Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts Dominican Heritage Reception

August 7, 2025

Watch the video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnFiqhbgVrY

Mayor Eric Adams: This is the largest, largest group we’ve had celebrating their heritage since I've been mayor. The largest– Give yourself a hand and applaud yourself coming out, celebrating your Dominican pride, and my entire team behind me, and what we have accomplished. 

And also, before we get started, many of us are still dealing with the pain, dealing with the terrible accident that happened in the Dominican Republic at Jet Set nightclub, the tragedy. If we could just take 90 seconds, a moment of silence to reflect on those who were lost and reflect on the family members who had to deal with the pain and agony. So just 90 seconds of silence, if we can.

Thank you so much. We have some family members present here tonight, so let's keep them in prayers, but we want to show a video and memory. This is on the screen, so both sides. 

[Video plays.]

My brother, Rubby Pérez, we honored him and our hearts will forever be broken, but you know, look, we got to learn to trust God. There's some questions we don't have the answers for and to the family members that are here, again, we lift them up in prayer. The Dominican community means so much to me, not only as the mayor, and I tell people no matter where I go, I was born in Alabama, but I'm Dominican, baby. 

This community, your vibrancy, your energy, and I see it in my staff, particularly the first Dominican deputy mayor in the history of this city. Her story is an amazing story. We traveled together to DR and she just shared her story and it means so much when you see it and when you hear her, but also want to congratulate Inspector King. She's going to be the first Dominican chief, first Dominican chief in the Police Department. And I see the officer here, our numbers have grown in the Police Department, the Dominican Officers Association, when they host an event, you have about a thousand plus people there and they are bringing that energy and that character to the community as we continue to make our city safe in a real way. 

And I want to speak, I want to also just highlight someone who has turned pain into purpose. My sister, Genesis, she lost her mom to a violent act and she has continued to pursue for other victims who have gone this way. Genesis, her mother, Miosotis Familia. Genesis, where's Genesis? Thank you so much for what you do, you know? A lot of love, a lot of love. 

So tonight is a warm up for the parade that will be taking place this weekend. We're going to see you all over the city. And let me tell you this, I am going to figure out how to move your parade to Fifth Avenue. You don't need to be on another avenue, you need to be on Fifth Avenue and we're going to make that happen. You contribute so much to the city. We owe you a debt of gratitude. We fought hard to make sure that we can get to where we are. 

My Dominican brothers and sisters, I thank you for those who are in City Hall, those who are our small business owners, my National Supermarket Association, my bodegas, United Bodegas Association, you have given this city so much. So all I can say, Viva la Republica Dominicana. Let's lift up the Dominican Republic. 

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