Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Appears live on Radio Soleil

October 8, 2016

Ricot Dupuy: Ladies and gentlemen, we are privileged to have on the phone our Mayor, the Mayor of New York City, Mayor de Blasio. Mayor de Blasio will certainly talk about Hurricane Matthew and certainly New York City's contribution to whatever relief efforts that there will be. 

Mr. Mayor, I remember during the campaign, I – when you were on my – being interviewed by me, I asked you if when you become Mayor if my mic would not be too small for you. You were very adamant. You said Ricot, no way. And I should let my listeners know that you've been wanting to come back for some time now. So we thank you for that. Mr. Mayor, welcome to Radio Soleil.

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you, Ricot, thank you so much. As you know, I am so appreciative of the work that you do, Ricot, and that Radio Soleil does – and such an important voice for the community. And I'm happy to be back, and I intend to be back many times going forward.

But this – I'm sorry to be with you in such a difficult moment for the people of Haiti and for the Haitian-American community. This is – I'm thinking back to time we spent together after the earthquake, and I'm so sorry that Haiti has suffered again. And this storm, Hurricane Matthew – obviously a huge negative impact on Haiti. And as you know the damage is still being assessed, and news is still coming in constantly. And it's been very, very tough. So many hundreds of lives lost, and probably more that we'll learn about. But also that so many villages devastated and because it was in a nation that still is feeling the effects of the earthquake – still has not recovered from that horrible episode – it is so much worse. 

And you know, I want all of your listeners to know that our administration at City Hall stands by the Haitian-American community and all the people of Haiti who are suffering right now. We want to do everything we can to help. And Ricot, one of the things that we've done immediately – we're going to make it very simple for City employees – as you know that's over 300,000 people in New York City who are City employees – we're going to let them know that they can voluntarily deduct from their paycheck to contribute to the relief for the people of Haiti in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. So with the next paycheck, there will be a very simple opportunity for anyone who wants to deduct a donation out of their paycheck and make it available to one of the organizations we've designated – that they will be able to do that either as a one-time donation or on an ongoing basis. And further – that the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City has identified relief organizations. And if anyone is looking for where they can contribute, they can go online – www.nyc.gov/fund – f - u - n - d – and donate there directly, and those dollars will go to relief for the Haitian community.

And one more point I want to make. I know that the elected officials who represent the community – Councilmember Mathieu Eugene and Councilmember Jumaane Williams, among them – are already mobilizing relief efforts here in the city. We also have NYPD officers who are already in Haiti providing support, and more are on the way who are members of the Haitian American Law Enforcement Fraternal Organization. So we're going to do everything we can to support their efforts and to make sure that whatever we can do, whatever the City can do – we have such a huge, important Haitian community here – we feel such closeness to Haiti. And we want to make sure that we're helping in every way we can. 

Dupuy: Talking about the NYPD. There's a fantastic program that was I think right after the earthquake. It would be the NYPD and the State Department – they were involved in training Haitian police officers. You know a number of the police stations were destroyed by the hurricane. And lack of electricity – that will create an environment that will create a security problem. So the need for – on that level – might be, might be there. So it's a very, very good program. I don't know if you know – it's welcome. Anyway, [inaudible] it's a very, very good program. And I know a very, very good friend of mine who is taking part in it. 

Mr. Mayor, one problem that comes all the time, whenever there are relief efforts concerning Haiti – it's the transportation problem. All too often, we collect a lot of stuff, but we just can't get them to Haiti. I just wanted to mention that to you to see if you have any thoughts. 

Mayor: Ricot, can you hear me okay?

Dupuy: Yes, yes, yes.

Mayor: Well, I remember very vividly after the earthquake, this was a huge problem. And we want to do all we can to assist in addressing that, meaning the City of New York will certainly work very closely with the relief organizations and with our federal government to make sure that anything that's ready to be transported can get there and get to the right organizations. So that's something where anything we can do from City Hall, we will do. I know so many people in this city want to support the people of Haiti right now. And the need is so great. And we have to work through those logistics problems. So I would certainly say if there's any particular problem that we can work through – that City Hall can help with in – including if that means reaching out to the Obama administration and getting their support – we're going to do that. And Ricot, obviously, you can at anytime alert me and my administration, as will elected officials, of any way that we can help to ensure that those supplies get through. 

Dupuy: Very good. There's no way I can have Mayor de Blasio as my guest and not really, really make it very clear to my listeners and really the things that we've said de Blasio has done, as for the Haitian's community is concerned. They remember very well, and I make sure they remember the Mayor is really almost owning the issue of the denationalizations in the DR. Politically, it was maybe a risky thing for you to do, but you did it. And I'm sure my listeners will never, never forget that. And the number of Haitian commissioners you have in your administration – my goodness – this speaks volumes. And we remember, also, that you at a very early stage, very early – you supported, endorsed Rodneyse Bichotte. And I'm sure Rodneyse would not be where she is without that early support. It is important for my listeners to be reminded of that. And we are very proud of you Mr. Mayor, and we have your back, and I want you to know that.

Mayor: Well, thank you so much. Ricot, I want you to know, I've been honored to have supported so many initiatives that will provide empowerment for the Haitian-American community. Obviously, I was proud to be an early supporter of Rodneyse Bichotte. I was proud to be an early supporter of Mathieu Eugene. Very proud of the efforts that we made after the earthquake and ongoing to support the people of Haiti. 

I think it is so important that we recognize in this city that we have an obligation, first of all, to really live up to our values as a city of immigrants – not just to talk about it, but to do something about it. That's why I've always supported initiatives to provide some relief after these horrible disasters when people needed some flexibility in terms of their visas and the situations that they were facing with their families. We've tried to everything we could to support that. 

But in a bigger way, until this nation has comprehensive immigration reform, New York City is trying to support immigrants in every way – whether it's legal services to help keep families together, we've, with the City Council, we've made more and more money available for legal services to help families avoid deportation; what we've done with obviously the IDNYC card to help ensure [inaudible] people get respect, get recognition, that they can get a lease and a bank account, and can visit a school or hospital because they have proper ID. Even if they happen to be undocumented, we think that's made a huge impact. Almost a million people have that. 

So all of those things are directly about recognizing the community, empowering the community. But further, really important things that have reached so many people in the Haitian-American community and beyond – Pre-K For All, afterschool for all our middle school kids. Those are benefits I really want to tell your listeners. If anybody has a four-year-old child that's not in pre-K, it's free, it's available, it will change the lives of your children for the better. Anyone who has a child in middle school – sixth, seventh, eighth grade – that doesn't have their kid in afterschool, they can have it for free, and it will really improve their learning. That, and the Paid Sick Leave initiative that's reaching a million more people than it did a few years ago. These are things to try and really directly improve the quality of life of people in the community.

And just one other thing, Ricot, I'd like to mention because it's very timely – just October 1st, a few days ago. Anyone who is in a rent stabilized apartment and has a lease coming due now can benefit from the new rent freeze we put in place. 

Dupuy: Yes.

Mayor: And not have to pay additional rent or if they choose a two-year lease, it's only a two percent increase, which is obviously very modest. And also, for so many of our seniors and people with disabilities, there are additional rent exemptions and rent freezes available. So it turns out Ricot, there are tens of thousands of New Yorkers who could get a rent freeze, but don't know that it's their right. And I really ask your help in reminding people – 

Dupuy: Of course.

Mayor: That they can call 3-1-1 or go on our website, and particularly for seniors and disabled, it's so important they take advantage of this opportunity. 

Dupuy: Absolutely. And this interview is also going to be re-aired, either tonight or tomorrow, so to make sure that the maximum number of people get your message. And one thing I forgot to mention also – the list of things you've done, as far as the Haitian community is concerned, is the fact that you did place a Haitian on your transition team. That definitely sent the proper signal to us, and we got it.

Mr. Mayor, I'm not going to keep you for too long because I know you are very, very busy and you got to go. But I want to let you know that tomorrow night at 7:30, in front of the studios of Radio Soleil, there will be a very important candlelight vigil. There will be a number of leaders from the clergy, from the community. The Commander of the 67th Precinct will be there. And the media will be there. So to keep the focus on what happened in Haiti – the devastation of Hurricane Matthew in our country.

Mayor: Well, I'm very glad people are gathering to support Haiti and support the community here, Ricot. And I will tell you I'm going to be in Detroit on Sunday to campaign for Hillary Clinton. Otherwise, I would have loved to have been there. But just so you know, our solidarity with the community will continue. And people should know that the community will always be respected and supported at City Hall. 

Dupuy: Mayor de Blasio, thank you, thank you very much. Thank you for being my guest today.

Mayor: Thank you, Ricot. I'll see you soon my friend.