Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the 2016 St. Ann's Warehouse Gala

June 15, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Well, thank you everyone. Little bit of adjustment here – there we go. That’s a little too much adjustment – there.

Well, good evening everyone. It is really a joy to be with you. And let me just start with a little controversy because I don’t think it would be appropriate to be honoring the greatness of St. Ann’s without a little controversy. So – look around this park. Look at all the beauty here. Look at all the ways that people enjoy it. Think about this particular view of our city, which I think is truly one of the great ways to see New York City. And then think about that fact that there a lot of people who actually opposed the creation of the park. And I understand that we’re all going to have our differences, but I’m proud to have been in the first wave of people who supported this park because it was something that could uplift everyone. And it is – it’s uplifting all the communities around this neighborhood – this area. And when you look at it – and I’m very proud Brooklynite – I always say I’m a Brooklynite who has been temporarily transferred to government housing on the Upper East Side. The view here and the way you see the city is filled with the energy of Brooklyn, and it’s something to be particularly proud of. So I want to thank everyone who has been a part of creating this park over years and years, and everyone who has been part of the extraordinary achievement of giving St. Ann’s its home finally, which is going to change things for the better for the long, long term.

[Applause]

Thank you to Deputy Mayor Glen who does extraordinary work for this city every day; to Regina Myer who I’ve worked with forever, who has been intrepid – I’m not going to call you [inaudible] – I’m going to call you intrepid in your public service. To the visionary Susan Feldman – thank you for creating all this.

[Applause]

And to your Vice President Steven Rissman – thank you. To Joe Steinberg – for being so extraordinarily generous to the people of New York and the people of Brooklyn and making all this possible.

[Applause]

And a dear, dear friend who’s on the board, and does so much for New York City, and I turn to for advice all the time – Hank Gutman, thank you. 

[Applause]

And finally, your great Council Member who has been a partner in all of our work – Steve Levin, thank you so much.

[Applause]

Very quickly – look at this space. Look at the extraordinary way in which this – which could have been lost in every way – it could have been lost to history, it could have been left unused. But instead, this Civil War-era building turned into something vibrant, and current, and modern, and exciting. And it totally epitomizes the spirit of this city. I want to thank everyone who has been part of this for realizing what could happen here and being perseverant to make it happen.

I also think – something that doesn’t happen enough in public life – we have to give credit where credit is due, including to our predecessors. So I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg and his team, who were big believers in this project, and helped it come to life.

[Applause]

And just quickly – St. Ann’s for it’s been now 30 years – so much a part of the culture and life of Brooklyn and the entire city, a seat of innovation and energy, and yes good controversy – challenging people in their thinking. And this new home will make it even greater. And having St. Ann’s here makes the park greater and being in the park makes St. Ann’s greater. It’s an extraordinary synergy. We see it in Central Park when a cultural institution is in one of our great parks. We see it in Prospect Park. Now, another coming of age of Brooklyn Bridge Park as this new facility comes into its own.

So congratulations to everyone who was a part of making this happen. And thank you to everyone who is supporting this next great chapter. Thanks so much.

[Applause]