Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Opening Remarks at Somos El Futuro Conference Welcome Reception

November 5, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio:  Brothers and sisters, hermanos y hermanas, we are gathered at a powerful time. And it helps us with the Somos Conference, and what we have to do for Puerto Rico, and what we have to do for own people in New York – it helps us to have great leaders. Give Marcos Crespo another round of applause [inaudible] 

[Applause]

Let’s make this clear, we have to take this message back to New York, to other states, and especially to Washington DC. We don’t allow in our country the notion that some Americans aren’t as important as others. There are no more second class citizens, we thought. We’re not going to see Puerto Rico treated as a step child. Puerto Rico is in need – that means that we all are in this together.

The health – the health of 3.5 million people hangs in the balance. I’m going to say that again – brothers and sisters, the health of 3.5 million people – our fellow Americans who are not getting what they deserve in Medicaid; who do not know what the future is economically because they’re not getting the help they deserve from Washington D.C. Washington D.C. changed the policies that created the Puerto Rican economic crisis, let’s be clear. Those decisions that led to Puerto Rico’s challenges – they started in Washington. We can now fix the problem in Washington. And we together have to make that demand on the Congress.  That’s what this conference will produce – more solidarity, more strength in making that change. 

The other thing I want to say very quickly – and Marcos referred to this – we are making the changes in our city – full-day pre-k for every child, and that reaches the Latino community so deeply; more affordable housing than has ever been produced in the history of this city; municipal ID cards for everyone regardless of documentation status. These are changes that reach people, and we will deepen those changes to bring fairness to all communities of this city. I look forward to doing that good work with you, and congratulations on this great conference.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.