I guess you can say I’m getting old when I mention the names of New York Mayors like Robert Wagner and how he dealt with tough New York issues in the 60s and John Lindsey and his participation in renovating the original Yankee Stadium in the early 70s. I loved the no-nonsense attitude of Ed Koch in the 80s and who will ever forget the courage of Rudy Giuliani and how he dealt with organized crime.
From the mayoral standpoint, these guys became legendary because they truly wanted to make New York great during their watch.
As a kid being Puertorican and from the Hunts Point section of the Bronx and then the very tough section of Williamsburg Brooklyn, the thing that impressed me the most about these mayors was their participation in the Puerto Rican Day Parade. It gave my Latin people a sense of being important, even if it was for just one day of the year. I remember the self-esteem of me and many of my people was at an all-time low and then we would see the leader of our city leading thousands of Latinos up 5th avenue waving a Puertorican flag. Man, that really put a smile on our faces.
This week I received an invitation to Gracie Mansion, the home of our newest Mayor, Eric Adams. He was having a reception to talk about the upcoming Puertorican day parade, I was quite thrilled.
When he took the podium he started off by welcoming all the so-called special guests in Spanish. I smiled because it reminded me of my all-time favorite Mayor John Lindsey and how he always tried to speak to masses of Hispanics in our native language. I thought it was very cool.
I have gotten to know Eric Adams through my friendship with Bronx activist Lenny Caro. Lenny is always trying to better the Bronx so if Eric is friends with him then I knew that Eric’s intentions are real.
I think this mayor has a chance of being one of the great ones because I find him to be sincere.
When I call or text him he always responds and yet I’m a small fish in a big lake. There is something decent about this man and I believe in him.
I want to thank Mayor Adams for truly understanding the magnitude of the Puertorican people, of the Latin people, of all people.
By the way, Eric had me the day that I asked him if he understood the importance of Yankee catcher Thurman Munson… he responded back by saying… You mean our Captain!!!
