12 NOVEMBER 9, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
EDITORIAL
What de Blasio should focus on next term
The inevitable fi nally became a
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STORY:
Subway rider bashes man in the
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SUMMARY:
Cops need the public’s help in
fi nding a man who assaulted a
26-year-old man with a blunt object
while riding the F train in Elmhurst
last weekend.
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reality on Tuesday night. Mayor
Bill de Blasio was re-elected in
another landslide for his second and
fi nal term in offi ce.
De Blasio is quite a polarizing fi gure
in Queens — according to recent polls,
roughly half the borough hates him,
while the other half loves him. The
split didn’t factor into the election
at all, but there’s much truth to the
grievances de Blasio’s opponents aired.
De Blasio may have won, but he
must remember that he’s mayor of the
whole city, not just of those who voted
for him.
In the weeks and months ahead,
de Blasio must come clean about
claims that his fi rst term was mired
in corruption. The claims stem from
the testimony of Jona Rechnitz, who
spoke of having a cozy, pay-to-play
relationship with the mayor and his
administration. De Blasio and others
have called Rechnitz a liar, but that’s
not enough to persuade everyone.
We believe the mayor’s duty is to
not only refute the allegations but
also be completely forthright with
the city and investigators. If there is
no impropriety, de Blasio has nothing
to fear, and the courts will exonerate
him as they’ve done before.
Another thing our mayor should
do is make amends with Governor
Andrew Cuomo.
Deep down, we believe de Blasio
knows that he needs Cuomo’s help to
tackle the two biggest issues New York
City faces today: a dilapidated transit
system and homelessness. Real leaders
don’t whine about a problem or try
to pass the buck onto someone else.
They roll up their sleeves and they
get to work.
The city and state must forge a cooperative
agreement to upgrade the
city’s ancient subway system with a
funding framework amenable to the
city, state and MTA. They can also
partner on an expedited expansion
of Select Bus Service and an increase
in ferry service citywide.
De Blasio and Cuomo must also
work together to implement a
comprehensive plan to reduce
homelessness. Shelters alone aren’t
the solution; the city and state must
acknowledge the affordability problem
facing the five boroughs and
implement a new program to help
working families stay in the city and
off the street.
Finally, knowing that de Blasio has
an eye on the national stage, we urge
him to focus on the bigger picture
before him: New York City. He’s accomplished
much in four years, and there’s
much left to do. The best way for de
Blasio to build a reputation nationally
is by being an eff ective mayor who gets
things done.
An executive’s last term in offi ce is
known for legacy building. What kind
of legacy does de Blasio want to leave
in 2021? We’ll soon fi nd out.
