June 7, 2019First Lady Chirlane McCray: Good evening, everyone! [Cheers]Bien-venídos a Gracie Mansion! [Cheers]¿Lístos pára celebrár?[Cheers]I said – ¿listos? [Cheers]Alright! Tonight, we celebrate the strength and spirit of New York City’s Puerto Rican community! [Cheers]¡Wépa![Cheers]You know, Bill and I first fell in love with La Isla del Encánto a long time ago, before we were married – and that’s more than 25 years ago. And we keep the island and its people in our hearts, just as so many New Yorkers do. That’s why, after Hurricane Maria devastated the island, I was there with donations from the Mayor’s Fund to support two mental health clinics and Thrive trainers to help teachers support children coping with trauma after the storm. I was there without Deputy Mayor Herminia Palacio and our Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot, and so many members of our administration, many of whom are here today. And that’s why, with Latinx Thrive, we are partnering with Puerto Rican and other Latino leaders in the City to educate thousands of people about mental health and promote wellness.[Cheers][First Lady McCray speaks in Spanish] New York City stands with Puerto Rico and its people in times of celebration and in times of hardship. ¡Cómo siémpre!I want to remind you that if you or someone in your family is feeling depressed or hopeless, or is self-medicating with alcohol, or anything else, there is help available. Do you know the number the call? Any New Yorker can call 1-888-NYC-WELL to talk with a trained counselor – in English or en Españól. It is confidential and totally free. Can you say that number with me please?Audience: 1-888-NYC-WELL –First Lady: That was not good enough. Alright, concentrate – one more time. Audience: 1-888-NYC-WELL!First Lady: That’s much better. Will you help us spread the word? Audience: Yes –First Lady: I said, will you help spread the word?Audience: Yes!First Lady: Will you help spread the word?Audience: Yes!First Lady: We have information for you, please take it when you leave tonight. And now, please welcome al amór de mi vída, the one who traveled with me from the beaches of Luquíllo to the mountains of Utuádo – our Mayor, Bill de Blasio.Mayor Bill de Blasio: Hermanos y hermanas, bienvenidos al a casa del pueblo. [Cheers]Now, I have to – Chirlane told you that our romance blossomed in Puerto Rico, but I have to tell you there""s something else that we have to do for our marriage. I made a promise to her – a sacred promise that I have not yet fulfilled. Unknown: Be President!Mayor: That’s a good thing –[Cheers]I promised her that we would get salsa lessons together. [Cheers]So you are my witnesses, okay? Before too long, Chirlane and I are going for salsa lessons and then we""ll come back and show you what we can do. [Cheers]We’ve got witnesses. Everybody, we are so happy to be gathered tonight because everyone here tonight loves Puerto Rico.[Cheers][Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish]We are so proud of Puerto Rico. We are so proud of what Puerto Ricans have done for New York City.[Cheers]We are proud to be the place on earth with the most Puerto Rican people outside of Puerto Rico itself.[Cheers]Now, when we have this gathering, everybody""s here. Look all over – all over the lawn behind me – everybody’s here. And I want to acknowledge some great public servants who wanted to be a part of tonight because they love this community so deeply, including two very proud Puerto Ricans who serve in our administration – I’m sorry, three – three very Proud Puerto Ricans who serve in our administration. First of all, our Commissioner for the Department for the Aging, Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez –[Cheers]Our Commissioner for Department of Probation, Anna Maria Bermudez –[Cheers]And I think everyone knows our Community Affairs Commissioner, Marco Carrion.[Cheers]There are other great members of the administration who wish they were Puerto Rican –[Laughter]From a nearby island, our Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Herminia Palacio; Our Chief Actuary, Sherry Chan; our Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner, Lewis Carroll; Chair of the Human Rights Commission, Carmelyn Malalis; Chief Service Officer of New York City, Patricia Eng; our new Chief Technology Officer, John Paul Farmer. [Applause]And then, if you love these events each year, three people that make them possible – Melissa Brown, the Executive Director for Special Events, let’s thank her; the First Lady""s Chief of Staff, Roxanne John, let’s thank her; and the Executive Director of the Gracie Mansion Conservancy, Paul Gunther, thank you. [Applause]Now, we have to thank our elected officials who do so much for this community and every community, starting with the Borough President of Brooklyn, Eric Adams; the District Attorney of the Bronx, Darcel Clark; Assembly Member Al Taylor; Assembly Member Charles Fall; Council Member Diana Ayala; Council Member Carlina Rivera; Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. [Applause]And we have a very special guest, the former Bronx Borough President and Chair of the MTA, Fernando Ferrer.[Applause]And did you like the band tonight, everybody?[Cheers]The NYPD’s first-ever Hispanic band, La Jara – let’s thank them.[Cheers]So, let me tell you about 700,000 people – 700,000 people in this Puerto Rican community here in New York City. It doesn""t matter who they are, they help make this city great. The small business owner, the bodega owner, the Broadway star, the public servant, they all help make New York, New York – all of our elected officials, all they do for us. Now, let""s be clear about something. I hope they can hear us in Washington D.C. – Puerto Ricans are not only the best in New York City, they are the best of America.[Cheers]But the Puerto Rican people are not being celebrated the way they deserve to be, are they? So, we""re going to do something to make that strong statement of New York City""s love for the people of Puerto Rico here and on the island. And we will be installing a new monument in the hub in the South Bronx, in Roberto Clemente Plaza – a beautiful new monument to honor Roberto Clemente.[Cheers]And, my friends, Roberto Clemente was not only one that greatest Puerto Ricans ever, one of the greatest baseball players ever, he was one of the greatest humanitarians this country has ever known. It""s also important to know that we already have announced a monument for a great leader, Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias – pediatrician, educator, women""s rights activist, and the first Latina President of the American Public Health Association.
[Applause]So, we’re honoring Roberto Clemente, we’re honoring Dr. Rodriguez-Trias, and we are just getting started to honor the Puerto Rican people in this city.[Applause]But it""s a very different story in Washington, and, I think you""d agree with me, at times it seems like our president doesn""t even understand that Puerto Rico is part of the United States of America – three-and-a-half-million Americans in Puerto Rico suffering still from the effects of Hurricane Maria. I will say it every time – I""ve said it publicly everywhere I go – if Hurricane Maria hit Connecticut, they would""ve sent the entire U.S. military to help. We""ve got so much more to do for Puerto Rico, and New York City will be there for Puerto Rico every step of the way, no matter how long it takes. [Cheers]And finally, finally we got some good news. Finally, the Congress passed the disaster aid bill, including $1.4 billion for Puerto Rico. [Cheers]But that""s just the start of what Puerto Rico needs. Let""s take a moment though to recognize that our Congressional delegation went to bat – particularly, two stalwarts of the Puerto Rican people, Jose Serrano and Nydia Velazquez.[Cheers]So, maybe our president doesn""t remember Puerto Rico, but we remember Puerto Rico every single day, and we will always be there for Puerto Rico. When Hurricane Maria struck, we sent hundreds of New York City personnel to help the Puerto Rican people to address the emergency. Let""s give all of them around. [Cheers]So everybody, I want to thank you. Before I bring up our special guest, I want to thank you for all you do for New York City, for all you do to make this city great and this country great. But I also want to thank you for always showing your love, showing your commitment to the people of Puerto Rico who need us by their side. We will never forget them. Now, everybody, would you like to know about our special guest?[Cheers]She is by all accounts, una cantente super estrella. Some call her, la mujer de fuego. [Cheers]Let me bring forward, Olga Tañon.[Cheers]Now, would you agree that this is a living legend? She has sold millions of albums worldwide. She has won multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards. She has the most top 10 hits for a female artist on the billboard tropical chart ever in history. And she uses her voice to call for justice, and she loves her homeland deeply. Olga, we are going to give you a special proclamation now.[Cheers]Now, everybody – I forgot, I have to hold this one piece up – so, this proclamation talks about all of Olga’s amazing achievements, but the best part is at the end here. You want know what it says? Audience: Yes!Mayor: It says – I, Bill de Blasio, Mayor of the City of New York now proclaim Tuesday – I’m sorry, today, Thursday – I got it right – Thursday, June 6th, 2019 in the City of New York as El Dia de Olga Tañón – Olga Tañón Day. [Cheers]Ladies and gentlemen, give a warm, warm welcome to Olga Tañón. [Cheers]