Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at Bethel Gospel Assembly

March 16, 2014

First Lady Chirlane McCray: Good morning, church.

Congregation: Good morning.

First Lady: Thank you, Reverend Sharpton. I give thanks for the faith that helps us make a way where there's no way – right? I'd like to acknowledge Representative Charles Rangel who’s here with us today –

[Applause]

– and all the other elected officials

[Applause]

– you know who you are. Thank you all for showing your support on this important day.

Bishop Brown and the congregation of Bethel Gospel Assembly, thank you for everything you're doing. To the neighbors who risked their own lives to run towards the scene and save others,thank you for your bravery. To the rescue workers, police officers, firefighters, and volunteers, thank you for your round-the-clock efforts and dedication.

[Applause]

Tragedy presents so many unanswered questions and so much anxiety about the future. But to all of those affected, I want you to know that we are here for you. I am pleased to announce today – to announce that the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City has secured commitments of $250,000 dollars to assist those suffering from this catastrophe.

[Applause]

Thanks to the Real Estate Board of New York, Con Edison, the Association for a Better New York, and the families and board members of the East Harlem Tutorial Program, we will be able to put these contributions to work immediately.

[Applause]

I want you to know we have many representatives of those organizations sitting right here in the second row – please give them a special hand of applause.

[Applause]

Some residents of the destroyed buildings have a network of family and friends to lean on during their time of need. Others are not so fortunate. And that's where the fund can assist. The fund will partner with supporting organizations like the American Red Cross, Union Settlement, Safe Horizon, Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service, and others to provide direct help to people.

And I have to say – if there's one thing New Yorkers can count on when there's a crisis, it's other New Yorkers – right?

[Applause]

We know how to unite and lift each other up. And when our neighbors are hurting, we just roll up our sleeves and pitch in, as so many of you did last week. Now, I want to encourage anyone who can contribute to go to nyc.gov/fund, or you can call 3-1-1 and make a contribution that way. And I ask you to please donate to the Mayor’s Fund – our friends here uptown can't wait.

And to everyone piecing together their lives after last Wednesday, please know that the Mayor’s Fund, the city, your fellow New Yorkers – we're all here to help you. And with that, I'd like to ask our mayor to come up here and say a few words – Mayor de Blasio.

[Applause]

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

[Applause]

We are blessed with leaders of faith, who elevate us, who point us the way. I want to think Bishop Carlton Brown for all he does. I want to thank his wonderful first lady, Pastor Lorna Brown – thank you. Thank you, Bishop, for your leadership.

I want to thank Reverend Sharpton for always being there when people are in need –

[Applause]

– and so many leaders who, this week – leaders in the public sector, who knew it was their business to stop the mundane things of government and immediately get to the frontline and help these families. I first want to thank our First Lady for all she’s doing through the Fund to make sure people are helped right now.

[Applause]

I want to thank our Public Advocate Tish James, Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez. You voted for our Congressman Charlie Rangel.

[Applause]

Council Member Inez Dickens – thank you so much.

[Applause]

And I don’t think Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s been able to join us yet, but I have to say – she’s been – she was here earlier – she’s been outstanding. She opened up her office – she brought people in, in their moment of need.

[Applause]

So we feel a lot right now – we feel a lot. And Chirlane and I want to know how much we feel for this congregation, how deeply we feel your loss. We want to offer our condolences on behalf of all the people of this city. And I know the two women that you lost – the members of this congregation – Griselda Camacho and Carmen Tanko – were deeply spiritual members of this congregation, deeply committed members of this congregation and this community. And we feel their loss.

And we feel the pain of those who are still recovering from the injuries they sustained on Wednesday. And it's our job – all of us – to be there for them.

Now, I didn’t have the honor of knowing Griselda and Carmen, but I've heard from so many people that they were women of great generosity and warmth and spirit, that they had a deep and abiding faith.

And in moments like this, we remember – remember that those who get the most from life are those who give the most to others. And these two women did that in the time they had on this earth. They were examples to all of us, and they've left behind something powerful. We miss them, but they've left behind the memories of their love for others. They've left behind the example for us to follow. And that love was expressed by the Apostle Paul when he said in Corinthians, “It’s a love that rejoices in the truth that bears all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.”

We've endured so much these last few days. We've also seen so many New Yorkers come forward to help those in need. Chirlane mentioned what people have done – the generosity they've shown through the Mayor’s fund, people coming forward immediately to offer support, to make sure that no one went without. And I think that generosity is based on the reality that, “There but for the grace of God go all of us.” And we can only imagine that moment when, for those people, their lives were shattered and lost; for so many others, their lives turned on their heads. And in that moment, you need to know people are with you. And I have to tell you – you can feel here at Bethel – the members of this congregation are with those in this community who have been suffering. You can feel the support here. You can feel how tangible and real it is. And this church opened its doors even before you knew that members of your congregation were among those we lost. You opened your doors – you brought in anyone who needed help. And that's been an example to all New Yorkers.

Now, please –

[Applause]

So there's a lot of kinds – many kinds of first responders. The traditional sense of responders – our police, our firefighters, our EMTs – they did everything humanly possible. I was there – I saw their bravery. I saw the fact they would not stop looking for a chance to save one more life, no matter what was thrown at them. Those first responders we have so much pride in, and so much appreciation for. And then, there are spiritual first responders – and Bishop, you're a spiritual first responder, and we thank you for that.

[Applause]

What about the story we heard of the men and women of the 25 Precinct? This, I think, for so many New Yorkers, was one of those moments – a gripping moment – made us proud, made us humble thinking about those men and women – felt the explosion, ran into the fire, ran into the danger – because they knew they might be able to save one life. And they got there without hesitation. In the midst of the crisis, they ran into the rubble and pulled Oscar Hernandez out alive.

[Applause]

And, brothers and sisters, we have to honor our first responders because they didn’t walk, – they ran. They did not hesitate – they ran.

[Applause]

And they saved him literally seconds before flames engulfed the area where he was. So, that is something to honor, something to deeply appreciate about the men and women who serve us.

Now, I want you to know I accept the charge that Reverend Sharpton put forward – that we in your city government, we know our place is to be there for each and every person who’s feeling this pain of this moment, each and every person displaced.

We will not let them fall. We will stand by them until the mission is done. And so many have stepped forward to offer help, to offer support, to offer resources. We know we are going to find a place for each and every one of these people – not just temporarily, while hopefully many of their buildings can be fixed quickly and they can get back into their homes, and helped back fully on their feet. But for those who lost their buildings, we are committed to finding permanent housing in this community.

[Applause]

And we have to count our blessings, because no one who suffered a crisis like this ever has to feel they only have a few people in their life who help them. We know that family and friends are the first there for people in need. Some people are not blessed in a moment of crisis to have family and friends nearby, but after the family and friends there's the houses of worship. And after the houses of worship, there's your city government standing up for you. And after that, there's wonderful organizations, like the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army – and all have come together to say to all who have suffered, “We will not let you fall.”

[Applause]

So, we've seen once again that this big city, this busy city, this tough city is also a loving and caring city – a place where everyone, despite our occasionally rough exteriors, everyone actually has each other’s back. That's what we've seen in these days. And we know that we're going to learn once again how to support each other, how to be there for each other, how to make sure that everyone knows that we are all a family in the end. That's what this city is about.

Finally, I just want to share some condolences in Spanish, knowing that so many of the people we have lost were Latino, were Spanish-speaking – and by the way, this is another moment to say, please, tell all of our brothers and sisters who may be afraid to step forward and ask for help, who may fear because of their documentation status that somehow help is not there for them – help is there for everyone.

[Applause]

And we need you to spread this message – we are the ultimate city of immigrants – we care for everyone. And if they don’t happen to have that documentation status, that doesn’t take away our concern. They need to know they will be safe; they will be protected; they will be allowed to be here; and nothing should stop them from seeking the help they need. Tell them – and tell them we will do that with love and embrace for each and every one of them.

[Applause]

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish]

Together, we will overcome this tragedy. We will put people back on their feet – and we will do this because of the love of rooms like this, of congregations like this, that make up what is great about this city. Thank you and God bless you.

[Applause]