Categories
Politics

The 2020 Candidate Profiles – Bill de Blasio

The next 2020 Profile is here about the current Mayor of New York. Perhaps the last for a while? Honestly I still need to check if anyone has dropped out yet so far but I don’t think any have. Although I have heard rumors that Cory Booker is running low on funds and has low popularity therefore may soon drop out of the race. As well as that Bernie Sanders was admitted to hospital with an arterial blockage needing to be removed, once again raising questions of his age and health. Could we perhaps see him drop out soon? Considering he is now also struggling to compete with Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in the polls. It is all to be seen as of yet.

But for now… let’s get on to Bill de Blasio. I have decided to post his profile as I believe he is a credible contender for future presidential elections.

Bill de Blasio


Photo by Gage Skidmore. License.

DoB: 8th May 1961, Mahattan, New York, US.

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Metropolitan Studies from New York University  

Completed a program in Urban Studies and a Master of International Affairs from Colombia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.  

Positions 

  • Part of the Urban Fellows Program for the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice (1984)
  • Regional Director for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for New York and New Jersey under Bill Clinton (1997)
  • Elected as a School Board member for Brooklyn School District 15 (1999)

Overview

The current mayor of New York City made his run for president announcement on 16th May 2019, making him the 24th Democratic candidate to do so. He later dropped out of the race on 20th September 2019 likely down to lack of popularity against other candidates such as Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren. He also worried about not being able to qualify for the 3rd Democratic debate.

Political Career 

Member of the New York City Council representing the 39th District – 2002 – 2009  

  • Passed legislation to prevent landlord discrimination against tenants who held federal housing subsidy vouchers.  
  • Helped pass the HIV/AIDS Housing Services Law, which improved housing services for low-income New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS.  
  • Helped pass the Gender-Based Discrimination Protection Law which acted to protect transgender New Yorkers. He also passed the Domestic Partnership Recognition Law that ensured that same-sex couples in a legal partnership could enjoy the same legal benefits as heterosexual couples in New York City. These laws were passed during his time heading the city council’s General Welfare Committee.  
  • As well as that he also helped pass the Benefits Translation for Immigrants Law while on the General Welfare Committee. This law helped non-English speakers get free language-assistance services when accessing government programs.  
  • As well as chairing General Welfare Committee, De Blasio also served on the Education, Environmental Protection, Finance and Technology city council committees.  

Public Advocate of New York City – 2010 – 2013 

  • As Public Advocate, De Blasio commonly criticized the current New York Mayor at the time, Michael Bloomberg’s, education policies. He also criticized Bloomberg’s nominee for New York City Schools Chancellor, Cathie Black, telling her to take part in Public Forums and also for sending her children to private schools.  
  • In March 2010, De Blasio spoke out against a Metropolitan Transportation Authority proposal to eliminate free MetroCards for students, saying it would take a significant toll of school attendance.  
  • De Blasio spoke out against Michael Bloomberg’s proposed budget that contained more than $34 million in cuts to childcare services.  
  • De Blasio also worked to make school administrative decision making higher up have less negative impacts and outlined eight solutions to improve the process and bring community opinion into the decision-making process.
  • Also, in June 2011 De Blasio put up major opposition to Mayor Bloomberg’s budget cut plans which would lead to the lay-off of more than 4,600 teachers. Bloomberg eventually restored the funding and agreed to find savings elsewhere in the city’s budget.  
  • De Blasio opposed the New York Housing Authority’s decision to cut the number of Section 8 vouchers issued to low-income earners in New York City, due to the authority realizing it could not afford the number of vouchers it was giving out.  
  • De Blasio launched the “NYC’s worst landlords watchlist” to track down landlords who failed to repair dangerous living conditions. It drew widespread media coverage and highlighted hundreds of landlords across the city.  

Mayor of New York City – 2014 – Present  

  • Signed a bill that created municipal identification cards. They were for all residents regardless of immigration status, helping them secure access to city services. Homeless people could also get the card as long as they registered a “care of” address.  
  • De Blasio reached an agreement with the Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson, to change the operations of the New York City Housing Authority, creating specific requirements and milestones to address serious health and safety hazards at NYCHA properties, such as lead-based paint, mould, heat, vermin and others.  
  • The stop and frisk searchers were ruled unconstitutional in 2013, which De Blasio strongly supported, disagreeing with stop and frisk. As Mayor he stopped the appeal by the former Mayor Bloomberg, attempting to bring back stop and frisk searches. De Blasio also vowed to settle cases of claimants who had ongoing litigation against the police for stop and frisk. The NYPD union attempted to repeal De Blasio’s decisions, causing tension between the two.  
  • Despite being against Stop and Frisk, De Blasio still selected Bill Bratton as New York City Police Commissioner, a position he held previously under then-mayor Rudy Giuliani, Bratton has introduced stop and frisk under that mayor, but under De Blasio has promised to use it legally, respectfully and less often. A number of De Blasio supporters were disappointed at the selection.   
  • In 2014 de Blasio released a report on improving transit in New York City. Ideas in the report included rebuilding Penn Station/Madison Square Garden, creating more bus rapid transit routes and also an initiative called Vision Zero to reduce traffic-related deaths.  
  • The Vision Zero initiative since its implementation has mostly been described as successful with a gradual decrease in pedestrian fatalities from 299 in 2013 to 200 in 2018. But in 2019 it was shown cyclist deaths had increased, leading de Blasio to consider proposals to combat cyclist deaths including a helmet requirement and licenses to operate bicycles.  
  • Despite de Blasio planning to increase the number of bike racks in the city, the annual number has still continued to fall.  
  • A key aim to build at least 200,000 new affordable housing units has passed city council, but has also faced opposition from groups such as New York Communities for Change, complaining about certain aspects of the plans promoting gentrification.  
  • De Blasio implemented Universal Pre-K in New York City, one of his signature initiatives. Publicly funded pre-kindergarten for all New York residents. The program is sought to be funded by increasing taxes on those earning more than $500,000 or more. The initiative has been shown to be especially beneficial to poorer areas of New York City. De Blasio also announced plans in 2017 to expand Universal Pre-K to three-years olds, starting in poorer neighbourhoods with the plan of it eventually covering the entire city, if state or federal governments provided funding.  

Other Political Activity/notes 

  • De Blasio supports the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, that would allow relatives of victims of the September 11th Attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for its governments alleged role in the attacks.  
  • De Blasio does not support removing US troops from Afghanistan until a peace agreement is reached with the Taliban.
  • De Blasio supports legalising the usage of marijuana in New York City.  
  • De Blasio gave his support for a Green New Deal and also announced in April 2019 his support for legislation that bans the construction of glass and steel skyscrapers in New York City due to environmental concerns.  
  • De Blasio advocated for a millionaire tax but the proposal was rejected by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.  

Main Points in Debates 

Economy, Jobs and Big Business 

  • Would focus on income inequality and having wealth not be focused as much in the wrong hands, to avoid corruption.  
  • Believes that the division by those in government has led to resentment against immigration rather than actual targets, such as big corporations.  

Healthcare 

Wants to abolish private health insurance. Clashed with Beto O’ Rourke over ‘defense’ of private health insurance.  

Civil Rights and Immigration 

Believes there needs to be a new relationship between police forces and their communities to help implement gun control policies, drive down crime and promote better racial conditions.

Geopolitics 

  • Wants Congress to be more involved in approving foreign intervention activities and challenge presidents more on it if they choose to bypass Congress.  
  • Believes Russia is the biggest threat due to their attempts to undermine US democracy. 

Controversies 

NYPD Strained Relations and Controversy 

During his time as Mayor of New York City, Bill De Blasio has often had a tense relationship with the NYPD union and many of its officers. This was due to De Blasio’s views on stop and frisk as well as support of cases related to it against the NYPD union.  

In February 2014 De Blasio had phoned the police to inquire about one of his supporters, Pastor Bishop Orlando Findlayter, who was also a friend of De Blasio, after he was arrested for failing to signal a turning while driving and other outstanding warrants and an out-of-date license. It rose to accusations of attempted preferential treatment, which both De Blasio, the city hall and the NYPD denied. But the City Comptroller, Scott M. Stringer, said that the Mayor still should not have involved himself in any way over someone’s arrest.  

After the decision by a Grand Jury to not indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo over the chokehold death of Eric Garner, De Blasio said that he and his African-American wife, Chirlane McCray, had had many conversations with their son about taking special care in any encounters he has with the police officers who are there to protect him.  

Cops and union leaders rebuked De Blasio for causing anti-police sentiment after the ambush killings of two officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos in December 2014. During a eulogy by Bill De Blasio on the fallen officers, hundreds of police officers turned their backs on him.  

After the murder of police officer Miosotis Famillia in July 2017, Bill de Blasio was criticized for not turning up to the officer’s vigil. Later on, as Bill de Blasio spoke at a Service for the fallen officer, other officers again turned their backs on him.  


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