Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the Election Night Party of Luis Sepulveda

April 25, 2018

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Mr. Chairman thank you. I want to tell you, this is an incredible night for the Bronx. Congratulations everyone! A great victory tonight for the Bronx , a great victory for this city, and a great victory for Democrats who are going to take back now the State Senate once and for all.

[Applause]

I must say very quickly, Mr. Chairman, the Bronx Democratic organization gets stronger [inaudible] right now. Gets stronger all the time. I want to thank you for your leadership.

I want to thank all the elected officials who are here who are here as a strong support of Luis now our new wonderful Assembly member. Congratulations.

[Applause]

But here’s what I want to say very quickly, the future of the City of New York is going to be deeply affected by what happens in the State Assembly. Tonight is one of those momentous nights. The election here, the election in Westchester is going to have a profound impact on all of our lives. But it’s not just about the numbers, it’s about the quality of leadership. And one of the things we have seen from the Bronx under this Chairman and certainly Speaker Heastie is the caliber of leadership that is being produced in the Bronx which is having a huge impact on the city and in fact this whole state. And another big step forward tonight.

I have seen Luis Sepúlveda for years and years, one of the hardest working people I know in public service. Someone who has embraced all of the communities that make up his district. And by the way he was so involved in Bangladeshi community I called him Bangladeshi. He wants a Bangladeshi name.

The [inaudible] community, to all the communities that make the Bronx and New York City great. He’s fought for criminal justice reform, he’s fought for economic opportunity. This is a guy who is going to make a huge difference in the State Senate. Think about what a senator is supposed to be, someone learned, someone serious, someone who is visionary, someone who we all can look up to. That is exactly who you have elected in Luis Sepúlveda. Congratulations.