Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Speaks At Brooklyn Mela’s Pakistani Independence Day Celebration 2014

August 17, 2014

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you so much! Salaam alaikum! 

[Cheers]

Mayor: It is such an honor, such an honor to be with you here today. I was here last year and I said I looked forward to coming back. And because of you and so many people in this city I have the honor of coming back as your mayor. And I have a special honor of being the first mayor in 20 years to attend this beautiful event, and to share my appreciation for this community.

[Applause]

We have wonderful leaders who have joined us today in tribute to this community, in appreciation for all that this community does for Brooklyn and for New York City. I want to thank the Public Advocate of New York City Tish James; and I think our borough president is here? Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; Councilmember Chaim Deutsch; Councilmember Mathieu Eugene; and then from my administration, I'm honored to have our Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi, here.

[Applause]

Mayor: You've got a fan club, Meera! And our commissioner for emergency management, who helps to keep us safe no matter what nature throws at us, Commissioner Joe Esposito! I want to thank so many people who've been a part of making this community great, making this event great––my friend Mo Razvi, thank you for your leadership; I want to thank Javed Khan, Chairman of the Merchants Association; so many other great leaders who are here. I just have to say, I want to thank the drummer –

[Drumming]

– because he gave me a grand entrance, and also, you noticed, when I put my arm around him, he kept drumming with just one hand. That is very very impressive.

But some of us today feel a little sad because there was a man that we associate with this event and with the strength of this community, who we lost earlier this year – Asghar Choudhri, who was a great man. And I know his family is here. Let’s give him and his memory a great round of applause to thank him for all he did for this community.

[Applause]

Let’s thank the family again. Give them a round of applause. Let’s thank them.

[Applause]

You know, this Independence Day parade – this Brooklyn Mela – which we love so much, it symbolizes a community that has grown in size and strength and is adding more and more to our city. It symbolizes the inclusion of our city where everyone is respected, everyone is honored.

And we in this administration are trying to do so many things to help this community and so many communities move forward. We want to help our young people by providing after-school programs and by providing pre-kindergarten programs for every child in New York City. And we know that will make a huge difference. We’re creating affordable housing so people can live here. And we’re working to deepen the respect and cooperation between our community and our police officers so we all can be safe. These are the things that we need to do to make this a stronger city. And in all of this, we need the Pakistani American community to be a key part of our progress and to benefit from the changes we make.

This is a community that has been growing since the 1970s here. This is a community that’s one of the largest Pakistani communities outside of Pakistan, the largest in the United States of America – right here, in Brooklyn.

[Applause, drumming]

Every New Yorker knows if you want Pakistani culture, Pakistani food, Pakistani clothes, Pakistani music – come to Coney Island Avenue.

[Cheers, applause, drumming]

And today, is a beautiful celebration. It’s a perfect day. Even the beautiful sky and sun around us celebrates the glory of this community. You have so much to enjoy as this day continues. And I want you to know that City Hall is with you, appreciating and celebrating this community.

And we have a proclamation – thank you Tish James, Public Advocate – she is helping me today to name, on behalf 8.4 million New Yorkers – today is Brooklyn Mela Day in New York City.

[Cheers, applause, drumming]

Lower, lower, lower.

[Drumming lower]

Everyone enjoy this beautiful festival. Have a great day together! Thank you, everyone!