Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Holds Press Gaggle with Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai

October 17, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you. Well, this is my second time meeting Mayor Huldai, and he’s a very dynamic leader. He’s transformed this city over now 17 years into one of the great international cities. And it takes a lot for a New Yorker to say that we respect something and kind of envy something about another city. But I can say with a whole heart we envy some of the things that Tel Aviv has achieved – the extraordinary technology center here – and we obviously are building our technology sector every day, but we’ve got a lot to learn from Tel Aviv. We’d like to have your beaches, as much as our beaches are wonderful – Coney Island is wonderful, but you have something very special here and beautiful [inaudible]. But this city is so dynamic, so inclusive, and a lot of that over the last 17 years has been because [inaudible] Mayor Huldai. 

And of course we spoke about the situation here in Israel in these last few weeks. It’s a very painful reality. We spoke to many Israelis just in the last 24 hours, and obviously many [inaudible] as well. People are feeling very profound concern – fear, insecurity because of what’s happening now with these attacks. And let’s face it, these are attacks on the innocent. It’s important to say that. I understand that sometimes the global coverage of the situation presents things in one light, but I think we have to start at the beginning – innocent civilians are being attacked, and it’s undermining the sense of security in this country and it’s morally wrong by any measure. And it’s important for all of us who stand by Israel to speak up at this point, and obviously, whenever possible, to be here in solidarity. So, I’m honored to be here at this tough moment. 

And here’s a city where the ideals of tolerance and inclusion are alive and well. So, even against a very difficult backdrop, it is encouraging to be in a place that has done so much to show us what a truly unified society would look like. So, I commend you for that. I commend you –

Mayor Ron Huldai: [inaudible]

Mayor: Yes.

Mayor Huldai: And come again?

Mayor: Always.

Mayor Huldai: I’m going to be here. 

Mayor: And you come to New York again?

Mayor Huldai: Yes.

Mayor: Okay, questions?

Question: I was wondering what you took from New York and brought back to Tel Aviv.

Mayor Huldai: Look, when you go to New York [inaudible] it is not easy to have [inaudible] past security [inaudible]. By the way, mayors everywhere in the world want the best things [inaudible]. Difference is sometimes the ways of solving the problem. [inaudible]

Mayor: I would just add there, it’s a striking phenomenon – mayors from very different countries have instant recognition of our commonalities. It’s absolutely amazing. It’s something I would never have understood before taking his office. But within minutes, we go to the challenges that we face and it’s almost an instinct comparison of what’s working, how do we do things better, but also looking at each other’s successes with a very positive spirit because, in a sense, we’re all doing the same work. There is, in a sense, one global urban dynamic and it cuts across continents and cultures. We’re all facing the same issues – migration, and inclusion, and how to create a more inclusive economy. This is common everywhere. And I was struck when I was at the Vatican in July, that the conversations, again, almost instantaneous to seeking common information, common ground – also the reassurance, because the particular challenge mayors face is unlike the kind that national leaders face because we are rooted on the ground. So, I’m always inspired when I spend time among my fellow mayors, and especially a mayor who’s proven over the long-run that you can take a vision and put it to action. Again, this is was a very different city 17 years ago, and I think we can say that he has a surplus of personality that helps him, and vision, and drive, but it is a reminder of the role that mayors can play in transforming local reality. 

Question: Anything in particular that you talked about over breakfast, and, more substantially, what did you eat for breakfast? 

[Laughter]

Mayor: That’s your idea of what substance is? Tell me the name of the –

Unknown: Shakshuka

Mayor: We had shakshuka – shakshuka.

Mayor Huldai: Shakshuka [inaudible] mixing everything together. 

Question: You have a food truck in New York –

Mayor: That does – that does shakshuka? Alright, I’m going to visit. So, there’s the second part of your question. I mean, we talked about the security situation and what the way forward is, which is obviously an extraordinarily complex question. Mayor Huldai is a very distinguished veteran of the armed forces of this nation, and obviously understands this reality from the powerful perspective of someone who’s been through armed conflict, but also, again, has created the very diverse and inclusive reality here in this city. So, we talked about the way forward and we all understand it’s very difficult at this moment. You know, it’s hard to think about how much has to be done to foster peace. Right now, the first concern, of course, is with the security of [inaudible].

Mayor Huldai: [inaudible] 

Mayor: [inaudible] so he’s learned. He is wise and learned. I won’t let him say [inaudible] his insights were very helpful. Anything else?

Question: Mr. Mayor, can you tell us a little bit about what you’ve been up to so far in Israel? Who you’ve met with? Where you’ve been in your almost 24 hours so far? 

Mayor: Not quite 24 hours yet – the fascinating chance-encounter yesterday with Tony Blair – we spent about a half-hour talking, obviously. I give him tremendous credit for his efforts to try and foster peace, and provide a lot of insight. Then had a dinner with a group of New Yorkers who are here, many of whom I have worked with at the community level in New York. And then we went to the wall last night, which, you know, my view is, having been here several times, it’s a very different experience. And I’m saying this as someone who is American and doesn’t happen to be Jewish. But being at the wall at night in a quiet moment is so powerful and causes so much reflection – how much history, how much of the history of the world minutes from that one place. And so, that was very powerful. And then this morning, heading up to spend time with the mayor. That’s it so far – anything else? 

Alright, thanks everyone.