Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts Reception Celebrating Puerto Rican Heritage

June 6, 2024

Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Department for the Aging: Do you think a little rain would stop Boricuas? Welcome to the People's House. As the mayor always says, mi casa es su casa. Thank you all for being here. I have the distinct honor of showing some of the people who represent this city behind me. They're the people who work with you and serve you every day, and that is the administration of the Adams administration.

The Boricuas who serve in this administration. The mayor believes representation is important. If you are in it… Come in, come up. If you represent then you actually get community input and service. I'm going to acknowledge the administration we have with us, our sheriff, Anthony Miranda. We have our deputy mayor for Public Safety, Louis Molina. We have the incomparable, the one who's always in the community with us, and that is Valerie Vazquez, the deputy commissioner for CAU. We have the woman that protects all of us as consumers, and that is Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga from Consumer and Worker Protection. We have Ivette Dávila from the Mayor's Office of Communication. She's awesome.

Then we have our partners in government who really make a lot of things possible. We have the borough president of the Bronx, Vanessa Gibson, who had a phenomenal flag-raising today, the first ever. We have the deputy commissioner of Parks. Those of us who live in the Bronx, we know what you did for Parks in the Bronx. Iris, how are you today?

With that, I'm going to bring the man who is opening his house to you and who always says bienvenido. The mayor of the City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: I love it. I love that song. This weekend on Fifth Avenue, we are going to show folks how we do it in the San Juan of America, New York City.

Largest Puerto Rican population outside of Puerto Rico is right here with a rich history and tradition. You see your leadership, your spirit, your energy, in this administration. I am just really happy to be here today as we celebrate the rich culture of the Puerto Rican community. When you do an analysis of the success of this city, it is tied directly to the contributions, your commitment, your dedication on all level of our society, the Puerto Rican community. 

The community has played such a role and it's really exciting when you think about it. Everything from Tony Miranda, Anthony Miranda leading our Sheriff's Department. My brother, Eddie Caban, who is the first Spanish speaker to be the police commissioner of the City of New York.

My brother Molina, who is now going over to DCAS, one of the largest citywide services controlling these huge inventory of our city, and the beautiful Lorraine Cortés-Vásquez, our friend from the Department of Aging, looking after our older adults. But go back, as we march this weekend, let this weekend not only be a weekend of celebration, but a weekend of reflection. Let's think about the Young Lords and what they have done and ensure that our young people are aware of this history. Let's think about the great work of Pablo Guzmán who transitioned, but his commitment to making sure that the mass media see the reflection of the power of the Puerto Rican community.

Let's think about Justice Sotomayor, who now sits on the Supreme Court. Grew up in NYCHA, from NYCHA, to sitting on our biggest and most important court. Let's not be dismissive of what this community has represented and has presented to us year after year after year, culture, dance, music. As I celebrated the 152nd Cultural Festival last month, I'm reminded constantly of the contribution of the Puerto Rican experience. Tonight, we're going to honor some of those pioneers.

We did a flag raising a few days ago, and they were there with us many, but they have contribute to who we are. As I look over the crowd and I see the famous Michael Nieves who has done so much when he's looking at HITN and Rubén Díaz Jr. who has contributed so much. That is our success. We can't do it alone, we do it with our partners. You talked about Vanessa Gibson, who's the Bronx borough president, but think about the first Spanish-speaking district attorney in the largest county in this country, Eric Gonzalez, and what he has done with the office.

We are focused. We say it over and over again, crimes are down, jobs are up. We're going to celebrate. We want our party tonight to be so festive, we want them to call the police on us for making up too much noise. Let's have fun. Let's enjoy ourselves. I look forward to marching this weekend and celebrating our Boricuas and what the Puerto Rican community means to all of us. Viva Puerto Rico. Thank you.

First Deputy Commissioner Valerie Vazquez, Community Affairs Unit: Good evening. I'm Valerie Vazquez, the first deputy commissioner for the mayor's Community Affairs Unit. Tengo una pregunta, ¿tengo los Boricuas en la casa? If you do, let me hear huepa!

We're going to start with our first honoree who really doesn't need an introduction, Tito Nieves, a salsa legend whose contributions to the genre have earned him a loyal following around the world. His voice, engaging performances make him one of the most beloved salsa figures in the world. Tito Nieves.

Next up, we have Lisa Lisa, born Lisa Velez. She hails from Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen. She is one of the greatest Latin hip hop freestyle pop divas to come out of the 1980s music scene as part of the '80s supergroup, Lisa and the Cult Jam.

Next up, we have Ángel Cucco Peña from Santurce, Puerto Rico. Cucco is a composer, musician, singer, and record producer. He gained recognition for his work as an arranger and producer for Willie Colón, Olga Tañón, Ricky Martin, and others. His musical contributions span genres from bolero to salsa. 

Michael Stuart, singer, songwriter, and actor. Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, where he lived as a child. His debut remake of Michael Jackson's The Lady of My Life was a hit and went on to achieve success across the world. 

Last but not least, Frank Javier Malave, better known by his stage name Frankie Cutlass. Grammy nominated award-winning Puerto Rican DJ, record producer, songwriter, and remix from East Harlem. Cutlass made his mark in the music industry with his hit Puerto Rico collab. His career spans decades and he remains influential in the hip hop and Latin music scene. 

Thank you to Mayor Adams for recognizing these Puerto Ricans in the arts. We would be remiss if we didn't thank our DJ, the famous Tony Touch. He's a Puerto Rican hip hop break dancer, rapper, producer, and DJ. Thank you.