Mayor Bill de Blasio expressed his condolences for New York City’s first and only black mayor, David Dinkins, who he said put the city on a "better path."

De Blasio and Dinkins had a long history together. He worked on Dinkins’ mayoral campaign in 1989 and went on to work in his administration, where he eventually met his wife, Chirlane McCray, a speechwriter for Dinkins.

"It was remarkable serving with him in this building," de Blasio said Tuesdsay. "To see that no matter what was going on out there, he always had that joy that he found."

De Blasio described Dinkins as someone who believed we "could be better" and "could overcome our divisions," and said Dinkins put the city on a path to a better future.

"He made things happen for this city that he's never really gotten the credit for, including putting us on the pathway to becoming a much safer city with the Safe Streets, Safe City program and all the affordable housing," de Blasio said.

De Blasio renamed the Manhattan Municipal Building in 2015 for Dinkins, who worked in the building for 14 years as City Clerk and then Manhattan Borough President. 

"I'm feeling something painful in my heart right now," the mayor said. "I'm feeling a loss and an emptiness because he's gone, but I also really feel his guidance still."

Dinkins died at the age of 93, six weeks after the death of his wife Joyce.