Good morning, Patterson. And it is a good morning indeed. Today, we get to celebrate the ribbon cutting of another playground, an inclusive playground in the city of Patterson with two champions. In fact, they are two twotime
champions. Otis Anderson won two Super Bowls. Dwight Gooden. Yes, Dwight Gooden won two World Series. Yes, one was with the Yankees, but the first with the Mets. I know we're going to debate this all morning long. He was a rookie of the year with the Mets. He
was a Sai Young with the Mets. He is in the Mets Hall of Fame and his number was retired last year by the New York Mets. Thank you very much. So, let's end the debate right here. Right, Chief John Dean, thank you for joining us. Three times. Oh, three. If you Google them, it only says two. So, they got to change
that on Wikipedia. Nevertheless, we have champions with us and Patterson is a city of champions. That's why we're investing so heavily in improving our parks, our playgrounds, and other public spaces. I remember when parents used to come to the council meetings and talk
about during the public portion, we don't have a place to play for children with autism. And so when I became mayor, that number was zero as far as inclusive playgrounds concerned. Today, after we cut the ribbon, this will be the seventh
inclusive playground in Patterson in seven years. I want to thank our friend Danny Rodriguez, the commissioner from the Pake Board of Education for joining us. In fact, he called me and said, "Mayor, you need a purple playground in Patterson because Grimace turned the
meth season around last year." But Doc will elaborate on that a little bit later. Purple is a very dominant color. Yes. Yes. It d it signifies royalty as well. One of our most prominent fraternities
in Patterson. Omega Sci-Fi. Heavily invested. Yes. Otis Anderson is a Q. Yes. They're heavily invested in our city and they volunteer their time particularly with T-ball at Larry Doby Field which
I'm sorry Raylight Field which is appropriately orange and blue. Yes. And that's why I'm wearing that today. But nevertheless, it's about re revitalizing a neighborhood. It is about what we've been doing in this area. Not too far from here is Amastad Park. And we
invested over a quarter of a million dollars to enhance the aesthetics in that park, a passive recreation park for that section of this city. Exercise. Yes, there are fit. There's a fitness zone. There's benches. There are grills
for people to enjoy. Well, we're excited about this purple playground. As a matter of fact, we've been working on this for quite some time. So, we're hoping that the children will ultimately enjoy this just in time for the start of summer. I want to acknowledge that we have with us two deputy mayors. Deputy
Mayor Janet McDaniel, thank you for joining us. And Deputy Mayor Maria Delpar Rivas. But at this Yes, that's a mouthful. You're right. I like that. But at this time, I want to call for the young man who has been working closely with me on
making sure that days like this do happen and that we continue to prioritize our parks and prioritize our youth. And that is our director of the Department of Public Works, Billy Rodriguez. Yes. Go get it, Billy. Coach Dable. That's right. Yeah, we had
a great draft. Great draft. Great draft. Thank you, mayor, um for continuing the support for me for um doing knocking out these parks. But uh this is what happens when the community wants their park back. You know, transforming this park and giving it back to the children of Patterson is what we're about. Um the park is beautiful. It's the purple park
and we have the sign up here for for the residents to see. Um the statement is we're taking back our parks from the riff raff that are hanging in here doing unwanted things and they could go elsewhere with it. Maybe leave the back maybe leave city and go somewhere else. It's not needed here no more. Don't want
it. Thank you. Wow. Very good. Well said. Saved director is a man of few words. He's a man of action and he lets his action speak for himself. Speaking of action, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the work done here at the Purple Playground and
on the other playgrounds by World Construction. So, Jim Davis and your team, we salute you. Thank you once again for an outstanding play space for the children of Patterson. That's the team right there. The 1986 New York Mets
right there. 1990 New York Giants right there. Saw what I did. And the bus driver. Come on down. Get on the slide. That's terrific. That is terrific. Even NJ Transit bus drivers are excited about the purple playground in Patterson.
Resident. Come on. Look, this doesn't happen without collaboration between both branches of government, legislative and executive. And as I tell my council colleagues, if you share the vision, you share the victory. Yes. Today we are declaring
victory. Today is a win for this neighborhood. Today is a win for our children because ultimately the they will be victorious anytime they come with their parents to play here at the purple playground. So at this time I want to yield to our counciloman at
large, Dr. Melissa Mips. Good morning, Patterson and to everyone that is here. Giants. Yes. Yes. The favorite team, my mom's team, the Yankees. And today is a great day because we're here for our
youth. We have our parent coordinator if she will come up. Miss Joanne Harris who's here. She'll stand with us. She works at school number 20 right around the corner. And I'm really excited because our youth need places to play and more recreation in the community.
Thinking of this park is purple. My campaign color. I'm excited. Mayor, you did the right thing. Do the right thing. This solidifies the win. So, I just want to say to Patterson, our youth deserve better. Our community deserves better.
When we transform a park, we transform lives and the community at large. Let's keep growing. Let's keep building. Let's keep making a better Patterson. God bless you and God bless you. Yes, that's right. You know what? You got me thinking. Two of our previous speakers
mentioned the word transform. Yes, it's transformation time in Patterson. Yes. When we brought Barber Park back to life, it was transformation time in Patterson. Janette Thompson Park on Clinton Street. We reclaimed it from the drug dealers and the drug users. It's transformation time in Patterson. when
we build Vera Ames Park and they're going there next for that inclusive playground. It's transformation time in Patterson. Cobb Park. Transformation time in part Patterson. Yes. Anthony Lucas, the splash pad. It's transformation time in Patterson. 21st
Avenue Boys and Girls Club. 21st. It's a transformation time in Patterson. At this time, I want to call forward our council president who's a strong supporter of what we're doing in this city, the Honorable Alex Mendes. Thank you, mayor. Thank you. Good morning, Patterson. It is definitely a great
morning because we giving this beautiful park, a state-of-the-art playground back to our community and and definitely welcome to the third war, one of the greatest and the best area of the city of Madison. And we have two superstar, a giant superstar and a Yankee superstar
behind us here and uh and I'm very excited. Yes, today is a very special day. During my campaign when I was knocking on door, this was one of the biggest concern and counciloman, Dr. listen in and I will share this concern also with the resident of this great community and we promise this community
to bring this park back alive and look at that it's beautiful it's ready for the kids and we're going to continue advocating for camera and police presence in our park we need that those safe area for our children we got to make sure that the family and the kids enjoying this beautiful investment that
we doing and we're going to stay on top of that if you look down Brilland Avenue Brilland Avenue is renovated we have the grill table also The sidewalk menu has been fixed on Brilland Avenue. Beautiful park. Now um now we have the uh Brilland Park and very soon Larry Dope is going
to be open. So we working hard and we're doing what we supposed to do for the city. Let's continue working together and let's put the family and our children first. Thank you so very much. [Applause] So when I say what time is it, you say transformation time. What time is it?
Transformation. What time is it? Transformation. I can't hear you. What time is it? transformation time. A young lady who could speak to the transformation that's taking place is someone that grew up not too far from here. In fact, across the street, she helped us along with Roger Greer and
others reclaim Barber Park for the community and now it is a firstass public space for the neighborhood in the fourth ward. Ladies and gentlemen, Victoria Okendo. Yes. Good morning.
I am excited as a child. I'm 57 years old and I spent all my childhood across the street at 230 Vland Avenue. For the entire duration of my childhood, there was nothing here. We made the most of it. But to come here today and to see
that the children who are now living in this area have this park to play in, it makes me happy because again there was nothing but concrete here. So to see this park transformed, remember today is transformation day. Yes, this is amazing. I'm happy for the
children. I hope we all work together to keep this clean and keep it keep it to a park where children can be safe and play. I'm happy. Thank you. Thank you, Victoria. Thank you for
that testimonial because it's transformation time. Before we hear from our two champions, I want to hear from my champion, the mayor of my house, the first lady of the city of Patterson for Hanaya. Thank you. [Applause]
Only time I sleep on a couch when the Mets put me to sleep, that's it. Yeah, that's true. So, why is this important? Why is a playground important in our community? It's not just about the slides and the swings. It's not just about the grass. It's about the
community coming together. A common space that people can be proud of. A place that's worth walking to. A place that's worth putting down your devices and saying, "Hey, I want to play. I want to connect." These last few weeks, whenever it's a
sunny day, I like to go to one of our parks at least and spend time in those parks. And guess what? That's where the parents and guardians are connecting. It's where community is formed. It's where people start talking and they talk about how we can improve our community
in a greater way. So parks go beyond something that's just fun to do. It's a place where people connect, people uh uh are uh healthier mentally and physically. And so I'm so excited to see yet another park in yet another community that so desperately needs
this. So I'm so excited. I can't wait to bring my kids here. We've been watching it. We've been driving by, walking by, looking to see when is it going to be done. And now, um, maybe we'll be here after school. So, thank you. Thanks, Mom. See what I mean? The mayor of my house,
she also dressed me this morning. She laid out my orange and blue suit. I wonder why, but she's right. Access to parks is a social determinant of health. Yes. Yes. As a matter of fact, for the fifth straight year, the New Jersey Healthcare Quality Institute has
designated Patterson a healthy town. Part of it was because of our vaccination program during CO 19. Part of it is because we do have a mobile unit that is immersed in the neighborhoods to make sure that people are getting tested and getting the vaccinations they need out of health.
But a a large part is what we're doing with the parks so we can provide access. And this is a social determinant of health that we know that we have a healthy town and hopefully healthy children as a result. My wife also talked about how we like to visit these playgrounds just to see what's happening
and how many families are flocking to these playgrounds. So after we had dinner on Easter, we went to five different playgrounds and they were full. Yes, they were full. And that's what we want. These play spaces to be safe, accessible, and full utilized by
our children. No stranger to the city of Patterson, a member of Omega Sci-Fi. Ah, call me love. Gentleman who is a Super Bowl MVP with the New York Football Giants. He is a giant among men. He is a
giant in the city of Patterson. Put your hands together for Otis OJ Anderson. Let's go. You know, each time I come here, mayor get better and better with this introduction, man. I'll take you with you. He's just incredible. I think I might I might need to take him with me.
Even if I get a chance to go to Canon, Ohio, he might be doing that introduction for me. Get that trip, you know. But um you know having vision is is one thing and able to have a vision that you can execute and it's just been a pleasure to
be a part of world construction because they see the vision that the mayor has and they try to complete the vision that the mayor has but a lot of mayors a lot of people say I'm going to do this I'm going to do that and it never happens but I can tell you that the man behind
me he's making things happen here in Patterson and has making things happen. So I look forward for more opportunities to be a part of days like this and the fact that we giving all kids an opportunity to enjoy the greatness of this park and that's what make it
special. So again, World of Construction, my guy Jim, I think I'm the ambassador now. If I'm not, I'm making myself the ambassador. But uh thank you for always doing a great job. Thank you for all the guys next to you that make the dream come true behind the vision of a guy
like the mayor behind you. So, thank you. Let's go. Yes, Gman. Come on. Ladies and gentlemen, let's have another round of applause for the ambassador Otis OJ Anderson. That's it. I'm going to change the way I store you in my phone. You're the ambassador right now.
The Goodwill ambassador. I do want to acknowledge the principal from school 20, Mr. Hill has joined us. Mr. Giants. Come on. Forward. Come on. For a minute there, I thought he was on the Giants. Did they just draft this guy or what? Okay. My hips. Last but certainly
not least, another gentleman who's no stranger to the city of Patterson. As a matter of fact, when we broke ground on Hinch Lift Stadium, Dwight Gooden was with us. Yes, he was. Last year, Dwight Gooden had his number 16, which he's wearing right now, retired by the New
York Mets. Yes. He was a New York Mets Hall of Famer, but also interesting enough, he was inducted into the Negro League Baseball Museum Hall of Fame as well in Kansas City. And I told the Doc, we have our new
Negro League Baseball Museum at Hinchiff Stadium and see what we can do with Doc there as well. I can say that I saw this man when he started in 1984 as a rookie, winning the rookie of the year right after Daryl Strawberry won it in
1983. Then in ' 85, he had arguably the greatest season that any pitcher had. He was 24 and4 and I believe his RA is at 1.76. Did I get that? 53. Oh, 53. 1.53. Even better. I haven't looked at my Tops
baseball card since 1985, but nevertheless, and then in ' 86, he won a World Series. It doesn't get better than that. Once again, Patterson has been graced with another champion as we continue to develop champions in our
city of Patterson with these first class play spaces. Put your hands together for Dwight Doc Gooden. Good morning. Thank you guys for having me. Um, yeah, like OJ said, the mayor introduction is getting better and
better. Now, I've done a lot of things with the mayor here in the city of Patterson and all great things and you know, obviously I had my struggles off the field as well, but I feel like it's a great responsibility for me to give back. um what I call turning my message into messages helping the youth um as
well as adults who may be going through struggles whether it's mental or addiction what have you just sharing my time because you guys supported me through my ups and downs and so I feel a strong really giving back to you guys um I feel a strong connection here to Patterson as the mayor mentioned of
helping out so this is close to home to me as well and with autism here I have a brother that has autism and last year through Dr. Mson Foundation. I got to go to the school with autism kids and meet them. And this is what it's all about. Giving kids a chance and not only autism
kids, but all kids a chance. A place to go to school, places we can go after work, what have you, and just feel safe and enjoy the park and talk about Mets and Yankees. No, not the talking about the Yankee. Brother G.
Brother. Once again, this is great. Um, like like OJ mentioned, Royal Construction, you guys did a great job and everybody here that's involved with this thing. This is a great great thing. I'm just happy to be a part of it. Thank you. Thank you.
How much do we love Otis Anderson, the ambassador? How much do we love Dwight Gooden Mr. Met? Oh, you saw what I did right there. By the way, for those of you who may be asking, why did I call him Doc? Anybody
know? He's Dr. K. A K is a strikeout on your scorecard. And he created that phenomenon. Dr. K and the K corner at Shay Stadium. Every time a pitcher started with him, recorded a strikeout,
they put a K up. Wow. You see this man, revolutionary, started the movement. Dr. K. That and $2.50 will get you a ticket onto NJ Transit. But at least you know it now.
No further speeches are necessary. Now it's time to officially Oh, you want to hear from Mr. No, he doesn't. Yes, man. I want to stay in the back. Mr. Hill says he wants to stay in the background right now. But we love you, Mr. Hill. Let's give him a round of applause. He's
a giant among men, too. Mets. He's a diehard Mets. I love Mr. I knew I liked him, but I think you're a Cowboys fan, right? Oh, we won't go there. Okay. Okay. We lost. He's a Mets fan. That's it. He don't He don't like He don't follow football, dude. You cut the ribbon. Yes. Ladies and gentlemen,
we are about to cut the ribbon on the purple playground in the city of Patterson. Let's make it rain. Purple rain. Purple playground. Yeah. The Gmen.
All right.