Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at Flag-Raising Ceremony for Dominican Republic

August 11, 2025

Watch the video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF1iz1rSYhc

Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar, Strategic Initiatives: ¿Cómo están? Este clima me acuerda a mi de República Dominicana, calientito y con un poquito de humedad pero muy feliz de estar acá. Quiero agradecer la presencia del cónsul general de la República Dominicana, nuestro amigo Jesús "Chu" Vásquez. También, Jose "El Grillo" Vargas, unos de los primeros Dominicanos en jugar en la NBA, un orgullo nuestro. Gracias por estar aquí con nosotros.

Como dijeron antes, muy buenas tardes. Es un honor estar aquí. I am Ana J. Almanzar, deputy mayor for Strategic Initiatives of the City of New York, and una Dominicana hasta la tambora.

Translation: How are you? This weather reminds me of the Dominican Republic, warm and a little humid, but very happy to be here. I want to thank the Consul General of the Dominican Republic, our friend Jesús "Chu" Vásquez, for being here. Also, Jose "El Grillo" Vargas, one of the first Dominicans to play in the NBA, a source of pride for us. Thank you for being here with us.

As you said before, good afternoon. It's an honor to be here. I am Ana J. Almanzar, deputy mayor for Strategic Initiatives of the City of New York, and a true Dominican.

Our Mayor Eric Adams holds deep respect and admiration for everything we do as Dominicans. In our contribution –I'll take my glasses off, much better, now I can see– in our contribution to this incredible nation, one of his very best visits, the first visit he made as elected in 2021 as the mayor of the City was to visit our beloved Quisqueya. And that speaks volumes of his commitment to our community.

He also made history when he named the first Dominican deputy mayor in the City of New York, and I am deeply honored to serve in this role. It is a privilege to work under a leader who recognizes values and champions our Dominican community. We are the largest Latino population in the City of New York. Nearly one million Dominicans strong in the largest Dominican community outside of Quisqueya, La Bella. And that strength is reflected across the entire city government.

Dominicans are proudly serving at every level of city government. As commissioners, as my Aguilucho friend, Comisionado Ydanis [Rodriguez], de las Augilas, I said Aguilucho, deputy commissioners, advisors, doctors, police officers, and many, many more Dominicans serving this great city. Many of them are here with us today. So let's give our Dominican very dedicated public servant a big round of applause.

Our community is growing and deeply rooted on both sides of the ocean. Como decimos allá, estamos con un pie aquí y el otro allá. And whether you are Team Licey, los Liceysta. Or Aguilucho, or las Estrellas Orientales, o Escogidista. What unites us all is our work ethic, our dedication to continue making New York City the greatest city in the world.

Our gratitude, as it was mentioned before by Lebron, our gratitude to this incredible nation for giving us the opportunity to achieve the American dream. The pride we carry in our identity, in our national motto, Dios, Patria y Libertad. God, country, and liberty. A motto that is shared by our mayor, a leader who sees us, who believes in us.

He shows up, he supports, and he uplifts us. He celebrates our food, our culture, and most importantly, he celebrates us, hardworking people, fighters and dreamers. Mi gente, please put your hands together and help me welcome to the podium, un Dominicano de corazon, the chief executive officer of New York City, Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you, thank you so much. And when you think about it, I say this over and over again, that being mayor of the most important city on the globe, it's both substantive and it's symbolism, they both go together. And if you have the substantive actions without the symbolism, you're failing to fulfill your obligations as the mayor of this city, particularly a city with so many ethnic groups have come to carve out their way in this great country we call America.

America is the only country on the globe where it tells you don't abandon your heritage and your motherland as you adopt your adopted land here in America. And what we have done is so important. I think about [how] it took 110 mayors. I am the 110th mayor. It took 110 mayors before your flag was able to be raised here at Bowling Green. Think about that for a moment.

We have had hundreds, if not thousands, of deputy mayors. But it took 110 mayors before we finally had a Dominican to be a deputy mayor in Deputy Mayor Almanzar. And many commissioners have controlled the largest traffic patterns in the 300, I think 300 square miles in the city, many commissioners have done it. But it took 110 mayors before we had the first Dominican to be in charge of DOT.

And so when I tell you I'm born in Alabama, but I'm Dominican, baby, you need to understand why. You need to understand why. And the consul general, I'm so glad you're here with us. But this community means so much.

And I think in my belief, being a former police officer and captain, how you indicate the significance of a community is where their role is in public safety. And watching the Dominican police organization continue to recruit and expand. Not only are they playing great music, they are making sure that our city dances to the same beat of public safety. And that uniform means so much to all of our up and coming, rising immigrant communities, because it's a symbol.

And when you think about Officer Mora and Rivera, who we lost during my first few days in City Hall, it just signified how this community is willing to put everything on the line and make sure that this city continues to be the safest big city in America. But we've done so much in that department. More than bringing down crime, we've brought up those qualified men and women from the Dominican community, like Chief Carlos Ganz. Is he here with us today?

And Chief Mary King, two chiefs that we appointed. Mary is the first Dominican to reach the level of chief in the Police Department of that women, to reach the level of Dominican women, to reach the level of chief in the department. So you are seeing yourself in this administration. There are a list of more, I just wanted to highlight the top ones.

So with our substantive things of increasing numbers, bringing down crimes, educating children, bringing more jobs in the city's city history, making sure our subway system is safe. With all of those substantive things that we're doing, the symbolism of raising your flag is a signal that you're sending across the city and across the entire country. That you matter, 900,000 strong here in this city, participating, believing in family, faith, believing in public safety, believing in small businesses.

You're the cornerstone of what makes our city great, and I just want to say thank you. I'm shocked that all of you are up after that wild party we had yesterday in the parade, but it's good to see all of you. I say it over and over again, if you're going to hang out with the men, with the boys, you gotta get up with the men in the morning, and we're up to raise this flag. Happy Dominican week, and keep moving us forward. Thank you very much.