In a rare display of public emotion, Mayor Bloomberg on Thursday choked up when talking about his unborn grandson and the city that he hopes to leave for him in a valedictory speech before a sympathetic crowd of business elites.
Bloomberg, addressing the Association for a Better New York for the last time as mayor, said the birth of his first grandchild has forever changed his perspective – and left him even more invested in the future of the city.
“I’m looking forward to holding the baby in my arms – and looking into his eyes and saying to him: ‘This is your generation’s city now. It’s the greatest city in the world,'” said Bloomberg.
It was an unusually heartfelt tone for the self-made billionaire, but he followed it up with classic Bloomberg advice for the unborn youngster: “Don’t screw it up,” he said to laughs.
But he put his typical business approach aside again at the end of the speech, when – after listing what he considered the city’s core values – Bloomberg evoked his grandson for a second time.
“In the decades ahead, mayors will come and go. There will be ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies. But if we always remember our values … we will remain what we are today: The greatest city in the world,” he said. “That is my heartfelt hope. That is my wish for our future. And that is what I want, more than anything else, for my little grandson and all the generations to come.
As he spoke those closing remarks, his voice caught like he was holding back tears.
His unusual candor came before a crowd heavy hitters and longtime allies in finance, real estate and business, the core base of support that helped elect him to office for three terms.
Also in attendance was former Gov. Mario Cuomo, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, city Controller-elect Scott Stringer, and state Controller Tom DiNapoli.
In his last address in front of the group, Bloomberg – who got a 45-second standing ovation at the start of his talk – touted a laundry list of what he considers his administration’s achievements.
Those achievements ranged from the city’s historic record crime lows – with murder down 49 percent since 2001 – to his administration’s backing of the controversial “Ground Zero” mosque in 2010, which erupted into a world wide controversy.
“We stand up for their religious freedom,” Bloomberg said.
He also listed what he called the city’s “core values,” which include championing immigrants and being a beacon for innovators.
“We must always be a city that offers opportunity to those who have hope, even if, especially if, they speak limited English, or have a limited education, or have limiting resumes,” said Bloomberg, who called the Statue of Liberty “our patron saint.”
“Some communities in the suburbs try to wall those people out. We welcome them in – because they hold in their hearts the Great American Dream.”
And in a subtle swipe at mayor-elect Bill de Blasio – who routinely talks about returning New York to its “progressive” roots – Bloomberg insisted that the city’s values belonged to no party or idealogy.
“They are the values that have defined our city’ history, and that must always guide our future,” said Bloomberg.
He never mentioned de Blasio by name, but also pushed back at the his repeated contention – embodied in his “Tale of Two Cities” campaign slogan – that the poor have been left out of the city’s success under Bloomberg.
“There is no city in America with a stronger social safety net than New York – and there is no city that has done more to fight poverty than we have,” he said.
“That’s one reason why New York has been the only major city in the nation not to experience an increase in poverty since the 2000 census.”
Bloomberg brought his long-time girlfriend Diana Taylor with him to the speech, and arrived early to gladhand with audience members before speaking.
Bill Rudin, the ABNY chairman, called the mayor’s last speech a “bittersweet” occasion, and gave him an inscribed glass apple as a token of affection.
As he was leaving, Bloomberg brushed off questions about the unusual amount of emotions he showed discussing his grandson.
“I’m going to be changing diapers,” he said.
