Mayor Bill de Blasio: This is the place to be in New York City, the Empire State Building. And listen, everyone, New York City is coming back. New York City is coming back strong. We are ready for our full reopening July 1st. We are ready for an extraordinary summer. This is going to be the summer of New York City. And if you are visiting New York City, you have to come to the Empire State Building. There is no such thing as a visit to New York City where you really get to experience this city without going to the Empire State Building. It is part of who we are and it is the best place to see all the greatness of New York City.
Now, listen, my family – the older generation in my family used to talk about what the Empire State Building meant to them. Because when it was built, it was an absolute marvel. It was something that was so amazing to people, even in New York City, where people believe everything’s possible. The Empire State Building stood out as an extraordinary achievement. And, to this day, we all feel a deep connection to the Empire State Building. The fact that it is here for us and it safe, because they’ve done an extraordinary job – this is another example of New York City’s comeback.
I have to tell you, the Empire State Building – everyone here, they do things right. And Tony Malkin and I have had many conversations. And, Tony, I want to express my admiration to you and your whole team, because you don’t skimp on anything, ever. I admire it. You came up with the best safety systems in the midst of COVID and you showed how it could be done, how we could all come back together. You came up with some of the best green building standards in the world and you applied them in the world’s most famous building. I want people to understand how important that was. The number-one challenge we face, going forward, is climate change. We all have to get ready to fight this challenge together. The Empire State Building lead the way and said to people all over the world, you could do this too. And yes, we have the strongest, boldest law in New York City to stop emissions from our buildings. And that law was inspired in large measure by the achievements of the Empire State Building. Tony, you have been front and center in that effort. Thank you. Thank you for all you’ve done to help move us forward.
But everyone, look – why do people love this building so much? Because it expresses our hopes. Because it is a place to dream. Tony told you it’s a great place to work. Of course, it’s a great place to visit, but it’s especially a great place to dream. And also, it’s a really great place to take a selfie. So, everybody – there’s no better selfie location on earth than the observation deck of the Empire State Building.
So, 90 years young. And what a perfect moment for this anniversary, because New Yorkers are ready to move forward. But sometimes, the best way to move forward is to remember the greatness of our past. This building saw us through many a challenge. This building was built in the middle of the Depression. This building saw us through wars and every other challenge, but it stood as a beacon. No matter what, the Empire State Building was here, and it will be here for a long time ahead. And this building will look out over the recovery of New York City, the comeback of New York City. I think you’ll see a smile on the face of this building. You’ll see those lights lit up to inspire us. This anniversary says so much to us.
So, everyone, this is a joyous day for New York City. And congratulations and happy birthday, Empire State Building.
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