Mayor Bloomberg left City Hall for the last time as mayor Tuesday night, wrapping up his final day in office.
At 5:11 p.m., he walked out of City Hall for the last time as mayor, cheered by hundreds of staffers who lined the plaza to send him off, along with his daughter Georgina, who just gave birth to his first grandson.
“If I wasn’t happy today, I don’t know when I would be happy,” Bloomberg said.
As he emerged from the building, massive gold balloons shaped like the numbers “108” – for 108th mayor – were released into the sky.
Outside the gates of City Hall, fire fighters formed a gauntlet to see him off, before he ducked into the subway to ride home.
After his last public event as mayor, a breakfast with faith leaders, Hizzoner spent the rest of the day at City Hall saying his goodbyes. Current and former staffers flocked to Bloomberg’s trademark bullpen, many bringing their families.
Bloomberg jumped on a desk to raucous applause and gave his thanks.
“We’ve shown this country and the world that you can have a great city that includes everyone, that gives opportunity to everybody, lets them practice their religion, say what they want to say, and love whoever they want to love, all of those things, extend their lives, improve [things for] their kids,” he said. “And it’s all because of you.”
“Thank you on behalf of the 8.4 million people we were lucky to work for, who paid our salaries – although in my case they were a little bit stingy,” said the billionaire mayor, who worked for $1 a year. “But I’ll get over that. I have all 12 paychecks listed, and they say on them they’re not good if you don’t cash them after 90 days. I might sue over that.”
“Seriously, we have the best team ever,” he went on. “I think it’s fair to say we did some amazing things. But hopefully, it really is just the beginning.”
Aides said he was in good spirits all day.
“He stood on the desk and rocked,” said Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott. “Upbeat, reflective, but just thankful.”
As he rode the subway home, Bloomberg said he left a parting note at City Hall for successor Bill de Blasio, just like predecessor Rudy Giuliani left for him along with a box of cigars. He said his main piece of advice is simple: “Do what you think is right.”
Video of Bloomberg’s full farewell speech to staffers is below:
IMAGES: DAVID HANDSCHUH/NY DAILY NEWS
