Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at 43rd Annual Old Timers Stick Ball Game

July 12, 2015

Mayor de Blasio: How you doing everyone?

[Cheers]

I got to tell you, this is one of the great events in New York City each year.

[Cheers]

This is as New York City as it gets, isn’t it?

[Cheers]

And brothers and sisters –

[Mayor de Blasio Speaks in Spanish]

A lot of people come back here from all over the country to feel this moment each year don’t they?

[Cheers]

And we welcome them back. We think they’re a little crazy to have left to begin with, but we welcome them back. I want to thank everyone who put together this beautiful festival. I want to especially thank my old friend – my dear friend Arnie Segarra – Arnie Segarra give this man a round of applause –

[Applause]

• speaker of the City Council, and your Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito.

[Applause]

And brothers and sisters remember the first Latina – the first person of Latina origin elected to citywide office in this city as speaker of the City Council. We are proud of her.

[Applause]

We want to thank Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez for his great work as well [inaudible].

[Applause]

47 years – 47 years of the Old Timers Stickball game – keeping a great New York City tradition alive.  And remember, stickball is not only a great New York City thing; it’s a great East Harlem thing.

[Applause]

This is where it began.

[Applause]

¡El stickball nació en El Bárrio!

[Applause]

And it took over the city. And for anyone who has used a fire hydrant as first base or a manhole cover as second base – for anyone who’s felt the spaldeen in their hands and the broomstick. You know this is one of the great traditions of our city. And you’re keeping it alive; and you’re spreading it once again to a whole generation. Brothers and sisters, remember if you play stickball here you’ll never leave it behind. Wherever you go it will be in you. And you’ll spread that tradition.

Una vez que víves en Nuéva York, éres neoyorquíno pára tóda la vída.

[Applause]

So, have a beautiful day. Heaven is smiling on us today. – this beautiful day for this beautiful event.

[Mayor de Blasio Speaks in Spanish]

[Applause]

Or loosely translated English – let’s get this party started.

[Applause]

Thank you.