Bill de Blasio has no Plan B to provide universal pre-kindergarten if Albany torpedoes his ambitious proposal to fund it — but he insists he won’t need one.
Our Jennifer Fermino reports:
De Blasio has made the plan a centerpiece of his campaign, but critics including nMayor Bloomberg say it will never fly because it requires Albany approving a tax hike in 2014, an election year for state legislators.
When De Blasio was asked specifically what he would do if it didn’t pass, he instead insisted it would.
“History shows mayors propose ways of getting revenue for New York City for… public safety, education, etc, and Albany defers and I think that’s what’s gonna happen here,” he said in a radio interview on WCBS 880 Monday morning.
He said the public overwhelmingly feels “it’s time for wealthy folks to pay a little more.”
His plan would tax city residents who make $500,000 to pay for pre-k.
Past mayors have had success getting Albany to hike taxes on city residents, including twice during Bloomberg’s term. But that was after 9-11 and the 2008 global economic meltdown, two extreme circumstances.
De Blasio also said that despite polls that show him a stone’s throw away from the 40% threshold to avoid a runoff, he does not think he will win the primary outright.
“I am very gratified by the polls for sure and I see a great response from out there around the city,” he said
“But we’re preparing for a runoff 100%.”
IMAGE: MARCOS SANTOS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
