Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Delivers Remarks at Dominican Heritage Reception

August 10, 2022

Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Department of Transportation: [Speaks in Spanish.]

Commissioner Rodriguez: It is a great honor to be here. Now I ask you to please shh. Hello, everyone. Now I ask you… [Speaks in Spanish] - meaning, this is the best celebration, right, at Gracie Mansion. [Speaks in Spanish.] Eric Adams. If I say Eric, you say Adams. Eric.

Audience: Adams.

Commissioner Rodriguez: Eric.

Audience: Adams.

Commissioner Rodriguez: Eric.

Audience: Adams.

Commissioner Rodriguez: He's our brother, right? He's the most progressive mayor that we have ever had in the history of the city when it comes to address equity and pay attention to the underserved community. [Speaks in Spanish.]

U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat: [Speaks in Spanish.]

Commissioner Rodriguez: [Speaks in Spanish.]

Mayor Eric Adams: ¡Hola, mi gente! We want to just pause for a moment and just acknowledge some of our amazing electeds that are here. Then we want to go into our honorees of the award presentation. Then I want to come back and just show you the love that I have for the Dominican community. Listen, I'm Dominican, baby.

Mayor Adams: Councilwoman Joann Ariola. Just stand. Just step forward. Step up and raise your hand when I acknowledge you. Councilman Christopher Marte, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, DA Darcel Clark, DA Alvin Bragg, Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs, Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos, Bronx BP... Where is she? Vanessa...

Audience: Yeah.

Mayor Adams: Vanessa Gibson. [Inaudible] in the house. The amazing Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, Assemblyman David Weprin, Assemblywoman Reyes, Senator Sepúlveda, and my man, my brother, my brother, my brother ... Congressman Espaillat. Just my brother.

[Applause]

Mayor Adams: Appreciate the congressman so much. And amazing Councilwoman Carmen De La Rosa.

[Applause]

Mayor Adams: Assemblyman Tapia - assemblywoman. And Assemblywoman Septimo.

[Applause]

Mayor Adams: Okay, I want to get all of that all of the way. And Dr. Linares is also here, president of New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. The entire crew is here, well represented. We excited. So, Imma call back my brother Ydanis Rodríguez, so that we can give the awards to everyone, and then I'll come back. You good to go?

Commissioner Rodriguez: Yeah.

Mayor Adams: Okay. Listen. On the campaign trail, solid brother. Now, our DOT chair - commissioner. Commissioner. Just a real soldier, real warrior. Appreciate you, brother. So come on, let's give these awards and certificates.

Commissioner Rodriguez: So ladies and gentlemen - [Speaks in Spanish.]

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: [Speaks in Spanish.]

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: [Speaks in Spanish.]

Commissioner Rodriguez: Mr. Mayor, the highest ranked Dominican NYPD. I heard that he has recruited more than 60 family members as part of the NYPD, and today is the higher ranked one. Our great Maximo Tarantino, chief.

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: Another great leader in the City of New York, always advocating for our immigrant rights, Rudy Liriano.

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: Another great leader who represents our community at the higher level, Junior Martinez.

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: Another person who we know as a mayor of [inaudible] to be sure that with the support of [inaudible], and Jason, and the whole team, they put this great event together. The [inaudible] Susana Osorio.

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: [Speaks in Spanish.] Julio Gonzalez.

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: [Speaks in Spanish.] Radel Ortiz.

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: [Speaks in Spanish.]

Commissioner Rodriguez: Mr. Mayor, as you were campaigning, we called this brother and he went to [inaudible], the real place, to perform. After you win, he was there with us, and tonight we recognize the great singer, Rubby Perez.

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: [Speaks in Spanish].

[Crosstalk]

Commissioner Rodriguez: Dominicanos. Dominicanos.

[Applause]

Commissioner Rodriguez: See, that's how we do it in the Caribbean. English or Latino speaking, but we only one Caribbean.[Speaks in Spanish.]

Commissioner Rodriguez: Now, we have a recognition for the Dominican Senate and to introduce the person. We got to do something brief right now. Well, the Dominican Senate is recognizing our mayor, and the person who we would be calling the senator, that will be, again, Senator Alexis Victoria Yeb is here speaking on behalf of the Dominican Senate.

[...]

Commissioner Rodriguez: Let's get a proclamation for the [inaudible]. Alexis, why don't you say a few words?

[...]

Mayor Adams: Mi casa, su casa. So, we don't want to be long, but I do want to say this. During the most challenging times during the campaign, when I felt at my lowest, when I felt that people just didn't get it, just didn't understand the commitment and dedication that I had for this city, when I felt that people were writing the false narrative of who we were and what we represent, all I had to do was go up to Washington Heights or go to the Bronx and hang out with the Dominican community. They would say, "Just keep moving, Eric. Keep moving. Stay focused and keep moving."

Mayor Adams: I used to see my people from DR in the streets of Washington Heights, Queens, in the Bronx, and they said to me, "Stay focused." And I took that saying, and it became my campaign slogan. I said over and over again, when people attacked us, I said, "Stay focused. Just stay focused." You turn my dream into reality. Now, it's my job to turn your dream into a reality. We are going to focus on the city together.

Mayor Adams: Ydanis, where are my cards? My cards. And so, I want to thank you. I want to thank you for what you represent in this city. The Dominican community is one of the largest Spanish-speaking communities in our entire country, in our entire city. You represent what we stand for, our contributions to the city. Even in public safety, some of the largest number of Dominican officers in the history of the Police Department have been sworn in. Give it up for our police officers.

[Applause]

Mayor Adams: We want to give honor to those who we have lost. Detective Wilbert Mora, killed in the line of duty early this year with Officer Rivera. I want a moment to remember him. His family is here with us tonight, and we will never forget him. Please, let's give his family a round of applause on how much we love them, and they will always be in our hearts, as he served us bravely.

[Applause]

Mayor Adams: And Genesis oldest daughter of Detective First Grade Miosotis Familia. Genesis displayed the symbol and strength. After losing her mother, I watched Genesis take the leadership of her family, and she showed the strength and fortitude, and her mother, as she looks down on her now, I'm sure she's proud of her beautiful daughter, and her siblings, and what they represent to this city. This has been a long relationship with the Dominican community, from my days of being a Brooklyn borough president to now being the mayor. And no matter where you are in the country or the city, there's a close relationship I have with this community. I do not say it lightly. I say it with the spirit of energy that I'm feeling. I'm Dominican, baby. I'm Dominican. From the food to the dance to the music, to the energy to the swagger to the style to the nails, no one doesn't like the Dominican community.

Mayor Adams: And we want you to know that you are so much part of this administration, from Ydanis Rodriguez to the other leaders in government, to Eddie Caban, the first deputy commissioner, you will see yourselves throughout the entire administration, but we have to do more than that. We have to make sure your small businesses receive the support they deserve. We have to make sure your nightlife establishments are not harassed and closed down as you're entertaining your community.

Mayor Adams: We have to make sure your teachers are principles and your children are educated like all the children of our city. We have to make sure that our streets are safe, and that we don't continue to see the violence that we are experiencing, but together, we can. Together, with these elected officials that we have on the stage here, that's the partnership we need. And so I want to tell you, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say mucho gracias, mucho gracias. Thank you so much for who you are and who you have been to me throughout my entire time in government, and why I am the mayor of the City of New York. I am the mayor of the City of New York, because you were there for me throughout my entire time. Thank you so much.

[Applause]

Mayor Adams: Thank you so much, so much. These family members are here, and it just means a lot to us… I remember walking in the hospital that night, and watching the family members, and just the impact, and how the city responded. These were babies committed to saving our city. Officers Mora and Rivera meant so much to us, and I want them to know how much they mean to us. And we will never, never, never, never forget. And the strength that they showed on the day of the wake in the funeral was a symbol for our entire country and our entire city. And as the mayor, I'm always going to stand and fight on behalf of the men and women of our law enforcement community. We stand together, and we want to thank you for what you mean to our city. Thank you very much.

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