Crain’s asked the nine leading candidates in the June Democratic primary for mayor of New York City to answer questions about their stances on the city’s biggest issues. Below are the answers by Michael Blake, a former state assemblyman from the Bronx, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and Obama White House official.
1. What’s your single biggest idea that you’d implement as mayor?
Eliminate credit scores while expanding income thresholds for housing applications.
2. Is there a next neighborhood that should be rezoned to allow for more housing? If so, which one?
Eastern Queens, with community input, equity-focused rezoning, and affordable housing guarantees.
3. What promises are you making to increase the availability of affordable housing? How will you make sure they come to fruition given current high interest rates and backlogs in the city housing department that finances affordable projects?
We’ll fund deeply affordable housing by taxing vacant luxury apartments, recovering unclaimed fines, and boosting business tax revenue. Our plan includes expanding Mitchell-Lama-style, middle-class housing, using Local Median Income instead of Area Median Income, and raising income thresholds for applicants. We’ll streamline zoning and permitting, cut delays at the Housing Preservation and Development department, and speed up payments to developers and nonprofits to prevent housing slowdowns — even in tough markets. We’ll also repair NYCHA, enforce voucher acceptance, and push for transparency and accountability.
4. Should the city take steps to limit member deference vetoes for land-use projects at the City Council?
Yes, we need a fair, transparent process that values local input but stops individuals from blocking affordable housing. Urgent reform is key to solving the housing crisis with accountability.
5. What’s one specific thing the city should do to take advantage of artificial intelligence to boost the city’s economy or workforce — or limit AI’s influence?
Launch an AI Workforce Innovation Fund to support training for AI-related jobs, while protecting workers through ethical guidelines. Invest in public sector AI tools to reduce backlogs in services like housing and payments without replacing human oversight.
6. Should the city add to its budget reserves this year to brace against potential federal cuts? If so, by how much?
Yes, but we propose offsetting federal cuts with withheld NYC tax contributions. Budget reserves should grow by $1 billion to protect services, while staying ready to use some reserves during uncertain times to maintain stability.
7. Would you consider raising property taxes if the city faces severe fiscal problems?
All options must be considered but we will focus on other solutions first.
8. Should the city tackle e-bike safety problems by changing criminal enforcement, building bike infrastructure, or both?
Both. We must expand safe bike lanes, educate riders, and modernize infrastructure while enforcing traffic rules without criminalizing delivery workers. Fair enforcement, not fear-based crackdowns, should guide our strategy.
9. Is the city ready to implement the Local Law 97 climate policy, whose first compliance reports were due May 1? If not, should the city ease requirements, do more to help landlords comply, or something else?
The city isn’t fully ready. We must help landlords, especially small property owners, comply through grants, technical support, and access to green infrastructure loans, without delaying climate progress. Ease barriers, not expectations.
10. Should the city deploy more police into the subway system, fewer, or the same number?
Replace some officers with mental health teams, ensure officers do walking patrols with body cams on, and focus on faster trains, working cameras, and real mental health support over more policing.
11. Police officers stopped and frisked more pedestrians in 2024 than they had in any year since 2014, according to NYPD data. Would you continue that policy?
No. It’s discriminatory, ineffective, and undermines trust. Public safety comes from community investment, not unconstitutional policing.
12. Should the city expand its use of involuntary commitments for people with serious mental illness? If so, what steps would the city need to take to expand their use, and if not, why not?
Yes, as we implement the law already passed, to help those with serious mental health issues and pose harm to themselves and other New Yorkers. We should prioritize funding to overdose prevention centers and utilize more opioid settlement funds. But, when necessary, we must keep all of us safe.
