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Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at 2015 Dominican Heritage Ceremony

August 6, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Muchas gracias, Chirlane.

First Lady Chirlane McCray: De nada.

Mayor: We have the best primera dama anywhere around, don’t we?

[Cheers]

Buenas noches a todos. Bienvenidos a todos, mis hermanos y hermanas dominicanos.
This is a beautiful gathering, because it represents a beautiful community, a strong community, a growing community in our city – am I right?

[Cheers]

I want to say a few things about what this community means to New York City. I want to thank all of you for being here, but I also want to thank some of the special guests we have here this evening before I go on.

First of all, it’s going to be an extraordinary parade this weekend and I really want to thank Angela Fernandez for her leadership. Let’s give her a round of applause.

[Applause]

I want to thank the elected officials who are with us – the Borough President of Manhattan, Gail Brewer.

[Applause]

The first ever Dominican elected official in New York City – now Assembly Member Guillermo Linares.

[Applause]

Assembly Member from my beloved Brooklyn – Maritza Davila.

[Applause]

Council Member Mathieu Eugene.

[Applause]

And also from Brooklyn, Assembly Member Nick Perry.

I want to thank the members of my administration who are here. I want to tell you about two and a half of them – not two of them, two and a half of them.

Two of them we announced the same day in the spring of 2014. It was a very proud moment for this community. They have both done an absolutely outstanding job.

First, our Commissioner for the Department of Design and Construction, Feniosky Peña-Mora.

[Applause]

By the way, the good news about Feniosky is he never runs into anybody else whose name is Feniosky Peña-Mora. I think he is the only one on the earth.

[Applause]

A woman who has impressed everyone with her intelligence and ability – Director of the Mayor’s Office for Contract Services, Lisette Camilo.

[Applause]

Okay. Feniosky and Lisette, you have to come to the front. Two proud Dominican Americans – let’s give them a round of applause.

[Applause]

Now the half – Fidel Del Valle – where are you? Is Fidel here? Okay, you should be up here, first of all. Half Dominican, yes? Half Dominican. Okay. He gets half a round of applause.

[Laughter]

The Commissioner of OATH, Fidel Del Valle – thank you.

[Applause]

I also want to thank so many other commissioners. You don’t need to be Dominican to come to this wonderful event.

So let’s thank our Health Commissioner Mary Bassett.

[Applause]

Our Community Affairs Commissioner, Marco Carrión.

[Applause]

Our Appointments Director, Rachel Lauter, and our Commissioner for International Affairs, Penny Abeywardena.

[Applause]

We have from Labor two truly great labor leaders from this city – I don’t know where they are. But first, one of my dear friends in labor – an old friend – Estela Vasquez, the Executive Vice President of 1199.

[Applause]

There she is. You should be up here, too.

And someone who is now the head of one of the biggest labor unions at any city anywhere in the country – the new Executive Director of DC 37 AFSCME, Henry Garrido. Where are you, Henry?

[Applause]

Thank you, Henry.

And I always have a special place in my heart, and I think a lot of people in the community do too, for one of the original great – and still great – leaders of the Dominican community, Dr. Rafael Lantigua. Thank you.

[Applause]

And finally, a thank you – you know, when we have these great events, hermanos y hermanas, someone has to pay for it. So some wonderful businesspeople agreed to sponsor tonight’s event and help us enjoy it. Let’s thank all the sponsors. Give them a round of applause. 

[Applause]

So, this city – in this city, unlike in some other places in this country, we understand that our entire history is based on welcoming people – that each new generation, each new community lifts us up and makes us stronger.

And we have to always show that welcome to every successive generation – because what we know can happen here, is you can come here and start something and make it work. Start a family, start a business, build a home – it can happen here in New York City.

There are so many people in this room who are examples of that success story. And so many of the people who make New York City great today are Dominican American.

[Applause]

New York City is proud – we are proud to be the home to the largest Dominican community anywhere in the world outside of the Dominican Republic.

[Applause]

Los dominicános son úna párte esenciál de nuéstra ciudád.

You can’t even imagine New York City today without the Dominican community. It’s so important to all we are.

Now, the energy of this community. This is a community – and I’ve seen in with my own eyes – I don’t think I have to convince you about the creativity and culture of the Dominican community. It’s strong and vibrant. I don’t think I have to convince you of the entrepreneurial spirit, and how many people have started something great in this community.

Let me give you one example. I love this story – I want to share it with you.

Juan Camilo – Juan Camilo, step forward.

[Applause]

Juan Camilo, ladies and gentleman.

[Applause]

Juan came here from the DR with his mom and his sister at the age of five – five years old. His mom happened to be single. She was a hardworking woman, raising two kids. And she wanted the best for her kids.

Juan worked hard too, and Juan worked his way up. And Juan went to college, and Juan graduated from college, and then he went into finance.

But that wasn’t enough for him. He wanted to build something that was his own.

And he knew, in his family, there had been entrepreneurs. His grandparents had had their own grocery store back in the DR.

He wanted to create something of his own. So he started to experiment at home, brewing beer.

[Cheers]

Very smart business choice.

[Laughter]

He kept working at it. He saved money. And, my friends, he succeeded, and opened New York City’s only Latino-owned brewing company.

[Applause]

Now, Juan decided that this beer of his needed a little sabor Dominicano, okay? So he added a certain something.

So some of his beers have the flavor of chinóla

[Cheers]

… or ceréza. Or, my personal favorite, Café Bustélo.

[Cheers]

So this man’s creating something brand-new, never seen before. And he’s selling his beer now all across New York City as the founder of the Dyckman Beer Company. Let’s give Juan a big round of applause.

[Applause]

So, there’s – Juan is just one example, and there are so many other great examples here tonight.

What we know is this – it’s a strong community, a hardworking community, a community that gives so much to this city. And we honor tonight the contributions of all quisqueyános in this city. And we thank this community for what it does for us.

I cannot wait to march with you this weekend, all together.

¡Que víva la República Dominicána!

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