24 THE QUEENS COURIER • NOVEMBER 9, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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What de Blasio should focus on next term
Th e inevitable fi nally became a 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. Th e split
didn’t factor into the election at all, but there’s much truth to the grievances
de Blasio’s opponents aired.
He may have won, but de Blasio must remember that he’s mayor of the
whole city, not just of those who voted for him.
To show that he’s putting the city fi rst, de Blasio should start his second
term by publicly and privately making amends with Governor Andrew
Cuomo. Deep down, both men know that they must work together to tackle
the two biggest issues New York City faces today: a dilapidated transit system
and an unacceptably high homelessness rate.
Real leaders don’t whine about a problem or try to pass the buck onto
someone else. Th ey roll up their sleeves and they get to work.
Th e 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. Th ey 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. De Blasio wants to build 90 permanent
shelters across the fi ve boroughs, moving the homeless out of hotels and into
something that provides greater services for those in need.
But de Blasio must realize that solving the homelessness crisis must come
with addressing a growing aff ordability problem in New York City. He needs
to champion a new program that helps working families stay in the city and
off the street.
Aft er allegations of corruption and pay-to-play dogged much of his fi rst
term, de Blasio needs to also refute those claims and be completely forthright
with the city and investigators. If there is no impropriety, he has nothing to
fear, and the courts will exonerate him as they’ve done before.
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. Th e 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.
STORY: Subway rider bashes man in the head with a blunt object on
the F train in Elmhurst
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.
REACH: 17,132 people (as of 11/7/17)