Bill de Blasio: Mamdani’s Inauguration Was ‘a Love Song to New York’; ‘It Was Actually Quite Poetic’

EXCERPT:

DE BLASIO: "Let me tell you, Jim, I mean, everyone was frozen, but it was electric nonetheless. It was a really beautiful, beautiful ceremony. I think this was in many ways a love song to New York from Mamdani. It was actually quite poetic, the way he talked about the city and our people. And I think that‘s something that should not be underestimated. He has a unifying voice in terms of love of the city and the neighborhoods, but a very distinct focus on working-class New Yorkers, and celebrating them and what they‘ve achieved. Even though people hear about the big famous names in New York, he really focuses on working people. And I thought he did an incredibly effective job of saying, I‘m going to shoot for the stars here. I‘m going to really try and make big changes. But he didn‘t say, look, we‘re going to succeed every time. He said, the only way we‘re going to find out what‘s possible is to be audacious. And I respect that.”