City Council Speaker Corey Johnson told NY1 he is feeling tremendous relief since dropping his plans for a mayoral run and being upfront about his depression.

He said he’s had a tough time during the pandemic and that “there was not enough room on the plate” for him to juggle his mental health, his current role as council speaker and launching a campaign for mayor.

Johnson said he has heard from hundreds of New Yorkers expressing their support and relating to his struggles.

The city council speaker also commented on schools reopening, saying he is not confident they can reopen safely and with appropriate staffing.

“This should have been dealt with months ago,” Johnson said.

He spoke more positively about the decision to make open streets and open restaurants initiatives permanent, saying it will bring the city in line with Europe and other cities around the world.

“If there’s one glimmer of positivity that comes out of this, it’s that I do think that the pandemic is going to change how we handle outdoor dining for the future and what that does for the streetscape in New York City,” Johnson said.