Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Appears Live on WABC-TV/ESPN With 2015 TCS New York City Marathon Race Director Peter Ciaccia

November 1, 2015

Rob Powers: I’m here with the mayor and the director. We’ll start with Mayor de Blasio. Sir, 45 – 48 years of this marathon – how important to the city?

Mayor de Blasio: It’s literally one of the most important days of the year in New York City, Rob. It is a day people celebrate – look forward too. A million spectators today will be out on the streets of New York City – 50,000 runners. When we say it’s the greatest marathon in the world, we mean it. And for the city – amazing economic impact as well. The marathon is almost $415 million dollars of economic impact for this city. So, we love it for every reason.

Powers: The marathon this morning, and later on tonight a little baseball game in Queens – game five of the World Series. How does the city do this? How does it pull it off?

Mayor: Well, first of all, we believe we’re the center of the universe, and now we have the proof. We have the greatest marathon in the world, we have the World Series the same day, and we make it look easy, because the NYPD is extraordinary – because all of the people who work for this city are used to doing big things. So, it’s an amazing moment. And I just want to remind my fellow New Yorkers – down three games to one – still plenty of time for the Mets to come back. Let’s go Mets!

Powers: Doesn’t mean a thing. Thank you, sir. Enjoy your day.