Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the 46th Precinct's National Night Out

August 3, 2021

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you. Everybody, let's thank Joe Seminara for the great work he does as Precinct Commander. We appreciate you. We appreciate all the men and women of the 4-6 Precinct. And we appreciate the community, because the way we fight crime is together – cops and community together, right?  

[Applause] 

Let me be clear. Let me tell you something about the Bronx – the Bronx is a place of good people, hardworking people, families, people who care about each other, people love their neighbors. The Bronx is a good place. The Bronx is a special place and we will never allow violence to take over the Bronx ever. 

[Applause] 

Whenever there is an act of violence, we say no. We fight back, because we will not let violence define us. We know in New York City, for years and years we proved to the world that New York City was the safest big city in America. We are going to do it again. We know how good the NYPD is, the finest police force in the United States of America, in the whole world. 

[Applause] 

And we know how good the people of the Bronx and the people of New York City are. You were heroes during COVID. You fought back. You overcame. So, we will fight back and we will overcome violence and crime. National Night Out is our statement that we will never let crime overcome us. We will overcome crime in this neighborhood, in this city once and for all. We remember this precinct, always, a fallen hero, Detective Miosotis Familia. We'd feel her loss to this day, but we never forget her. We take her as an inspiration to keep fighting back. And every one of you who’s here, you prove we can fight back. You prove that people want to be part of the solution. So, look around at the good people here with you. Look around at this big audience, give your neighbor a round of applause. Thank everyone who's here.  

[Applause] 

There are so many people who make a difference. I want to thank Basil Moore, Precinct Council President, and everyone on the Precinct Council. I want to thank everyone who's a part of the Cure Violence Movement and the Crisis Management System, including my friend, David Caba, from Rise Against Gun Violence, an amazing Cure Violence group. 

[Applause] 

President Biden – President Biden has said, we're going to stop crime, we're going to fight violence, we're going to make communities safe with police and community together – but not just police, community-based solutions to violence. The President of United States is using our Cure Violence and Crisis Management system as the model for the entire United States of America, and you should be proud of that.  

[Applause] 

Everybody, we have here with us extraordinary leaders of the NYPD – Chief Jeff Maddrey is here, Chief of Community Affairs, an amazing leader. The leader of the whole Bronx for the NYPD, Chief Lehr, is here. We thank him.  

[Applause] 

And our elected leaders who do so much, the chief law enforcement officer in this borough, the person who makes so much happen, the District Attorney of the Bronx Darcel Clark, thank you. 

[Applause] 

And someone who is getting us the resources from Washington, and making sure we get help stopping guns from coming to our city from outside, Congressman Ritchie Torres, thank you. 

[Applause] 

But, everyone, look, the one thing I’ll always say is we fought back COVID. There were people who tried to say it was all over for New York City. There were doubting Thomases out there that said New York City could never come back. I always say, never bet against New York City. Never bet against the Bronx, because we always come back. We always come back. No one stops us. COVID doesn't stop us. Criminals don't stop us. Nothing stops New York City. So, tonight, we celebrate National Night Out. National Night Out is always a moment of defiance against any evil in our community and it's a celebration of the good, and, together, we are going to go someplace better. I want to ask the Precinct Council President, Basil Moore, come up here. I want to thank you and everyone in this precinct with this proclamation. Hold on, hold it over here. And this proclamation, to everyone in the 4-6 Precinct, is a statement of how much we honor and admire and appreciate everything you're doing. And I guarantee you one thing, you will be victorious. You will be victorious in your fight against crime. And so, this proclamation says, you're doing great work, and here's the last line. It says, I, Bill de Blasio, Mayor of the City of New York do hereby proclaim Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021 as 4-6 Precinct National Night Out Day, night – whatever you want it.  

[Applause] 

Everyone, keep fighting. God bless you all. Thank you.  

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