Transcript: Mayor Mamdani Appears Live on WFAN (101.9 FM)
Zohran Mamdani on NYC Mayor's Office transcripts.
Passages
I can take very little credit for this, but it's an incredible moment for the city. And I mean, we've been waiting for this for more than 50 years. It'll be the first ticker-tape parade in history for the Knicks.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceAbsolutely. There is no question in my mind or in the minds of any New Yorker: Jalen Brunson is the king of New York.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceYou know, I watched the first half of this game streaming on the way back from watching Brazil-Morocco at the New York-Jersey Stadium for the World Cup and got in in time for the second half at a bar in lower Manhattan with a bunch of friends, and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez also joined in. It was incredible to both be inside the bar watching the game and then right outside, it was being projected on a screen on like a five-second tape delay. So, you got to enjoy every shot twice.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceBrother, I went to sleep at 3:45 in the morning, and that's on the earlier side, I think for most New Yorkers. And, you know, I think, [for] the vast majority of New York, [it] was just pure ecstasy and joy. There were people just out in the streets, in their neighborhoods. I mean, look, you, you guys know this better than most, but there's been so much heartbreak, so many near misses, so many what-ifs every year thinking it's the year, and then for it to actually happen? I mean, people were crying out in the streets, and it's a moment none of us will ever, ever forget.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceI would say for the vast majority of New Yorkers, they celebrated responsibly and appropriately. There were a few incidents that we saw where people behaved in an unacceptable manner. This is not the kind of conduct we want to see in our city. And I've said time and again that as we want New York to celebrate, to do so responsibly is critical because there's no tolerance for violence. There were few instances we saw of that. And I'm thankful to the men and women of our Police Department for keeping New Yorkers safe.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceIt really has. I mean, we're going to be hosting a ticker-tape parade, as you said, as well as the City Hall ceremony, honoring the team and awarding keys to the city on Thursday, as you said. It is, you know, as we talked about the first ticker-tape parade in Knicks’ history, and frankly, it's a moment to honor a team that has brought the city together in a way that I think many of us have not seen in a long time, if ever. And we're to be releasing additional details, including how people can join the parade, the ceremony, over the next few days. But this is something that we truly cannot wait for to bring our city together along the Canyon of Heroes to celebrate this team, to celebrate their drive and to celebrate this moment.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceI would be a fool if I gave you a number. I can tell you that there are so many people that are thinking about this, people across the city and people who used to live in this city that wanna come back to the city. But we're hopeful of having numbers as we get closer to the date, but I can tell you the phone is ringing off the hook.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceWe have, and I would say that, you know, the focus is not on litigating the past, but on celebrating the present and giving New Yorkers a chance to do so for the future. And I think that it really just speaks to this team. This team is bringing people across the city together, and I don't think that there's anything that's going to stop a moment of joy and celebration this coming Thursday.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceI'll keep the conversation to be the president and myself between the two of us. What I will say is, you know, among the many political differences that we do have, we are both New Yorkers. We both wanted to see the Knicks win the championship, and I think it speaks to the story of this team. They can bring people together that you'd never imagine. But it's truly been a pleasure, my friends, and I look forward to chatting with you soon, especially as more and more New Yorkers wake up today and realize that in fact last night, we were not dreaming.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceI gotta be honest, that's a little more fantasy than fact. I'm sorry, brother.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceThat's still something that we're going to release as soon as we have that information, we're gonna send that directly over to you as well.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceYou know, one of the key parts of this was that we wanted to make sure that not only are the players here, but also their families are here. This is a moment that people have, they have been waiting for, and these players have been fighting for. And we don't want anyone to miss out on it because of a quick turnaround. And I can tell you both, you know, as a fan, you don't wanna jinx it as the mayor. You’ve got to prepare for the logistics, and we're excited for Thursday. I'm sorry my friends. I do have to jump, but it's been a real, real pleasure.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the source
Every passage above is taken from this recording: NYC Mayor's Office transcripts, Transcript: Mayor Mamdani Appears Live on WFAN (101.9 FM).