Justin Sanchez reflects on 35th birthday and mother's sacrifices
Council Member Justin Sanchez, celebrating his 35th birthday the next day, reflects on his mother Ruth Sanchez who was a scared 18-year-old when she had him. He thanks her for her struggles and fights, and delivers an inspirational message to Black and brown children across the city, saying this city belongs to them and that New Yorkers never stop.
First of all, thank you, Madam Speaker, and to all my colleagues for the early birthday wishes.
I look forward to entering my 35th year of life tomorrow.
But I want to rewind back to today, 35 years ago, where a scared 18-year-old girl was sitting there, pregnant, not knowing what the future would hold.
That girl was my mom, Ruth Sanchez.
And I want to thank her for everything that she went through, all of the struggles, all of the fights, to be able to make sure that her little boy and all of her kids got the opportunity to live out their wildest dreams.
And 35 years later, I get to enter my 35th birthday as the council member representing the South Bronx.
Having said that, this message goes out to all of the little black and brown girls and boys all over this city.
This is your city.
At every time, the world might seem hard, it might seem unfair, it is there.
Are people who are rooting for you at every single step of the way.
And I'm proud to be here, and I'm so excited to see all the work that we can do together, because at the end of the day, this city belongs to us, and no matter what, the amount of no's that you will get every left and right, at the end of the day, we're New Yorkers.
Nothing stops us, and the only thing getting in your way is you.
So thank you, Mom.
Thank you to this city, and thank you, everyone.