Bill de Blasio in Interviews during 2017-2019

On Homeland Security: Coronavirus: We need federalized dynamic as in wartime

We need the federal government to take over the supply chain right now. We have to make sure that that is a federalized dynamic, where those factories that produce those goods are put on 24/7 shifts, and those goods are distributed where they're needed most, as we would in wartime. If the federal government doesn't realize this is the equivalent of a war already, there is no way that states and localities can make all the adjustments we need to. Source: CNN "State of the Union" on 2020 Presidential hopefuls Mar 15, 2020

On Abortion: Supports abortion rights & funding Planned Parenthood

De Blasio supports abortion rights and was on board with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's comments that pro-life New Yorkers are not welcome in the state. He's rallied behind Planned Parenthood when the organization's funding was threatened and opposed the Trump administration's gag rule on Title X. Source: Townhall.com: "The 2020 Democrats" (presidential hopefuls) May 18, 2019

On Energy & Oil: Supports Green New Deal & Paris Climate Accords

The mayor recently rolled out his Green New Deal-like plan for New York. He also opposes natural gas pipelines and wants the U.S. back in the Paris Climate Accords. Source: Townhall.com: "The 2020 Democrats" (presidential hopefuls) May 18, 2019

On Gun Control: Project Fast Track focuses on gangs & illegal guns

In 2016, De Blasio helped launch a "gun violence prevention division" called Project Fast Track. It increased the NYPD's capacity to investigate shootings, gangs and illegal guns, according to NYC.gov. Source: Townhall.com: "The 2020 Democrats" (presidential hopefuls) May 18, 2019

On Immigration: Supports sanctuary cities; would abolish ICE

He supports sanctuary city policies and has vowed to fight the Trump administration's plans to strip them of federal funding. He has opposed ICE crackdowns, before calling for the agency to be abolished. He has even unveiled his plans to provide health care coverage for illegal immigrants. Source: Townhall.com: "The 2020 Democrats" (presidential hopefuls) May 18, 2019

On Jobs: Would raise the NYC minimum wage to $15/hour

The mayor has advocated for a $15 minimum wage in New York. Source: Townhall.com: "The 2020 Democrats" (presidential hopefuls) May 18, 2019

On Tax Reform: Favors tax increases on wealthy

The mayor has more than once proposed tax hikes on the wealthy. Source: Townhall.com: "The 2020 Democrats" (presidential hopefuls) May 18, 2019

On Corporations: Amazon exemplifies abuse of corporate power by leaving NYC

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday slammed Amazon.com Inc.'s decision to pull out of a second headquarters in the city as "an example of an abuse of corporate power" that hurts working people. "Amazon just took their ball and went home," de Blasio said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "What they did was confirm people's worst fears about corporate America."... "They couldn't handle the heat in the kitchen," de Blasio said. "They let a lot of working people down in the bargain." Source: Bloomberg News on 2020 presidential hopefuls Feb 17, 2019

On Corporations: Plenty of money in NYC, but it's in the wrong hands

Mr. de Blasio railed against big business, promised to seize the buildings of scofflaw landlords and pointedly framed the argument over income inequality--long a theme of his rhetoric as mayor--in zero-sum terms. "Here's the truth, brothers and sisters, there's plenty of money in the world. Plenty of money in this city," the mayor said, flanked by screens with graphs of productivity outpacing compensation. "It's just in the wrong hands!" Source: N. Y. Times, "Wrong Hands," on 2020 presidential hopefuls Jan 10, 2019

On Families & Children: Signs legislation protecting against sexual harassment

"Society has been stacked in favor of men for far too long, leading many to believe they can harass women without fear of punishment," said Mayor de Blasio. "New York City will not allow that continue. We are taking action to protect workers against sexual harassment and saying loudly & clearly that anyone who harasses a co-worker will face justice." "When women step forward with a grievance, it is the employer's responsibility to listen and take appropriate action," said First Lady Chirlane McCray. Source: NYC.gov mayoral press release for 2020 presidential hopefuls May 9, 2018

On Crime: NYC enjoying major drop in crime rate

In fact, crime has fallen in New York City in each of the major felony categories--murder and manslaughter, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, grand larceny, and car thefts. The numbers, when taken together, portray a city of 8.5 million people growing safer even as the police, under Mayor Bill de Blasio, use less deadly force, make fewer arrests and scale back controversial practices like stopping and frisking thousands of people on the streets. Source: Mother Jones magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls Dec 28, 2017

On Free Trade: NAFTA was a disaster; we will not repeat mistake with TPP

Mayor Bill de Blasio today joined a slew of city politicians to decry President Barack Obama's proposed Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal--comparing it to North American Free Trade Agreement, which he deemed a "disaster." "There's such passion on this issue because we've already been to this movie," Mr. de Blasio said at an anti-TPP rally in front of City Hall this morning. "We saw it with NAFTA. We saw what a disaster NAFTA was, and we're not going to repeat that mistake in our time." Source: New York Observer on 2020 presidential hopefuls Apr 7, 2016

On Education: Add two Muslim holidays to public school vacation schedule

New York City will add two Muslim holidays to its public school calendars, making it the largest school district in the United States to do so, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Starting next fall, New York City's 1.1 million students in the nation's biggest public school system will get days off for the most-observed holidays in Islam, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. "This is a common sense change, and one that recognizes our growing Muslim community and honors its contributions to our City," de Blasio said. Source: Religion News Service on 2020 presidential hopefuls Mar 5, 2015

The above quotations are from Interviews during 2017-2019, interviewing presidential hopefuls for 2020. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Bill de Blasio. Click here for Bill de Blasio on all issues.
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Page last updated: Nov 01, 2021