Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at Flag-Raising Ceremony for Mexico

May 5, 2023

Mayor Eric Adams: And let's not forget as we raise the flag, let's also raise our hearts to the amazing happy birthday to our commissioner, Commissioner Castro. My long and deep relationship with the Mexican community goes back to my days as a state senator, as a borough president, and now I'm the mayor of the City of New York. And one of the most significant appointments I made was bringing on Commissioner Castro, who clearly understands the journey and is a real symbol to the signal that we sent out from our city — which has one of the largest Mexican populations in this country — that he came here as a dreamer and now he's a commissioner in charge of the dreamers who are arriving now. That is the type of empowerment that we want. 

And we were side by side during the pandemic. If there was ever a question mark that lingered over the city of how much this community loves this city, one only had to look towards the pandemic. You kept our city running when many people were social distancing and they were working remotely, you were out there ensuring that this city continued to work. I saw you every day. We were side by side as the borough president. We cannot thank you enough and we owe a debt of gratitude to you. 

And let's be clear. The immigrant population in this city, including the Mexican community and the thousands who are American-born, this population has shown that you don't need us as much as we need you. You have sustained and earned your right to be part of the American dream. And the raising of this flag today is to say, wholly, that you are part of New York and New York is part of you. I cannot thank you enough. Congratulations. I look forward to raising the flag and raising your spirits. No matter what we've gone through, we are resilient because this community has shown the resiliency over and over again. Congratulations. Viva México.

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