February 13, 2018
Mayor Bill De Blasio delivered his State of the City speech tonight in Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre. The ceremonies began with a rendition of the National Anthem by FDNY’s Regina Wilson and remarks by Chirlane McCray. “We can’t thrive if we leave anyone behind,” she declared.
As in the story of Snow White, the desire to be fairest of them all was on the Mayor’s mind. But unlike the Evil Queen who sought only her own affirmation from a magic mirror, De Blasio’s stated aspiration was to make New York the fairest big city of them all.
He held aloft a brochure that outlined a 12 step program to reach that goal. He cast mild shade on the Trump Admin when he announced “good news for a change” from D.C. citing the withdrawal of the President’s pick to lead the 2020 Census. That led into a pitch for full participation in the decennial headcount.
He envisioned a future with both less crime and fewer arrests. He extolled the selfless valor of Ghana-born Bronx military veteran Emmanuel Mensah who sacrificed his life by charging three times into a burning building to rescue his neighbors but only coming out twice. The Mayor assured Mensah family members in the hall that all New Yorkers are their family.
In another recovery reference, De Blasio said of Democracy, “it works if you work it” leaving in-the-know audience members to silently complete the familiar slogan themselves, “…so work it, you’re worth it.”
A speech as weak as his inept performance as mayor