Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Recording Academy's New York Office

January 22, 2018

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you. Well, welcome everyone. This is really a wonderful moment for New York City at the beginning of a week that we are so excited about, that we’re so proud of. Now, I love the fact that there are so many New Yorkers involved in this effort. So, I want to make sure I understand where everyone is from. So, Neil where are you from originally? 

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow: Born and raised in [inaudible] Lenox Hill Hospital.

Mayor: Lenox Hill Hospital. Very good. Did you grow up in Manhattan? 

Portnow: [Inaudible] and Bayside and Long Island. 

Mayor: Manhattan and then Bayside, Queens.

Portnow: [Inaudible] 35th Street, three blocks from here.

Mayor: He’s covering it all. Okay. John, where are you from? 

Chair of the Board for the Recording Academy, John Poppo: Born in Brooklyn like most of the world and grew up on Long Island.

Mayor: Born in Brooklyn like most of the world. 

[Laughter]

That is a very true statement. It’s a particularly true statement I’ve noticed in California, that all the great innovative talent in California actually comes from Brooklyn. Ruby, where are you from.

Recording Academy Vice Chair Ruby Marchand: [Inaudible]

Mayor: The Bronx. Excellent. We’ve got all sorts of representation of our great city. So, as everyone knows we have a very particular relationship – this City of New York has a very particular relationship with Los Angeles and we have a friendly competition at all times.

I do want to note, all of this great talent that has been involved out in California in their efforts previously, it is wonderful to be a part of this homecoming, to see all these great New Yorkers do something great for New York City, and bring this extraordinary week to us.

We are – we know it in this city – a well spring of so much of the musical talent that has become so prominent not only in this country but all over the world. We are very proud to be the capital of music in the world, and it’s so wonderful to have this occasion – the beginning of a week that really recognizes what the music scene in New York City means all over and how much we contribute.

Neil, I know this is a labor of love for you bringing this home here. And I know that having this permanent headquarters is only going to deepen the involvement in New York City.

I want to thank members of my team who work so hard to make sure that New York City would have this opportunity. Julie Menin, thank you so much. Gabrielle Fialkoff, thank you so much. This means a lot for New York City.

First time in 15 years, as you heard, to have the Grammys back in New York City. It means, for us, that our extraordinary music scene is getting the recognition it so richly deserves. This is the biggest night in music returning to the musical capital of the world and that feels really good.

And I want to say, now we as New Yorkers, we are very proud but these are facts that I’m now going to tell you.

New York City is where salsa was born. New York City, contrary to some other people’s claims, is where hip-hop was born. New York City is where the American punk music scene was born.

This city has contributed so much and has reflected all of the peoples, all of the cultures that make up this place.

It’s also a place where the great American Standards were written. It’s the place where Carole King and Sonny Rollins and Jay-Z became legends. We can safely say that this place has put a huge imprint on the world.

Think of some of the locations we associate with great musical innovators. The Electric Lady Studios, the house that Jimi Hendrix built and created a whole new sound that still sounds so fresh and alive and intense today. Minton’s Playhouse, where Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker invented jazz as we know it today.

There’s a fan back there.

[Laughter]

We are so happy to have the Grammys where, in our humble opinion, they belong in this place where so much has been contributed. And that’s why we fought so hard and worked so hard to bring them back.

And I have to tell you, like everything in life, it took a lot of negotiation. We worked closely with the Academy and the Garden and the unions and obviously the City agencies to try to make sure we can get it right.

And here’s what it will mean for the city as a whole. There will be real economic opportunity created by this wonderful week. It’s projected to have an economic impact of $600 million on the city’s economy. 

We know that that impact can go well beyond the seven exciting days ahead. One of the reasons we know it will go on is because we’re cutting this ribbon and beginning the presence of the Recording Academy at its new permanent home.

And what I love about the Academy’s vision is that it is going to be a place that’s going to be open to New Yorkers. It’s going to allow people to bring their musical talent forward and get it recognized and help us to grow the next generation of musical innovators and stars.

And having this permanent presence means so much. It’s going to be an amazing week. So many highlights ahead, looking forward to great performances coming up.

I know that in particular my son, Dante, commends you for having an important performance by Childish Gambino, one of his favorites.

But this is going to be a great week. Even in this place that is so busy, even in the city that never sleeps, this week will be one of the most special weeks in a long time. 

So, thank you to everyone at the Recording Academy. I just want to say a few words now because it is New York City – a few words in Español.

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish]

We’re happy to have you with us.