Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delievers Remarks at Engine 201 Regarding Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts

September 23, 2017

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Brothers and sisters let’s give a big round of applause to this good man who has done so much for the community, Luis Garden Acosta for everything that he had done. He has been a fighter, hasn’t he? 

Audience: Yes.  

Mayor: A man who loves his community, who loves his people, and loves the people of Puerto Rico. [Inaudible] thank you Luis. Everybody, look, it is a very painful moment. I can’t tell you, just over the last few days, how many New Yorkers I’ve spoken to. And when I ask them have they reached their mother or their father in Puerto Rico, their aunt their uncle, their grandparents. There are so many people just trying to reach their loved ones to know they’re okay. And that is one of the most painful things when you don’t even know. But what we do know is that our hearts are with Puerto Rico.

[Applause] 

And they will always be with Puerto Rico.  

[Applause] 

Electricity isn’t working for so many people. But they can still feel our love down there, right?

Audience: Yes. 

[Applause] 

Mayor: So we are here, we are here to support Puerto Rico. That’s what we’re here to do in every way we can. And we’re also here to celebrate everything what’s great about Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican people. This is a festival that every year celebrates this community, and the heritage of the people. The culture, the strength, the resilience and everything that Puerto Ricans have done to make New York City great. We still celebrate that today no matter what Hurricane Maria did. 

[Applause] 

But now it’s time for us to step up, it’s time for us to step up for an island that’s done so much for all of us and for people who need us more than ever. Before Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico was already hurting. Puerto Rico had already gotten the short end of the stick from our federal government. There was a health care crisis, and a financial crisis before Hurricane Maria. Now, Puerto Rico is seeing a challenge like nothing in its history. So everybody in Washington better get real about the fact that there it is no longer any time to hesitate. It’s time to help Puerto Rico with everything we have as a nation to help Puerto Rico. 

[Applause] 

I want to thank all of the community leaders and the community organizations that make this gathering happen every year. But particularly this year all the people who are collecting supplies to send to the people of Puerto Rico. Let’s thank all of them.

[Applause] 

Let’s thank the elected officials who are here in solidarity. Comptroller Scott Stringer, thank you for your support.

[Applause]  

And the leaders who represent this community, Assembly member Maritza Davila for her great efforts on behalf of Puerto Rico.

[Applause] 

Councilmember Antonio Reynoso for his great efforts on behalf of Puerto Rico. 

[Applause]

Right now, right now 3.5 million people are struggling for electricity, for food, for water, for all the basics.  And the 700,000 New Yorkers who are proud Puerto Ricans, we will not forget what Puerto Rico is going through, not today, not tomorrow, not next month, not next year. We are going to be there for Puerto Rico. 

[Applause] 

Now, we need to start helping right away. Even though, even though the flights aren’t happening, the phones aren’t working, we can help right now. We have 18 firehouses and EMS stations around the city that are receiving aid right now. Any New Yorker can bring them help to Puerto Rico. But here’s what we need especially and listen carefully. I really want to urge everyone. Focus on these five things, everyone is generous, everyone wants help. But here is what will help Puerto Rico the most; batteries so people can actually run their cell phones and their electronics again. They need batteries, they need baby food, they need diapers, they need First Aid supplies, and they need feminine hygiene products. These are the things we need to focus on as New Yorkers. The federal government, FEMA they’re working on food and water and all the other basic things. But we need to get these other items to Puerto Rico. There’s not enough down there. And if we don’t do it, there won’t be enough. So please focus on these things. If you want to find a firehouse or an EMS station where you can donate, go to nyc.gov/donations and you’ll see all the sites. If you have the ability to make a financial donation, we know Puerto Rico will need this help for months and years to come. If you can give, if you go the city website and give through the mayor’s fund – nyc.gov/fund and you can help directly. Now let me give you an update. We have 36 New York City personnel, NYPD, FDNY on the ground right now in Puerto Rico in the relief effort.

[Applause] 

We have 22 additional personnel from the Office of Emergency Management and all the other departments that will help San Juan, in particular, to get back on its feet. They are on their way to Puerto Rico right now. 

[Applause] 

And we are asking all City employees who want to volunteer their time to go to Puerto Rico and help. The City government will help make it happen. We’re going to get free flights, were going to get accommodations, so City employees, Fire Department, Police Department, Parks Department, Buildings Department, anyone who can give their time. We’re going to work to get them to Puerto Rico so they can help at the front line and so far the response has been overwhelming. City employees who want to go to help the people of Puerto Rico. We have gotten an amazing response all over the city. I have to tell you, I want to give special thanks to the Hispanic Federation that have helped lead the way. And a special thanks to the Miranda family. We’re all proud of the amazing achievements on Broadway of Lin-Manuel Miranda. He and his family donated a plane to take our team down to Puerto Rico today. 

[Applause] 

It’s a beautiful thing when someone succeeds but they remember where they came from, right?

[Applause] 

En Español.

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish] 

[Applause]

We will do this together my friends; we will stand by Puerto Rico. And when Puerto Rico asks where is New York City in our hour of need. We say simply say presente. 

[Applause]

Thank you, thank you.