Me and the Mayor of New York City
My role as photographer helped me feel comfortable
Marty Cohen
On Wednesday, May 4th I was invited to a reception given on the lawn of Gracie Mansion by his Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg to celebrate fifty years of mental health services by the city of New York.
I left from South Beach Psychiatric Center on Staten Island with two of my advocate friends, Celia Brown and Digna Quinones of the State Office of Mental Health.
When we arrived at Gracie Mansion, we went through a metal detector and then were directed to the lawn where a tent and barbeque was set up. It was announced that if we got on line, we can have a picture opportunity with the mayor when he arrives.
Soon a vertically challenged yet distinguished man arrived, greeting everyone in sight. My goodness it was Mayor Bloomberg in person! The picture opportunity line moved fast. The Mayor shook hands and posed perfectly while talking with each person at the appointed moment.
When my turn came, I was very nervous. I turned toward the Mayor to shake his hand. I was told by the photographer to look at her. I told the Mayor, "Look at me, I am a professional photographer and I am now looking at the photographer." The Mayor said it reminded him of the shoemaker's son who knew how to make shoes, but had no shoes of his own.
I then went to get a drink of soda to relax after this stressful moment. I was still feeling nervous, so I proceeded to attach the flash to my camera and started taking pictures of people I knew like Janice Jones, David Gonzalez and Rick Sostchen. I then felt better with my camera and I became a social butterfly.
Later, there was a ceremony in the tent where the Mayor presented a proclamation declaring May 4th as the anniversary of the City of New York giving 50 years of mental health services.
I was in my glory taking pictures of Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner of Health Dr. Frieden and Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health Dr. Sederer. I then interviewed Mariah Bishop of the Mental Health Empowerment Project and others for my Roving Photographer column in City Voices.
I took a few more pictures of people then left after 7 p.m. I can now say I had my social and photography moments at Gracie Mansion.