Mayor-elect Eric Adams said on Christmas Day that this has been “an extraordinarily difficult year for Brooklynites and New Yorkers.”
“While Christmas can be a trying time for so many facing tremendous challenges such as bereavement, depression, or food and housing insecurity, it also finds a way to remind us of life’s plentiful blessings, a great deal of which I witness on a day-to-day basis as I visit our various communities throughout the borough,” said Adams, the incumbent Brooklyn Borough President, who will become Mayor of New York City on Jan. 1, in his Christmas Day message.
“Brooklynites care for one another, and we lift one another up in times of sorrow,” he added. “When I visit our borough’s soup kitchens, or toy drives for our young people whose families must choose between food on the table or gifts under the tree, I am heartened by how we take care of one another, and the joy we feel knowing that we are lifting others up.”
Adams said nothing makes him prouder than seeing Brooklyn residents “mobilizing the compassion inside their hearts for the betterment of humankind.
“The pandemic may have made us change our habits, but it can never dim our spirits,” she said. “And that is one of the greatest gifts that all of you have given to me through the years.
“On this last Christmas of my borough presidency, and, in the enduring spirit of One Brooklyn, let’s continue to use our blessings by elevating others who may be less fortunate,” added Adams, urging residents to donate to a homeless shelter, volunteer at a food pantry and lend a hand to someone who can use the help.
“There are so many ways in which we can have a merry Christmas but being able to help others is the best way,” he said.
On Christmas-Eve, Gov. Kathy Hochul, took a moment to wish New Yorkers a “very Merry Christmas.”
She said that the pandemic has been difficult for every New Yorker, and added that, as they continue to navigate COVID and its variants, “there’s fatigue, uncertainty and fear.
“I understand, and that’s why we’re working so diligently to help everyone stay safe,” she said in her Christmas message. “Despite the challenges we face, this holiday season, I’m also filled with hope and optimism.
“Every single day, I’m reminded of the strength, compassion and resilience of the people living in this state,” Hochul said. “You’ve endured so much — and you keep moving forward. We’ve learned throughout this crisis that we truly are all in this together. There’s so much more that unites us than divides us.
“I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that New York is going to come back stronger than ever,” she added. “There is no better time to reflect on this moment of great opportunity than on Christmas. At the end of the day, this holiday is all about love, and family, and the beginning of a time when the world began to rethink what was possible.
“So, today, I want to thank you for all that you’ve done and will do to keep each other safe this holiday season,” the governor continued. “Get vaccinated and boosted. Talk to that loved one who hasn’t been vaccinated yet and make sure they do. Wear your mask and get tested.”
