Our goal here in New York is to ensure that every child who graduates high school is ready to start a career or start college and to dramatically increase the number of students that graduate from college.

I like what I see when I look in the mirror. If I get sentimental, I look and say, "Uh. It's a bad day. They beat up on me," this, that, and the other thing. But ya know? We've spent one billion trying to convince people to not smoke. It's been phenomenally successful. We've probably saved millions of lives. There aren't many people that have done that. So, you know, when I get to heaven, I'm not sure I'm gonna stand for an interview. I'm going right in.

There is no accountability today... no willingness to focus on big ideas.

Working collectively and collaboratively is the difference between mediocrity by yourself or success as a team. You have to share the pain and the responsibility and if you do then you will also share in the rewards.

The truth of the matter is: you can create a great legacy, and inspire others, by giving it to philanthropic organizations.

I'm trying to change the culture in New York City; that's hard enough!

We cannot continue. Our pension costs and health care costs for our employees are going to bankrupt this city.