Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the People En Español Festival

October 5, 2019

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you, Damaris. Let’s thank her for all she does. 

[Applause]

Hermanos y hermanas – Brothers and sisters 

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish] 

Are you ready to celebrate this wonderful community?

[Cheers]

I want to start by thanking everybody at People en Español for all they do to help the issues and the concern and the life and the culture of the Latino community in New York and all around the country – to show this entire nation the strength and vibrancy of the Latino community. Let’s thank everybody at People en Español.

[Applause]

And thank you for hosting this beautiful festival. I also want to thank one of the great members of my administration a lot of you know her great work in the community – our Commissioner for the Department for the Aging, Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. Let’s thank her for all she does.

[Applause]

So, the theme of this festival – juntos somos más.

[Cheers]

I can’t think of a better idea, a better slogan for New York City also, don’t you agree?

[Cheers]

Together we are more. It is a perfect message for this city where we believe that together we are more, we believe we all gain from each other. We all learn from each other, we all become stronger together. And you know, in this country there’s a raging discussion right now, a raging debate about the role of immigration in our nation. Let me set everyone straight on this. All over our country, we are a nation of immigrants, and that’s a good thing.

[Applause]

We are the ultimate city of immigrants and that’s a good thing. This city today we a have a stronger economy than we’ve ever had. We have lower crime than we’ve ever had, our communities are getting together and getting along and that is all because of immigrants, not despite immigrants. Let’s be clear. 

[Applause]

So, we are proud in New York, we are proud of what this community has produced. We are proud of the famous names. We’re proud right here in this community, this community right here in Washington Heights produced Lin-Manuel Miranda, and all he has done.

[Applause]

And the Bronx produced amazing people from Jennifer Lopez to Sonia Sotomayor.

[Applause]

And all five boroughs can tell you a story of the great famous names, but more importantly are the everyday people – the school teachers, and the police officers from the Latino community, the bodega owners, the small business owners, the people who make their neighborhood strong. Every day in this city we see what three million people do to make New York City better, and we are proud of that. So, I conclude with a simple idea. We have an opportunity to teach our nation something. When we say juntos somos más, we have a lesson to teach our nation. We’re showing it works here, it can work everywhere. But everybody has to be a part of it. So, I will conclude by asking your help. I have two requests. In the year 2020, do you promise that you will go and out and vote? Do you promise? 

Audience: Yes!

Mayor: And you’re going to bring your whole family with you?

Audience: Yes!

Mayor: And in the year 2020, I need everyone here to make sure the community is counted in the U.S census. Wouldn’t it be wrong that this big, strong, beautiful community was ignored by our national government, we’re not going to let that happen, are we?

Audience: No!

Mayor: Please raise your right hand and tell me right now – you guys repeat after me, I want you to say I will make sure my community is counted. Ready?

I will make sure my community is counted. Everybody you are now deputies, every one of you, we need you. And I want to thank you for all you’re doing. Everybody, have a beautiful day, enjoy this beautiful festival. 

Muchísimas gracias.