Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at 60th Annual Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club Dinner Dance

November 1, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio: I have something very important to talk to you about this evening, but I need your attention for just a few minutes. We are going to join together in an exercise of unity right now. I want to talk about this club, and I want to talk about Frank in a minute, but I have something crucially important that we have to do first, all together. It involves saying three words together in a holy incantation. Are you ready?

Let’s go Mets! Let’s go Mets!

[Crowd chants] 

Louder!

[Crowd chants]

Excellent. Now, I did that because they’re going to need our help this evening. But there is still time, there’s still time for them to come back. There’s still time, my friends. Look, I want to be very quick about what I say. First of all, let’s say something about Frank Seddio, and if you’re all talking during it, you’re going to miss it. You will not get the $10,000. You will regret it. 

[Laughter]

My friends, speaking of acting in unity, Frank Seddio has done something for this borough that we needed a long time ago. And I am a proud Brooklynite – as I say, I am a Brooklynite who has been transferred to government housing in Manhattan, but I am a Brooklynite, and proud, and Brooklyn in unified as never before because of Frank Seddio. Let’s thank him for that.

[Applause]

And when Brooklyn in unified, Brooklyn is strong. Am I right?

[Cheers]

Alright. We thank Frank for all he has done. We thank Roberta. We thank Frank Carone for the great work he does for County. We thank Henry Bolles. All these amazing honorees tonight – Howard Fensterman, Ingrid Martin, Ian Gator, Joe Lentol, who serves us so well in Albany. Let’s thank all the honorees. Give them a round of applause.

[Applause]

And to all of our elected officials who are here tonight in support of this great club – especially want to thank Tish James and Eric Adams for their leadership. This club means so much –

[Cheers]

This club means so much, because, you know what, this club knows how to reach the grassroots. It’s done it for generations, reaching the people, moving them to vote and make change for the better for our communities. That’s why this club is renowned all over the city. Now my friends, it’s simple, we have a lot of work to do. We always have a lot of work to do to make this city better for everyone. But be proud that under a Democratic administration we have pre-k for every child in this city. Democrats did that –

[Applause]

65,000-plus kids in full-day pre-k now. We’re creating more affordable housing than we’ve created in a quarter-century for this city, and we are making this city safer and fairer at the same time. That’s what we are here to do, and we will keep doing it. And with your help, we will reach every community in this city and continue our progress. 

I want to thank you. Thank you for supporting the TJ club. Thank you for supporting our party. Thank you for supporting the great work of our chairman. Have a wonderful evening, and stay up late for a Mets victory, everyone.