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Bill De Blasio

By David Freedlander 2/02 4:37pm

Mayoral Race

Michael Bloomberg

2013 Contenders (Mostly) Disapprove of Mayor Bloomberg’s Budget

Mayor Mike Bloomberg laid out his budget for FY2013 and it includes the closing of a $2 billion budget gap without tax increases.

To do this, the mayor proposes a hike in some fines and fees and some cuts across city agencies.

It is this last bit that has those who hope to take the mayor's job incensed.

"I am disappointed the Mayor put forth a budget proposal that hurts New York’s children and makes it harder for families to work," said Bill de Blasio, public advocate and a likely 2013 mayoral contender.  Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/31 10:07pm

2013 unity

Bill Thompson shakes hands with Bill de Blasio while Scott Stringer speaks (Photo: YouTube)

Mayoral Contenders Band Together to Criticize School Closures

Earlier this afternoon, four of the five top-tier mayoral candidates stood on the steps of City Hall to criticize recent school closures. City Comptroller John Liu, former Comptroller Bill Thompson, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio took to the stand to criticize Mayor Michael Bloomberg's education policies.

The four candidates applauded and supported one another as they spoke, and their messages were largely similar. They all generally indicated the Bloomberg's administration enjoys closing schools or fails to appreciate the significance of such actions.

"To too many people over at Tweed building, closing schools is a panacea. They think it'll solve our problems, to close a school" Mr. de Blasio said. "They think it's a cure-all, but in fact it misses the point."

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By Hunter Walker 1/29 1:26pm

Religion

Fernando Cabrera (Photo: NYC Council)

Fernando Cabrera Marching Across The Brooklyn Bridge To Protest Ban On Churches Renting School Space

This afternoon, Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera will be marching across the Brooklyn Bridge to ask Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Department of Education to reverse the upcoming ban on religious institutions  using public school buildings on weekends for meetings and worship.

“We stand firm on our position. Equal access for houses of worship makes New York City communities better. Mayor Bloomberg and the Department of Education need to see just how many people are on this side
 of the debate,” Mr. Cabrera said in a statement announcing the March.
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1 By Hunter Walker 1/27 4:15pm

Big Man On Campus

Bill de Blasio (Photo: Facebook)

Bill de Blasio Joins Push For NYU’s Downtown Brooklyn Tech Campus

Public Advocate and likely 2013 mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio is the latest city politician joining the push to establish an NYU and Polytech applied sciences campus at an empty building owned by the MTA in Brooklyn. The Politicker obtained letters Mr. de Blasio sent to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and MTA Chairman Joe Lhota last Friday urging them to support the project.

"The proposed repurposing of the MTA’s unused building at 370 Jay Street to house the NYU Applied Science Center would be an integral part of the continuing revitalization of Downtown Brooklyn and would also help a New York City educational institutional increase its contribute to education and in technology in our city," Mr. de Blasio wrote in his letter to the Mayor. Read More

1 By Colin Campbell 1/27 12:02pm

proclamations of war

Bill de Blasio (Photo: Facebook)

Bill de Blasio: Bloomberg Has ‘Re-Declared War on the UFT’

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, a likely mayoral candidate in 2013, didn't mince words when Roberto Perez recently asked him about Mayor Michael Bloomberg and teacher evaluations. The Mayor specifically referred to the United Federation of Teachers in his recent State of the City speech while calling for various education reforms.

"I was very disappointed in the Mayor's speech, I have to tell you that," Mr. de Blasio began. "I think the Mayor, after 10 years, has sort of re-declared war on the UFT. And I could not understand why that was productive."

Mr. de Blasio contrasted Mayor Bloomberg's style with that of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

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1 By Colin Campbell 1/18 4:16pm

get ready

Dan Cantor at the paid sick day rally

The Next Big Progressive Fight

The dust has barely settled on the grand living wage compromise and progressive forces are already mobilizing for their next initiative. On the steps of City Hall today, City Council Members and labor leaders announced what it would be: a bill requiring businesses to give their employees paid sick days off.

"We were here a year ago. We got close, we thought we were going to finally see passage about a year ago," Dan Cantor, the Executive Director of the Working Family, announced. "Politics is hard, so we come back now, a year later."

Things have changed, Mr. Cantor insisted, citing other localities that have passed similar bills, and the Occupy Wall Street protests energizing the public.

Democrats also contend that both legislative tweaks and the political environment make things much more favorable for paid sick day advocates this time around than the start of 2011, when Council Speaker Chris Quinn shelved the legislation.

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By David Freedlander 1/17 2:43pm

2013

Steve Buscemi Endorses Bill de Blasio For Public Advocate

De Blasio Boasts Of ‘Best Fundraising Period Ever’

Public Advocate and likely 2013 mayoral contender Bill de Blasio emailed supporters this morning to thank them for contributing to his best fundraising period yet, having raised $1, 008,375 in the past six months.

That figure is nearly $300,000 more than he raised in the last filing period.

Mr. de Blasio however also has to pay off more than $300,000 he accrued in fines for putting up posters illegally during his 2009 run for public advocate. Mr. de Blasio can fund raise separately from his 2013 bid to pay off that fine.

The number of donors to his campaign was not readily available.

Mr. de  Blasio's full email is below: Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/13 12:52pm

unionization

Cablevision (Photo: Wikimedia)

Prominent Elected Officials Criticize Cablevision on Union Policy

Demonstrating the traction that the issue has among elected officials, a plethora of prominent officials have signed a letter to the CEO of Cablevision, James Dolan critical of what they feel are anti-union efforts on behalf of the company. The list includes several top 2013 candidates in Comptroller John Liu, Speaker Chris Quinn, and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, as well as other notable names like Reverend Al Sharpton, Minority Leader John Sampson, Congress Members, Council Members and more.

"We are very disappointed that Cablevision refused to participate in the public, union-management debate this past Wednesday, over the merits of union representation for your Brooklyn workforce," the letter begins. "This debate would have provided an opportunity to bring conversations about joining the union out of the darkness of your 'captive audience' meetings and into the public where Cablevision, union organizers and workers could have an open discussion."

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4 By David Freedlander 1/02 2:22pm

crime

Cuomo, Bloomberg, ’13ers, Decry Anti-Muslim Attacks In Queens

Muslims were apparently the targets of a string of firebombs that hit  an Islamic cultural center and a Hindu house of worship Queens last night.

This morning, elected leaders in the city and state have been quick to condemn the violence and have pledged a full investigation.

"The four reported attacks on Sunday night go against everything we stand for as New Yorkers and Americans," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "Attacks such as this have no place in our open and inclusive society and we must do all we can to ensure New York remains a safe and tolerant place for all. I am thankful that there were no reported injuries. To make sure those who perpetrated these attacks are brought to justice and we prevent future bias crimes, I have asked Superintendent of State Police Joe D’Amico and Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Liz Glazer to provide any assistance that is needed on the investigation.” Read More