“It’s impossible to put into words what Héctor meant to the men and women of 32BJ SEIU, to working people and to the labor movement.
“He bound us all together. His was always the voice of empathy, of conviction, of principle.
“Héctor embodied that word ‘solidarity.’ His love of 32BJ SEIU ran deep, but you’d be just as likely to see him on the picket line with fast food workers or taxi drivers as you would with the custodians, service workers and doormen he represented. He fought just as doggedly for relief for people in Puerto Rico as he did for fair contracts here in New York City. If you were fighting for human dignity, then Héctor fought for you.
“To Chirlane and me, he was family. To Deidre, Eric and Elena, we are so deeply sorry for your loss. We will always be here for you.
“And to the men and women in every corner of this city who looked to Héctor as a leader, his legacy belongs to each of us now. Brothers and sisters, we need to come together, share in each other’s struggles and fight for the dignity every human being deserves.
“Work every single day to make this the city Héctor knew it could be.”
