“I don't want to see the event become a corporate billboard but if that's the only way it can go on and if it's done tastefully ... it would be appreciated if it's necessary.”
“I think now more than ever we need a reason to celebrate. It's really at our core. I can't imagine the city rolling over and playing dead and saying, 'I surrender.”
“All indicators were that the city just wouldn't be able to pull this off, even as recently as 24 hours ago. Somehow, they managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat.”
“I've heard some people say we can't do it. But it's a very significant anniversary and I can't imagine it going unmarked without some kind of parade. It's in our soul to have Mardi Gras.”
“We need it for our psyche. It's like group therapy. We've likened this to a jazz funeral, we mourn on the way there, and rejoice on the way back. We've got to start rejoicing!”
