Bill DeBlasio
Encyclopedia
Bill de Blasio is a New York City
elected official, holding the citywide office of New York City Public Advocate, which serves as an ombudsman
between the electorate and the city government. De Blasio previously served as a New York City Council
member representing the 39th District in Brooklyn
(Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Street, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Boro Park).
As Public Advocate
, de Blasio is first in line to succeed the New York City Mayor.
on January 1, 2010. In his inauguration speech, he challenged the administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
, including his homelessness and education policies.
Betsy Gotbaum
, former Mayor Ed Koch
, former Governor Mario Cuomo
, and Reverend Al Sharpton.
De Blasio defeated Republican Alex Zablocki with 77% of the vote in the general election, held on November 3, 2009.
, which comprises the Brooklyn
neighborhoods of Borough Park, Carroll Gardens
, Cobble Hill
, Gowanus, Kensington, Park Slope
, and Windsor Terrace
.
De Blasio was first elected to the Council in 2001; he was re-elected overwhelmingly in 2003 and 2005. In the Council, de Blasio chairs the Committee on General Welfare, and is a member of the Education, Environmental Protection, Finance, and Technology in Government Committees.
's successful campaign for United States Senate
in 2000.
In 1997, de Blasio was appointed to serve as the Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for New York and New Jersey in the Clinton Administration. As the highest-ranking official in the New York/New Jersey region HUD, de Blasio was instrumental in directing increased federal funding for affordable housing, senior citizen housing and economic development in the region. De Blasio also helped increase access to and improve affordable housing, including helping take control of the Beekman Houses, a failed development project in the South Bronx.
. De Blasio and his wife Chirlane live with their two children in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Both children attend public school. Councilman de Blasio holds a B.A. from New York University
, and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs
.
While serving as campaign manager for Hillary Rodham Clinton
's 2000 U.S. Senate Campaign, the NBC
political drama program The West Wing paid tribute to de Blasio in one scene by writing "CALL B. DE BLASIO" on a board while the show's characters discussed strategy.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
elected official, holding the citywide office of New York City Public Advocate, which serves as an ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
between the electorate and the city government. De Blasio previously served as a New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
member representing the 39th District in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
(Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Street, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Boro Park).
As Public Advocate
Public Advocate
Public Advocate is a governmental position similar to an ombudsman. Depending on the jurisdiction it can be an elected or appointed position.-See also:* New York City Public Advocate...
, de Blasio is first in line to succeed the New York City Mayor.
Public Advocate Career
De Blasio was inaugurated as Public AdvocatePublic Advocate
Public Advocate is a governmental position similar to an ombudsman. Depending on the jurisdiction it can be an elected or appointed position.-See also:* New York City Public Advocate...
on January 1, 2010. In his inauguration speech, he challenged the administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, including his homelessness and education policies.
New York City Public Advocate Campaign 2009
In November 2008, de Blasio announced his candidacy for Public Advocate. The New York Times endorsed de Blasio in the primary for Public Advocate. On September 15, 2009, de Blasio came in first in the Democratic primary, garnering 33% of the vote. De Blasio won the run-off on September 29, 2009 with 62% of the vote. His candidacy for the general election was endorsed by then Public AdvocatePublic Advocate
Public Advocate is a governmental position similar to an ombudsman. Depending on the jurisdiction it can be an elected or appointed position.-See also:* New York City Public Advocate...
Betsy Gotbaum
Betsy Gotbaum
Betsy Gotbaum was the New York City Public Advocate. She was elected as Public Advocate for New York City in 2001, and reelected in 2005. A longtime civic leader, she is the third woman elected to a citywide post in NYC history. Because she ran unopposed in the 2001 and 2005 elections, Betsy...
, former Mayor Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
, former Governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
, and Reverend Al Sharpton.
De Blasio defeated Republican Alex Zablocki with 77% of the vote in the general election, held on November 3, 2009.
New York City Council
Bill de Blasio represented District 39 in the New York City CouncilNew York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
, which comprises the Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
neighborhoods of Borough Park, Carroll Gardens
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Carroll Gardens is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. The area is named for Charles Carroll, a revolutionary war veteran who was also the only Roman Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence...
, Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
Cobble Hill is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. Bordered by Atlantic Avenue on the north, Hicks Street to the west, Smith Street on the east and Degraw Street to the south, Cobble Hill sits adjacent to Boerum Hill and Brooklyn Heights with Carroll Gardens to the south...
, Gowanus, Kensington, Park Slope
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Park Slope is a neighborhood in western Brooklyn, New York City's most populous borough. Park Slope is roughly bounded by Prospect Park West to the east, Fourth Avenue to the west, Flatbush Avenue to the north, and 15th Street to the south, though other definitions are sometimes offered. Generally...
, and Windsor Terrace
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
Windsor Terrace is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded by Prospect Park to the northeast and Green-Wood Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, to the southwest. Its southeastern boundary is Caton Avenue, while to the northwest it is bordered by Prospect Park West...
.
De Blasio was first elected to the Council in 2001; he was re-elected overwhelmingly in 2003 and 2005. In the Council, de Blasio chairs the Committee on General Welfare, and is a member of the Education, Environmental Protection, Finance, and Technology in Government Committees.
New York City School Board
Elected in 1999, de Blasio served as a member of Community School Board 15, where he helped spearhead some of the most comprehensive reforms in the city. District 15 was the first in New York City to cap first grade class size at 20 students and is establishing universal Pre-Kindergarten. De Blasio worked with other Board members to give parents a choice by establishing middle school academies that create smaller, more personal learning environments for students, and was part of an effort to reinvent John Jay High School.Clinton Administration and 2000 Senate Campaign
Prior to his election to the City Council, de Blasio served as the campaign manager for Hillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
's successful campaign for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 2000.
In 1997, de Blasio was appointed to serve as the Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for New York and New Jersey in the Clinton Administration. As the highest-ranking official in the New York/New Jersey region HUD, de Blasio was instrumental in directing increased federal funding for affordable housing, senior citizen housing and economic development in the region. De Blasio also helped increase access to and improve affordable housing, including helping take control of the Beekman Houses, a failed development project in the South Bronx.
David Dinkins Mayoral Administration
De Blasio's introduction to New York City government came during David Dinkins' 1989 Mayoral campaign. Following the campaign, de Blasio served as an aide in the Dinkins Administration, where he worked on projects such as the Safe Streets, Safe City initiative to reduce crime throughout New York City.Personal Life and Family
De Blasio is of German-American and Italian-American ethnic heritage. His mother was Maria De Blasio Wilhelm, a historian on the Italian Resistance in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. De Blasio and his wife Chirlane live with their two children in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Both children attend public school. Councilman de Blasio holds a B.A. from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs
School of International and Public Affairs
The School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University is one of the most prestigious graduate schools of public policy in the world. Located on Columbia's Morningside Heights campus in the Borough of Manhattan, in New York City, the School has 15,000 graduates in more than 150...
.
While serving as campaign manager for Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
's 2000 U.S. Senate Campaign, the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
political drama program The West Wing paid tribute to de Blasio in one scene by writing "CALL B. DE BLASIO" on a board while the show's characters discussed strategy.