Bill de Blasio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill de Blasio
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De Blasio in 2019
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| 109th Mayor of New York City | |
| In office January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2021 |
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| Deputy | Anthony Shorris (2014–2017) Dean Fuleihan (2018–2021) |
| Preceded by | Michael Bloomberg |
| Succeeded by | Eric Adams |
| 3rd Public Advocate of New York City | |
| In office January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Betsy Gotbaum |
| Succeeded by | Letitia James |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 39th district |
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| In office January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Stephen DiBrienza |
| Succeeded by | Brad Lander |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Warren Wilhelm Jr.
May 8, 1961 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | New York University (BA) Columbia University (MIA) |
| Signature |  |
Bill de Blasio (born Warren Wilhelm Jr. on May 8, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 109th mayor of New York City from 2014 to 2021. As a member of the Democratic Party, he focused on issues like fairness and helping all New Yorkers have a chance to succeed.
Before becoming mayor, de Blasio was the New York City Public Advocate, a job where he acted as a watchdog for the people of New York. He also served on the New York City Council, representing parts of Brooklyn.
During his time as mayor, de Blasio started a free, universal pre-kindergarten program for all four-year-olds in the city. He also worked on police reform and other programs to help people with mental health needs. After two terms as mayor, he was succeeded by Eric Adams. In 2019, de Blasio briefly ran for President of the United States.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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Bill de Blasio was born in Manhattan, New York, but he grew up mostly in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His birth name was Warren Wilhelm Jr. In 1983, he changed his name to honor his mother's family, the de Blasios.
His mother, Maria de Blasio, was of Italian heritage, and his father, Warren Wilhelm, had German, English, and other European roots. His mother served in the U.S. government during World War II and later wrote a book. His father was a Yale University graduate who also served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart. His father passed away when de Blasio was 18.
De Blasio graduated from high school in 1979. He went on to earn a degree from New York University and a master's degree from Columbia University. He was also a Harry S. Truman Scholar, a special award for students interested in public service.
Early Political Career
After college, de Blasio worked for different organizations. In 1988, he traveled to Nicaragua to help deliver food and medicine. When he returned to New York City, he worked for a nonprofit group focused on health care in Central America.
His first job in city politics was in 1989 as a volunteer for David Dinkins's campaign for mayor. Later, he worked as a campaign manager for U.S. Representative Charles Rangel in 1994 and for Hillary Clinton's successful U.S. Senate campaign in 2000.
In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed de Blasio as a regional director for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this role, he helped oversee housing programs for New York and New Jersey.
New York City Council (2002–2009)
In 2001, de Blasio was elected to the New York City Council, representing the 39th district in Brooklyn. He was reelected twice, in 2003 and 2005.
As a council member, he worked on laws to protect tenants from unfair treatment by landlords. He also helped pass laws to support low-income New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS and to protect the rights of transgender people. He was the head of the council's General Welfare Committee, which focused on helping people in need.
New York City Public Advocate (2010–2013)
In 2009, de Blasio ran for New York City Public Advocate, an official who represents the interests of everyday citizens. He won the election and took office in 2010.
As Public Advocate, he focused on several key areas:
- Affordable Housing: He created an online "NYC's Worst Landlords Watchlist" to call attention to building owners who did not make needed repairs. The list helped pressure landlords to improve living conditions for their tenants.
- Education: He often disagreed with Mayor Michael Bloomberg's education policies. He fought against budget cuts for childcare and a plan to get rid of free bus and subway passes for students.
- Campaign Finance: He spoke out against a Supreme Court decision called Citizens United, arguing that large companies should not have too much influence in elections.
Mayor of New York City (2014–2021)
In 2013, de Blasio announced he was running for mayor of New York City. His campaign focused on the idea of a "tale of two cities," pointing out the large gap between the rich and the poor in New York.
His campaign got a big boost from a TV ad featuring his son, Dante. De Blasio won the Democratic primary and then defeated Republican candidate Joe Lhota in the general election with over 72% of the vote. He was reelected for a second term in 2017.
First Term as Mayor
De Blasio was sworn in as mayor on January 1, 2014. In his first few months, he faced some challenges, including several large snowstorms. He was also part of a funny moment during a Groundhog Day ceremony when he accidentally dropped the groundhog.
One of his most important achievements was creating a free, universal pre-kindergarten program. He wanted to pay for it by raising taxes on people earning more than $500,000 a year. The program was very successful, and by 2015, thousands of four-year-olds were enrolled.
He also ended a police surveillance program that had targeted Muslim residents after the 9/11 attacks.
Key Policies and Events
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Throughout his two terms, de Blasio worked on many different issues.
Affordable Housing
A major goal for de Blasio was to build or preserve 200,000 affordable homes for New Yorkers. His plan aimed to create more housing for low- and middle-income families, especially in neighborhoods like East New York, Brooklyn.
COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, New York City became the center of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. De Blasio's administration took major steps to slow the spread of the virus, including closing schools and businesses. He worked to manage the city's response to the health crisis.
Law Enforcement
De Blasio had a complicated relationship with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). A key promise of his campaign was to reform the "stop-and-frisk" police tactic, which a court had found unconstitutional. Under his leadership, the use of stop-and-frisk was greatly reduced.
He also introduced new de-escalation training for police officers to help them handle situations without using force. However, he faced criticism from police unions, especially after tragic events like the deaths of officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos in 2014.
Transportation
De Blasio launched the "Vision Zero" plan to make New York City's streets safer and reduce traffic-related deaths. The plan led to a decrease in pedestrian deaths. He also supported adding more bus routes and bike lanes throughout the city.
Presidential and Congressional Campaigns
| de Blasio 2020 | |
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| Campaign | 2020 presidential election (Democratic Party primaries) |
| Candidate | Bill de Blasio Mayor of New York City (2014–2021) |
| Affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Status | Inactive |
| Announced | May 16, 2019 |
| Suspended | September 20, 2019 |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York |
| Receipts | US$1,417,609.97 (9/30/2019) |
| Slogan | Working People First |
On May 16, 2019, de Blasio announced he was running for the Democratic nomination for president. His slogan was "Working People First." However, his campaign did not attract much support, and he ended it on September 20, 2019.
In 2022, he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for a district in New York. He later withdrew from the race, saying he was finished with running for office.
Personal Life
De Blasio married writer and activist Chirlane McCray in 1994. They have two children, Chiara and Dante. The family lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn, before moving into Gracie Mansion, the official home of New York City's mayor. In July 2023, de Blasio and McCray announced they were separating but would not divorce.
At 6 feet 5 inches tall, de Blasio is the tallest mayor in the city's history. He is an Italian American and sometimes speaks Italian in interviews. He is also a well-known fan of the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
Images for kids
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De Blasio at the Celebrate Israel Parade in June 2013.
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See also
In Spanish: Bill de Blasio para niños
- List of mayors of New York City
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
