Transcript: Mayor Adams Presents Proclamations to Recognize Extraordinary Public Service

January 5, 2024

Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, Operations: Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us today. I'd also like to acknowledge those that are standing up here behind me. We've got [Javier Aukendo], our MTA bus driver awardee, Marvin McLaurin, our DSNY chief awardee, Jeff Pitts, Melissa Searight, assistant general superintendent, transportation MTA. Our Sanitation commissioner, Jessica Tisch. The man who needs no introduction, Mayor Adams.

And I want to thank you all for taking time out of your day, out of your busy schedule to take a moment to recognize what New York City is all about, and what New Yorkers are all about and what public servants are all about and New York City public servants, especially.

Jeff Pitts and Marvin are shining examples of true New York City spirit. New York City is a city that is filled with people who keep both their eyes and their hearts open. They spend their day, especially public servants. serving our city in ways that the general public may never know.

And that's actually part of what we do every day to ensure that the city is frictionless. But these public servants stand out.  It's not only when they're on the job, but it's when they're off the job that they're continuously looking out for New Yorkers; and in this case, our smallest and most vulnerable New Yorkers.

It's reassuring to remember that we can rely on one another, and when we see the actions of Chief Pitts and Marvin McLaurin, we're reminded how much we can rely on each other watching after each other and our children.

So I'd like to thank both Mr. McLaurin and Chief Pitts for what they did on that day, what they do every day for New York City, and how they uplift all of our spirits and open our hearts to be better in everything we do.

We also want to recognize Chief Pitts' mom who was not only instrumental in raising him, but was also on the scene that day and instrumental to reuniting the young boy with his family. And with that, I'd like to introduce Sanitation Commissioner Jessie Tisch.
  
Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Department of Sanitation: Thank you, deputy mayor, Mayor Adams, for the opportunity to be here today, to share in this honor for Chief Pitts. Over the last two years, Mayor, you have led the way on prioritizing cleanliness in New York City, on bringing dignity back to every neighborhood.

And on virtually every initiative we have worked on together — the targeted neighborhood task force, the all‑new highway unit graffiti operations — it has been Chief Jeff Pitts who has put the rubber to the road getting stuff done for people in need.  And the most incredible thing?  He has done all of it every single day with a smile on his face. Chief Pitts is a mensch and a public servant in the truest sense of the phrase.

One of the great joys of working in government is meeting people who are driven by goodness and by a higher calling to serve on and off the job, Chief Pitts exemplifies the very best of all of us. On and off the job, Chief Pitts is a blessing to our department and to this city.

His commitment to service helps all of us at the department every single day. That is why I was not surprised in the very least when I heard about what he had done for this young man and what he has continued to do for his family.  That's just who Chief Pitts is inside and out.

Chief. Congratulations, and I look forward to celebrating Chief Pitts day with all of you. Thank you so much.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you so much, and it is no secret. I join you, Commissioner, in just celebrating Chief Pitts. Good to meet, this is your mom, right? Yes, and dad. You know. dad's are cool, but I'm a mama's boy, you know?
  
And from the day we took office, as the commissioner stated, your son just has been a blessing. And you know, just he and his entire team, all the executives that are here from the Department of Sanitation. We often overlook the role that they play.

And we're clear, this administration has been clear, my goal is to protect public safety, revitalize the economy and make the city more livable for hardworking New Yorkers.  It's something that is often overlooked. And we are [focused] on that.

And I'm just really proud to acknowledge both Chief Pitts and MTA bus driver Marvin McLaurin for just what they do, just every day. People don't realize that even though you're off the clock, you are always on the clock of being a good citizen and see something, say something, do something, not just pass by and act like you don't acknowledge when something is out of place.

And that's what they did. We're honoring both of these men who shows us that heroes don't don't only wear capes, they wear a sanitation uniform, bus driver's uniform, police uniforms, school safety agents, food service workers, you name it, and they wear it every day and they get the job done.

And so when bus driver McLaurin was driving his bus through East New York at 5:00 a.m. in the morning, he saw two young children boarding his bus alone, wearing pajamas and shorts. Marvin, who has four kids of his own, knew something wasn't right — just that dad intuition — and he responded.

He took action and gave the children a coat and a sweater to stay warm and he helped get the NYPD involved, who worked to safely reconnect them with their parents. He could have just driven off or just continued his route, but he did just the opposite.  He saw those children as his children, and he responded accordingly. And Marvin, we cannot thank you enough for doing that; and because of that, those two young children are home safely. Thank you so much.
  
And DSNY Chief Jeff Pitts was at a gas station in Glendale, Queens, with his mother [Iris] when he saw a 10‑year‑old boy walking around with a backpack alone. He asked the boy to wait with him while he called 911. Chief Pitts bought the child lunch and kept him safe until two NYPD detectives arrived. The young boy had been reported missing 10 miles away in Brooklyn that morning. Chief Pitts kept a lost boy safe and helped return him home to his family. And then to add to that, the rest of the senior sanitation chief also helped.

When they heard about what happened to the young child, they bought him a PlayStation 5 and some games that go along with it, and Chief Pitts gave the PlayStation 5 to the young boy this past Christmas.  The whole uniformed leadership of DSNY responded accordingly to make sure that this child was safe and to make sure to let him know that he matters to us.

And so I really want to thank both Marvin and Chief Pitts for showing how being a New Yorker is something that we can all do not only in our professional capacity and what civil service do every day to continuously serve the people of the city.

Being a hero as a bus driver or a chief in the Department of Sanitation is something that we do every day, and I cannot thank them enough. It is just really in alignment with what we believe, I cannot say it over and over again, I say it. This city has recovered in a remarkable way: crime is down, jobs are up, tourists are back, we're protecting public safety, revitalizing our economy, and making this city more livable for hardworking New Yorkers that are often overlooked, but not in this administration.

So, I want to thank both of you.  You personify what we expect from our New Yorkers. And I'm happy to see Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar who's always lifting up our civil servants and our New Yorkers here in the City of New York.

So, I, Eric Adams, Mayor of the City of New York, do hereby proclaim Friday, January 5th in the City of New York as Marvin McLaurin Day. And I also will be giving a proclamation proclaiming this also as Chief Jeff Pitts Day. So, let me give you these great proclamations and tell you both thank you.
  
Say a few words. It's easier than driving a bus.

Marvin McLaurin: Good afternoon, everybody. It's a pleasure to see everybody here today. I just want to say that, like, Mayor Adams said, the father instinct in, you know, to see two little kids out there that morning, cold with no coat or anything on. So, I just wanted to make sure they were safe, and once NYPD arrived, I knew they were in safe hands. So, thank you again.

Chief Jeffrey Pitts, Cleaning, Department of Sanitation: Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you mayor, thank you commissioner, thank you everyone for being here and inviting me down. I'm going to simplify it like this. Seeing a child in need, I did what any civil service person would do: be vigilant, looking out for others and helping those in need.

The little boy, you know, he wasn't just any little boy, he was a special little boy, and he definitely made an impression on me, which is why I went above and beyond and remembering that he mentioned that he wanted a PlayStation 5 and didn't think he was going to get it.

It was actually part of the reason he left, because he thought he was going to get a PlayStation 5. I think apparently he went to a Target to try to buy it with $2 and it wasn't enough. So, he just kept going.

But fortunately, he landed in my path and I was able to identify he had an issue and reunite him with his parents. So, again, as the mayor said, see something, say something, do something. You know, it's our duty, and I would hope everyone does that. That's all. Thank you.