Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said last night that a big win for him in today’s mayoral election would give him the authority to carry out his progressive agenda. De Blasio has a commanding 40-point lead over his GOP rival Joe Lhota, and has been steadily pulling in the support of real estate executives, as The Real Deal reported.
“Obviously the higher the percentage, the more the work ahead is facilitated and strengthened,” de Blasio said in an interview on NY1. “That’s what we want: We want the highest percentage we can get and that’s what we’re working for,” he added.
De Blasio has previously said that a high margin would make it easier for him to push through some of his reforms, such as a controversial tax on the rich that would need the approval of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the New York Observer reported. Cuomo has already indicated that he would not look to raise taxes next year. [NYO] – Hiten Samtani