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BKPP1229B_2024-12-29-13-02-15

Back to this episode of Power and Politics, everyone, I'm Amanda Bossard. As we prepare for a new year, we're also looking ahead to another election cycle when city races will be on the ballot. The big one will be the race for mayor, and candidates are officially kicking off their campaigns. Earlier this month, I sat down one on one with Michael Blake of the Bronx, who shared why he is eyeing a return to politics to lead New York City. Former assembly member who then went on to become vice chair of the DNC. So why this run for mayor and why now? Because our city needs change, uh, we need to have leadership that is focused on how do we create jobs and ensure justice, how do we actually have safety and support our schools, and our entire vision of tomorrow begins today is framed on that, as, as you know, I'm a son of the Bronx. I'm born and raised, uh, PS 79, 118 DW Clinton High School, had the honor of being an assembly member for six years, had the honor of working with President Obama at the White House, uh, as well, uh, but I came back home to help our city. And so our vision is how do we transform everything that's happening in our city for better. We deserve change. Only 12% of New Yorkers say they want to re-elect the mayor, and this is giving them the contrast of what is possible. If you want universal childcare, if you want to help your small businesses, if you want to keep your community safe, you have an alternative, and my name is Michael Blake, and that's why I'm asking for your role for mayor. You touched on some of the issues that are so important to so many New Yorkers right now. What will be some of the priorities that you are especially pushing for throughout this campaign and how do you hope to get it done if elected? We, we absolutely have to have universal child care. Uh, the cost of raising a child in New York City is becoming exorbitant, and when you think about how JFK said in 1958. Because there's one child without milk or an aged person without a pension and without a decent home, uh, that is what we are experiencing too critically in New York City right now. So universal child care while also having a care economy for women, children and families, while also expanding my brother's keeper so that black and brown men feel engaged a part of the process. The fact that Donald Trump went to a barbershop doesn't show that he gets it, but it also shows that too many brothers feel like we don't get it right now. Uh, it's about having an actual tax incentive for businesses to come back into the city. And inspire them and incentivize them to hire college graduates to come back home as well. And when we do these things, we create an economic opportunity. And so the vision of this is how do we address cost of living, how do we make it very clear that we are a city of immigrants that we embrace our immigrants, but we all can win at the same time, and how do we ensure that you have public safety, public housing, and public schools all thrive at the same time. Is there something in particular that you look to do day one of. taking office should you ultimately win? Well, we have to be very clear, Amanda, that this is an election that whoever wins, and it's our hope that it's me, that January 1st, 2026, at that point you are responding to 11 months of what Donald Trump has been doing in DC so you need someone who's ready immediately to be a responsive entity and be a moderate with progressive victories immediately. So what does that entail? Uh, that means having an approach around the cost of living, and I would believe and focus on on day one, how do we have an economic agenda that actually reduces costs, whether that be addressing what's happening with milk, housing, schools, and childcare, which is why I'm, uh, I'm actually focused on universal childcare. Number 2, there has to be the economic incentive for businesses to hire New Yorkers, especially those college graduates to come back home. While equally having a focus on middle class housing, it is unfair that you be too rich or too poor to make it. So we, we have that incentive, yes, you can create more housing, but we have to have those that are part of the working class to realize those dreams. That is the approach that we have to have. We talked a bit about your resume before. What about all that past experience you just mentioned, do you think will lend itself to doing the job of mayor here in the city? I've been successful at all levels of government. I've been able to be a White House staff for President Obama, where I led African American outreach and minority business outreach where we created economic opportunities across the country. I was successful in the state assembly when we think about diversity in medicine, where the where the Albert Einstein or other entities to make sure that we have more black and brown people pursue their path when it comes to medicine. When we think about my brother's Keeper, we're still the only state in the country that has a program to help boys and young men of color go to school and graduate from school. My bill of the prompt pay bill, it ensures a bipartisan bill that we did a Republican state Senate so that businesses. 300 employees get paid in 15 days so they get paid faster so they can realize their dreams and so the very different experience that I bring is someone who has had success immediately and we think about the environment that we're going to be in an environment where we do not know what's coming out of DC, we don't know what's happening in the state, who is ready immediate. to lead who can actually say that I will bring all parties together, Democrat, Independent, Republican so that we can all win. You talk about being responsive to what is happening at the federal government level, which will definitely be a need at that point, but what are your thoughts right now on everything that is going on with the city government? We have a historic federal indictment, uh, some sudden resignations just a few months ago. You talk about being the candidate for people who want change. How would you look to turn the tide, so to speak, with your administration? Let's be very clear, the city wants change. Uh, it's the reason why the poll in October 26th that only 12% of New Yorkers would re-elect the current mayor. Uh, we can't have a mayor that we're wondering about the headlines on if someone else was rated. We can't have a mayor that we're wondering on Saturday night if they're going to UFC fights to help Donald Trump as opposed to using their nights and mornings and afternoons to actually help you. And so you have a choice. You have a choice which you can have someone who has had a consistent track record of helping the. from PS 79 118 to DA Clinton High School and what I have done in my lifetime, or you could go with someone that you literally do not know what they'll be able to do to stand up for you. And if you're wondering what's at stake, consider this on the day that Mayor Adams was on his way and landed in Washington DC for a meeting around migration, he flew back to help his fundraiser who had been raided. He chose his campaign over you. That is not someone that you need right now. You do not know what he will do. He stands on the side of Donald Trump as opposed to standing on your side. Michael Blake, thank you so much for sharing your vision with us here on Power and Politics. Thank you so much, Amanda. Still to come, a Brooklyn teen's advocacy for her brother brings about statewide change and a new law. We'll have more power in politics in just a couple of minutes. Stay with us.

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BKPP1229C_2024-12-29-13-02-32

Welcome back to Power and Politics. Brooklyn real estate magnate Erin Arkin plans to plead guilty to conspiracy charges for funneling illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government to Mayor Eric Adams. Arkin is identified as Businessman 5 in a corruption indictment. He allegedly facilitated. Straw donations and failed to disclose them through his firm KSK. The indictment accuses Mayor Adams of accepting these funds and other benefits for influence, although Adams denies knowledge and has pled not guilty. This marks the first guilty plea in the federal case against Mayor Adams. A young Bay Ridge boy went into anaphylactic shock six years ago, and it was an EpiPen that saved his life. News 12's Daniela Rodriguez sat down with the family to talk about how the medical episode brought his sister to seek legislative action. A single jab to the thigh is what saved John Zaramba's life back in 2018. I have to really think about everything that I eat. There's nothing that I can just eat with no caution to it. That scary reaction sparking his sister Lucia to advocate for EpiPen accessibility. I just felt like the perfect opportunity to like take something bad that happened to make it good. The CDC says 1 in 4 children have an allergy, and allergic reactions can be unpredictable, which is why the Zaramba family believes everyone should always have an EpiPen within. It was really one of those classic someone writing in saying, Hey, there ought to be a law. Senator Andrew Gardis worked with the Zaremba family after Lucia presented the idea that if they are in public and John has an allergic reaction, an EpiPen would be there to save his life. Work on the bill, draft it together, get her input, hear her story, hear her family's story, and then put that front and center. I think was really, really special. And actually I think that's what helped us push it over the finish line to get it. Lucia says her efforts have not only impacted New York, but it's going national, and a young girl like DMed me the other day and she was like, I saw your story and I want to make this happen in Jersey. And the fact that this is like impacting people outside of New York too feels, I just feel really lucky. The Zaramba family hopes this new law saves many lives and gives people with allergies a lifeline. And that was Daniela Rodriguez reporting for us. A wonderful story to see her get so involved at a young age. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochle has signed new legislation to help senior citizens save some money. That new law will help identify more seniors who are eligible for the Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as HEAP. That is a federal initiative to help low income homeowners and renters afford costs associated with heating and cooling their homes. That's all for this week here on Power and Politics on News 12. Thanks so much for watching.

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Council Member Rita Joseph speaks on subway safety and other issues important to Brooklyn residents. 

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