December 6, 2023
From time to time, leaders are called upon to envision a better future, be bold in the implementation and execution, and be undaunted by the opposition. That’s how you secure progress. That’s what today is all about. And I am so proud to be here because everyone here knows that this city is worth fighting for.
We can save this city, because people love New York City, but it’s facing some hard times. And because so many people love New York City, the streets are impassable, and the air quality has declined. So, I know, because of the courage of people here behind me, and elected leaders and people like Janno Lieber, the head of the MTA. Let’s give him a round of applause.
And Carl Weisbrod and the Traffic Mobility Review Board. That’s courage, that’s courage. I thank them. And all of our partners in elected government, state government, city government, borough presidents, city council, and all of our advocates. You made this happen, and Betsy, you are my hero. You have done an amazing job on behalf of the riders, and I thank you.
But I have a few questions for you. Anybody sick and tired of gridlock in New York City? Anybody think we deserve better transit, especially those who live and work here? Anyone think that people with disabilities deserve to have more accessibility when they travel through this city? Anybody want cleaner air for our kids and for future generations? Well then you love congestion pricing, right?
Well, this is a great day and I know that not only for the people here but also our first responders, ambulances, firefighters, emergency personnel who are often stymied and delayed in getting to where they need to go. My friends, this is going to be transformative.
We’ll have the resources to invest in our system, a 110-year-old system, so it’s positioned for the next 110 years because of the courage here today. That’s what we’re fighting for. But also, people deserve a quality of life here – it should be walkable, people should be able to take the train and be able to walk to their jobs and never need a vehicle again because this is New York.
And I’m so proud of what we’ve done here. We’ll keep our subway strong for the next generation. Less traffic, cleaner air, faster buses. I love faster buses. I like the buses going faster. And all these disability mobility [improvements]. But also, here’s what the money can go for. Here’s what the money can go for. What about the idea of the Interborough Express being funded with this money to be able to work in Queens and get to your job in Brooklyn or vice versa? We can get that done. What about ending the transit desert in East Harlem and finishing off the Second Avenue Subway? That’s what we can do as well.
You know, cities all around the world have tried this, but nobody else in the United States of America. This is when we demonstrate leadership. We show we do it here. We overcome the opposition. We make it be successful. And the rest of America will realize that we are fighting to save our planet, we’re fighting to save our kids, we’re fighting for our riders, and we are fighting for the greatest city on the planet, the City of New York! Thank you everybody.
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