Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Signs Legislation to Co-Name 63 Thoroughfares and Public Places

July 9, 2014

Video available at: https://youtu.be/p2LJxTb-WRU

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Now, let's talk about the hearing and the signing for Intro 338. Intro 338 co-names 63 thoroughfares and public places for individuals and organizations that have left a lasting impact on New York City. This legislation is sponsored by Speaker Mark-Viverito and Councilmembers Arroyo, Barron, Cabrera, Chin, Deutsch, Dickens, Dromm, Espinal, Ferreras, Gibson, Greenfield, Ignizio, Johnson, King, Koo, Koslowitz, Lander, Levine, Matteo, Mendez, Miller, Palma, Reynoso, Rodriguez, Rose, Ulrich, Vacca, Valone, Williams, and Wills.

[Laughter]

No breathing [inaudible]

[Applause]

Now, no city cherishes its streets more than New York. We all know it as New Yorkers — our streets double as gathering places and gymnasium and fashion runways and theaters. So we really prize our streets deeply. And to have a street named after you is one of our highest honors. The people and the entities that we recognize today will now be a permanent part of our city.

And I want to name some of the specific highlights of what we're doing today. Some of the co-namings acknowledge people who risked their lives and lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Kenneth Cubas Way in Staten Island. He worked on the 97th floor of Tower 2 and he was killed when he went back into the building to help others. His memory will now remain something that all can see at Kenneth Cubas Way.

Police Officer Robert M. Ehmer Place in Queens.

Police Officer Ehmer died died from illnesses resulting from his time in rescue and recovery efforts and the Trade Center sites — and yes, for everyone here for individual parts of this bill, feel free to clap and cheer when you hear the name you care about.

So everyone here for Kenneth Cubas Way.

[Applause]

And everyone here for Police Officer Robert Ehmer Place.

[Applause]

Next, there are co-namings honoring police and fire and military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. That includes Police Officer Brian Murray Way in Manhattan, Sergeant Keith A. Ferguson Way in the Bronx.

[Applause]

Lieutenant Richard Nappi Way in Brooklyn.

[Applause]

Sergeant Gerard Dunne Way in Queens.

[Applause]

Private First Class Errol Milliard Way in Brooklyn.

[Applause]

Second Lieutenant August Harvey Martin Street in Queens.

[Applause]

And then we have co-namings honoring individuals for lifetimes of achievement and decades of good work that helped the people of this city and beyond. I can't go into detail about each one of them. I'm going to mention them all, but there'll be a few I'm going to comment on specifically. But we know that in each and every case, people in the communities will see these names, they'll talk about them, and think about them, and celebrate them for not only years to come, but for generations to come, because of the action we're taking today.

And now here's the list.

Reverend Dr. Shelly Sampson Jr. Way in the Bronx.

[Applause]

Sister Thomas S.C. Way in the Bronx.

[Applause]

The Dominican Sisters of Sparkhill Place in the Bronx.

[Applause]

You just like it because the Bronx is dominating the beginning here.

[Laughter]

Lillie F. Martin Lane in Brooklyn.

[Applause]

Impressive. El Grito de Lares Way in the Bronx.

[Applause]

Dashane Santana Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Ed Eisenberg Way in Brooklyn.

[Applause]

Bishop Dr. Ezra Nehemiah Williams Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Manny "The Wrong Man" Balestrero Way in Queens.

[Applause]

That's one of the more interesting ones. Monseigneur John T. Peyton Avenue in Brooklyn.

[Applause]

Professor William H. Pease Jr. Way in Queens.

[Applause]

Bishop Wenzell P. Jackson Place in the Bronx.

[Applause]

Angelo "Chubby" Campanella Way in Brooklyn.

[Applause]

Rabbi Weismandl Way in Brooklyn.

[Applause]

NYPD Sergeant Peter J. McPolin Way in Staten Island.

[Applause]

This is one that is personal to a lot of us here. Stan Brooks Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

I have worked off and on in this building literally for the last 25 years and Stan Brooks was a fixture — the famous, legendary — literally legendary — 1010 Wins reporter for more than 50 years. And he just — one, he never stopped working. A lot of us saw him questioning us — good-natured, but always persistent. And then one day he wasn't around for a few days and we found he had passed away. And he stayed on the job informing and enlightening his fellow New Yorkers right up to the end. And he was truly an inspiration to us all.

Now, continuing the list, Phyllis Gonzalez Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Daniel Carter Beard Memorial Square in Queens.

[Applause]

Sergei Dovlatov Way in Queens.

[Applause]

Here's another I'm sure a lot of people have an opinion — I have a good opinion on him — George Carlin Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

This is a New Yorker whose voice was heard literally around the world. Born and raised in Morningside Heights, a true New Yorker, he told it like it was — smart and blunt and honest and not afraid of controversy. So, someone we miss for sure.

Continuing, Barnard College 125th Anniversary Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Monseigneur Gerald J. Ryan Boulevard in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Reverends Norm and Peg Eddy Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Simeonette Mapes Way in Staten Island.

[Applause]

Father Damien Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Marie Christopher Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Reverend Charles W. Mixon Way in Queens.

[Applause]

Bishop Roderick R. Caesar Sr. Way in Queens.

[Applause]

Jahi Williams-Simmons Way in the Bronx.

[Applause]

Altagracia Diloné Levat Way in Manhattan.

[Applause]

Commander William G. Clancy Way in the Bronx.

[Applause]

Benjamin Fried Boulevard in Queens.

[Applause]

Major Fred O. "Blue Eagle" Wilson Square in Queens.

[Applause]

Second Lieutenant Victor Terrelonge Way in Queens.

[Applause]

Second Lieutenant Haldane King Corner in Queens.

[Applause]

Second Lieutenant William M. "Wild Bill" Wheeler Way in Queens.

[Applause]

General Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. Boulevard in Queens.

[Applause]

The 99th Flying Training Squadron Drive in Queens.

[Applause]

761st Tank Battalion Avenue in Queens.

[Applause]

555th Parachute Infantry Battalion Lane in Queens.

[Applause]

The 332nd Fighter Group Corner in Queens.

[Applause]

They've got a lot in Queens. Buffalo Soldier Square in Queens.

[Applause]

26th Regiment Drive in Queens.

[Applause]

369th Infantry Regiment—the "Harlem Hellfighters" Lane—in Queens!

[Applause]

Go figure.

[Applause]

The Second Lieutenant August Harvey Martin Street in Queens.

[Applause]

Second Lieutenant Samuel Lynn Corner in Queens.

[Applause]

92nd Infantry Division Avenue in Queens.

[Applause]

452nd Anti-Aircraft Drive in Queens.

Second Lieutenant Harry A. Sheppard Corner in Queens.

[Applause]

Cathay Williams Boulevard—guess which borough, everyone!—in Queens!

[Applause]

Yes! Flight Officer Lawrence A. Brown Way in —

Crowd: Queens!

[Applause]

Mayor: Alright, now we're gonna mix it up. José Peña Gomez Boulevard in the Bronx.

[Applause]

Okay, that was enough for the Bronx. Now, to Dylan Smith Way in Queens.

[Applause]

Finally, two that are very, very special. One, someone that I had an absolute honor of working with for many years, Jon Kest in Brooklyn, one of the most extraordinary —

[Applause]

— one of the most extraordinary community organizers this city or any city has ever seen. And I have to tell you, in this building today is a generation of people, myself included, who were influenced deeply, some people who were trained and mentored, others, like myself, had the honor of working side-by-side with Jon, and we all took so much from the experience and we lost him way too young. But he has left an impact that is living and breathing and growing every day, so we'll all be able to visit Jon Kest way in Brooklyn, and it is well-deserved.

Finally, this is very important to a member of my administration—is Dr. Mary Bassett here? Oh, there you are. You floated right in that was good. Dr. Mary Bassett, our commissioner of health and mental hygiene. Well today, we're going to be signing the legislation for Emmett W. Bassett Way, Mary's father, a medical pioneer —

[Applause]

— a medical pioneer, one of the last living students trained by George Washington Carver — it's amazing — and an extraordinary activist for civil rights, health, and education in the Washington Heights and Inwood section of Manhattan. And that is a perfect note — that is the whole list, it's an extraordinary list, it means so much to so many of us in this room and beyond. And with that I actually want to give Commissioner Bassett a moment to speak about what this means to her and her family.

[Applause]