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

June 3, 2025

Mayor Eric Adams: We are looking forward to the march that's coming up, and we know how important it is. This community has contributed so much, so many things on so many levels. And when you look at behind me, these are not just random people who stopped on the street. This is my administration. 

And I cannot think of how much they have contributed, both our commissioner, our deputy mayor, deputy mayor of economic development, our commissioner of the Department of Aging, what she has done, and so many that's behind us on how we move this city forward. And I thank you so much. 

This community is so important to New York City, and this rich tradition that we're doing of raising the Puerto Rican flag, it says a lot on how much we raise the spirit and energy of this community. And so, no matter what I had to do today, I wanted to make sure that I'm here down on Bowling Green and to raise the flag and raise the spirit and energies of this amazing community. 

Thank you so much for what you have done, and let's raise the flag. 

[Crosstalk.]

Hold on, hold on, I didn't even realize you were here. You know, historical moment, we have one of the largest parks and systems in the country. And for us to appoint, for the first time in history, a Latina to run that system as a commissioner, it's historical– and Puerto Rican. 

You know, the largest park system in the country, over 40 years of service, you don't know how much it gives me honor appointing you to this position, to run our Department of Parks. Thank you. Nobody's going to be able to walk in the park now and [not] think [of] Puerto Rico.

###