If elected mayor, one of the tasks for Bill de Blasio would be balancing the funding of necessary programs for individuals and communities with the financial difficulty the city faces. “I have worked with some of the most disciplined folks in public life, people like Hillary Clinton and Andrew Cuomo,” Mr. de Blasio told The Jewish Press editorial board.
“I predict the first few years of the next mayor will be very tight budget years – which will be made worse by the open labor contracts the mayor is leaving, something that will tarnish Bloomberg’s record. The people of New York understand the choices are not easy. People have been sobered by the economy, and they want to see fairness,” he said.
On early childhood education, however, Mr de Blasio promised to expand the city’s funding of the program – not because it’s a handout, or even to be generous, he said, but because it’s an investment.
“I believe early childhood education is the key to everything we want to do in New York: maintaining the social fabric, keeping crime down, improving the economy – it all starts by expanding early childhood education.”
Mr. de Blasio also criticized Mayor Michael Bloomberg for axing important childcare vouchers from the budget, and pledged to restore them. “I think voters are sick of not being heard by City Hall,” he said. “Too often, the Bloomberg approach has been My way or the highway. I’ll do things differently.”