Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at First Corinthian Baptist Church

November 21, 2021

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Everybody, first, I want to give honor to God. Without Him, this day would not be possible. 

[Applause] 

If you would only give me two, or three, or four hours, I could tell you how great Pastor Mike is. 

[Applause] 

Because it would take all that time, but I'm going to just say this simply. There are extraordinary faith leaders all over the city, greatest city in the country, greatest city in the world, but I knew there was one who could move this city forward like no other. And I organized all the clergy of all the faiths into a single council to help us change this place and bring peace to this place. And there was one man who had the stature and the ability and the heart to lead them all, Pastor Mike Walrond. He did an amazing job.  

[Applause] 

Pastor, thank you. I honor you. I thank you. Chirlane and I, just a friendship with you and Pastor Lakeesha has meant everything to us. And I could tell you a thousand good things, but I'm just going to say, in addition to his extraordinary spiritual accomplishments, his extraordinary voice for social change, he also created what many believe is the hippest, coolest most happening church in New York City. 

[Applause] 

So, I'm going to be brief, but I just want to say this – I am here, first and foremost, to say thank you on behalf of my family. On behalf of Chirlane, and Chiara, and Dante, thank you for the honor you gave us, the opportunity you gave us, the chance you took on us to do something different in this city. And there is much, much more to do, I will say that clearly. We battled inequality and injustice in a lot of ways, but there's so much more. But I want to tell you that your faith and your support made so much possible. I want to remind you, when we started out, one of the things that was my heart and my passion was pre-K for all our children. But you know what? The establishment in this town said, it would never happen. But you believed. In fact, you demanded it. And, today, in New York City, full-day, high-quality pre-K is a universal right for every child. 

[Applause] 

And we saw it worked and we saw what it did for families. And now, we're almost to the point we're going to have Universal 3-K – every three-year-old, for free, uplifted, supported. Every family knows they can depend on it. And then, we saw a lot of pain in our communities that came back to one simple thing, the scourge of mental illness. And I hope some of you have had a chance to hear Chirlane speak about this, because she has spoken from the heart and she has spoken from the pain our own family has experienced. But she believed, as our First Lady, that something very different could happen in New York City. She believed that we could show the world that it is possible to destigmatize, to acknowledge a human reality, a mental health challenge is part of human life. God forbid, you broke your leg today, no one would judge your character. But if you're depressed or you have anxiety, you feel like you can't talk about or people will think ill of you. But it's just part of being human. See that up there? Pastor has been telling us this, let's acknowledge and embrace our humanity. So, Chirlane believed in an audacious vision – that we could get mental health for all, we could open the doors of mental wellness to all in New York City. And now, it is happening.  

[Applause] 

But I’m going to offer a very important point to you. Chirlane established a single hotline anyone can call 24-hours a day. If you're having a challenge yourself, or if someone you love is having a challenge – 24 hours a day, multiple languages, 100 percent for free, trained counselors – 888-NYC-WELL. Please say it with me so it goes into your brain – 888-NYC-WELL. That is there for everyone, all the time, because we want to end the stigma and we want to embrace whatever need a person has. We can do something together.  

One more point I want to make. And it's been a very tough journey in this city, in this nation. And we've got so much to do, because we are far from where we need to be. In every sense, when it comes to public safety, our communities are still not safe enough and the relationship between police and community is still not right enough, and policing is still not sensitive and respectful enough. And we have made strides, but so much more to do. But here's what we found – the entire concept was wrong from the beginning. The idea was, policing was a thing brought to a community instead of safety as something generated in the community by the people of the community. The best solutions are community-based. If you want to end violence, start with the people, and their decisions, and their vision. And so, in this administration, we have spent over $100 million on the Cure Violence Movement and the Crisis Management System – community-based solutions, of, and by, and for the people. This is the future. This is the future and there's a lot more to do. But we've shown here in Harlem and all over New York City that it works.  

So, these are changes. And they are beginnings and then need to deepen. But, literally, none of it would have been possible without you – none of it. So, I'm saying a thank you in very personal terms. And my family feels blessed, especially to have known Pastor Mike and Lakeesha and this congregation. You've uplifted us. You've supported us in so many ways. But I want to leave you with a vision of the future, because it's not goodbye. We'll be seeing each other and we'll be all shoulder-to-shoulder to make this city better, and beyond.  

Let me offer this idea. Every family out there – if there's any child in your life you love, you know parents, families struggle still. And they need to know their kids are going to get everything they need. And they need to know it's not going to be a stress, and a struggle, and a challenge. We have enough stresses and struggles in our lives, don't we? So, my vision is for something that takes what we did with 3-K, pre-K, goes beyond New York City, all of New York State. Simple as this, if you want your child to stay in school, and get tutoring after school, to get culture, to get arts, get recreation – if you want that, you should get that. It should be free. It should be a universal right. Until the workday is done, every child should be able to stay in school until 6 p.m. every day for free. 

[Applause] 

And when summer comes, and you're trying to figure out what's the right path for your child, and you're looking at your family's budget, and you're trying to make ends meet, I want to take that stress away. I want every family to know that your child can be in your own neighborhood, in your own school, arts and recreation and all the joys that summer should bring, and academic support for any child needs it – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day in the summer for free. If that's what a family wants, that's what a family should get.  

[Applause] 

Now, the very inquisitive and informed Pastor Mike might be saying right now – well, how on earth is he going to pay for all this? Well, I believe this should be a right for every child, every family in the state. And I believe there are some people who've done very, very well, and they can afford to pay a little bit more in taxes. They can afford it. I'm going to give you a fact, there are 118 billionaires in the State of New York – 118 billionaires – and, during this pandemic, they increased their wealth by a combined $87 billion. Do you think they can afford to pay a little more for our children and our future? Do you believe that would be fair and right? 

[Applause] 

That's what I'm going to fight for, because it can be done. Every time they tell us something cannot be done, do not believe it. This place proves it every single day. Whatever that vision is that moves you, whatever that hope is, never let anyone take it away. Pastor Mike and I once sat up on this stage, and I said something – I try and offer as my own love and support for everyone – I said, never let anyone talk you out of your own power. We have the power to make those big changes. And I look forward to being shoulder-to-shoulder, because, yes, it can happen. No one can take that vision away from us.  

Everyone, after eight years, I feel the energy and the hope, because I knew you. I knew your hearts. I saw you fight through this pandemic. I saw you do amazing things. I saw you take the biggest challenges. I saw the vaccinations right here in this church that saved lives. Thank you, Pastor. Lives saved right here.  

[Applause] 

The final point is this, you are tried and tested. We didn't ask to be the epicenter of COVID, but we were. And you stood strong. You helped each other. You showed love and compassion. No matter how tough the fight, you found a way. And we went from epicenter to now the safest place in this country. You made that happen, that is why I honor you. I thank you. And I say, God bless you all. 

[Applause] 

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