Press Room

"Today our country marks the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by inaugurating a man and a movement who represent all that Dr. King stood against. I am sure that many people will attempt to misuse his words, from the National Mall to social media, but we cannot allow either the message of Dr. King or the dangers of the people coming into power today to be sanitized.

"In this moment of fear and uncertainty, of understandable mistrust of our leaders and many of our fellow Americans, I turn to the philosophies of Dr. King, and the need for action, and agitation, and perhaps most importantly, solidarity.

"When Brazil elected a dictator, a term used by the incoming president to describe himself; the opposition adopted a cry of ‘Ninguém solta a mão de ninguém’ – or, ‘No one let go of anyone’s hand.’ Dr. King proclaimed that “Either we go up together, or we go down together…Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness.”

"In that spirit, today and in the days and years to come, we must rededicate ourselves to service toward one another. It will be a difficult period and a daunting challenge, but as Dr. King once rallied, “Now let us begin. Now let us re-dedicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world."

"Today is a critical moment, far too many months in the making. The pain of the heinous terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 has compounded for over a year, from the tens of thousands killed in Gaza to the fear and anger of New Yorkers in the streets. I am grateful for the respite this ceasefire offers, even temporarily. The halting of violence and return of hostages are what people from across our city and the world have prayed and protested for, for so long. Families will be reunited because of this deal, many will return home – even as the prolonged campaign of violence has left far, far too many without their homes or family members.

"My relief, though, comes with a wariness that this cessation is temporary – a potential path to peace, but not peace itself. This is progress that I hope can be sustained and built upon, even with a new administration coming into the White House. Lasting peace means safety and freedom for Israelis and for Palestinians – the movement for justice cannot end with this most recent conflict, but with solutions that address decades of pain and prevent it in the future. Dr. King said that ‘We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but the positive affirmation of peace,’ and that ‘True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.’ As we honor him this weekend, I pray that we can advance to justice."

"Entering a new session, state government has a responsibility to be responsive to the greatest concerns of New Yorkers – affordability and safety chief among them. At the same time, we can compromise in policy making without compromising our values.  Shift approaches without shifting the core convictions that form them. We can fully embrace strategies we know will work, instead of abandoning them halfway. With the coming federal administration, we must act without overreaction to political concerns. 

"There were proposals – pathways to proposals – to appreciate in the governor’s state of the state, which struck an important tone, including on free community college programs and childcare access. We have to see where those pathways lead. Similarly, tax cuts for working and middle class families are important. Whatever cuts in revenue are made, though, cannot be offset by cuts in services that New Yorkers rely on, especially when they are not paired with increased revenue raising from the wealthiest in our state. 

"Unfortunately, I'm concerned the governor may send us down the same path we have been down before on public safety, without rationale or results we've been seeking. How many more surges of law enforcement, including National Guard, will be sent into the subways? After each, we are told it worked, then told we need more because it didn’t. Increased officer presence may indeed make some feel more comfortable, it also won’t address the underlying issues like mental healthcare. We must focus critical resources on building out the infrastructure to extend care – not criminalization – to individuals in highest need. The greatest concern comes after they leave hospitalization -- or in worst cases, jail. Regardless of what some say, recidivism and mental health are not new, we've just continued to fail. I urge a focus on housing and wraparound services, not a cycle of commitment without compassion.

"Justice, health, and safety are not measured solely in conviction rates, and the state of our state is not reflected solely in polls. In the coming session, I hope the governor and legislature will use the seemingly endless headlines to make real, meaningful progress for all New Yorkers."

"As we prepare to hear from the mayor tomorrow in a critical moment, New Yorkers have to wonder which state of the city the mayor will report on, the one of a dire crisis where only he can save the city, or the one where he already has? 

“The true state of our city is somewhere between these two extremes, and most of the actions I have seen from this administration will not move us forward from that position. These speeches often set lofty goals that are directly contradicted by policy that follows, creating false hope and expectations.

“The real issues our city faces are not new, and particularly on public safety, this administration has appeared more interested in the optics of surging police and blaming bail reform than in the real work of investing in community health and safety. If the plan is to make real, lasting, positive change, I hope to hear an honest assessment, and solutions that match the complexity of our challenges." 

“This administration has a long way to go toward earning New Yorkers’ trust, and that work will take more than one speech. Trust will be essential as all of us in city government must collaborate to prevent the worst harm of the coming Trump years."

"Habari Gani? Peace, love, light, and strength to all who begin Kwanzaa celebrations today. Throughout this holiday, we center African American heritage and culture, honoring both our ancestral and collective history. Through the lens of seven principles – unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith – we examine our lives throughout the week, and pledge to uplift these values in the coming year. 

"I think this is a moment when it is especially important to draw inspiration and strength from the model of our ancestors. In a time of fear, of ongoing struggles and looming challenges, I look to the perseverance of the past for hope. I have faith that by emulating the seven principles, by looking to the lessons of those who came before, we can overcome any obstacle.

"Let us move together in unity - umoja- with purpose and toward progress. "

"Happy Hanukkah! Chag Hanukkah Sameach to all in our Jewish community who begin to celebrate this evening.

"Miracles can happen here. That message, inscribed on the dreidel, is a powerful statement of hope – not just in history, but in our time. May the light of the menorah illuminate the way to peace, and may light cast out darkness. Too often, that light is difficult to find, and may it burn beyond eight nights and into a bright future. 

"Each of us can be a light in the darkness – and just as with the menorah, the glow sustains brightest and strongest if we join our lights as one. This is the solidarity we must show in this moment of both trepidation and celebration.

"As we gather with family and community today, may we shine as a beacon of good will and good works."