutions like this. We never had things like this where people created something we couldn't have imagined in our lives, and it's exciting because just that incredible New York spirit, no matter what's thrown at us, we're going to find a way to fight back. And we're going to find out a way to do something smart and creative and exciting and vibrant. That's what we do in this city. That's what you see right behind me now. It's amazing looking down, all these people helping their fellow New Yorkers. And I want everyone to know when you come here, you will have a great experience, you will have a memorable experience, you will have a whale of a time. Whale of a time. That was good. Jeff, wasn't it? Whale of a time. That was today's contribution. Yeah, Henry's not laughing at all. 

I would now like to whale-com to the stage – no, I'm not doing these anymore. I'm not doing these. We're better than that. Ellen, spoke about the work of Neil deGrasse Tyson, and I want to say, Neil, you've been laboring in the vineyards for years and years helping Americans to think about science, care about science, understand it, make it accessible. I don't think you possibly could have imagined how important your work was until the pandemic came along and we saw this nationwide discussion of whether we were going to make decisions based on science or something else. And every day – and I want to thank Dr. Dave Chokshi, because every day we talk about the decisions we have to make, and we start with data. Imagine that? We start with data, we start with science, and that's what we're led by, and you've helped this whole country to realize that power. I think one of the good things that will come out of this crisis, I hope, is a new appreciation for a devotion to fact, and a devotion to science, and you've been one of the leaders for years and years, my great pleasure to introduce Neil de Grasse Tyson.  

[…]  

Mayor: Neil, there you go. Thank you so much. That was powerful. And you're exactly right, that's what's happening here, and it's happening because of the incredible efforts of the people who do the work every day in this museum and want to help their fellow New Yorker. And it's also happening because we believe we've got to protect working people, the folks we depend on. Henry Garrido has said from the beginning to his members that we need to be there for them and that they need to get vaccinated for their families and for each other. And that kind of leadership helps because when people hear from the trusted voices in their lives, that's what moves them to get vaccinated. More than anything else, and we've learned this, Dr. Chokshi and I've really poured over this question, what motivates people? The number one thing that motivates people to get vaccinated is the trusted voices in their lives and so it's really important that the leader of the largest municipal union has set such a great example, encouraging his members, and making it easier for them to get vaccinated and they're playing such a crucial role right here. My pleasure is Executive Director of DC 37, AFSCME, Henry Garrido.  

[…]  

Mayor: Thank you very much. Thank you. All right, well we'll conclude with this point everyone, this is a walk insight. So, any New Yorker who is not yet vaccinated wants to experience the magic of getting vaccinated beneath the blue whale and have a lifetime memory, come right over here now. It is walk up. You will get vaccinated, you will be safe, and you'll be a part of history. Thank you, everybody.