NEW YORK (AP) — Bill de Blasio took the oath of office administered by former president Bill Clinton on Wednesday, formally becoming the 109th mayor of New York City while pledging to pursue a sweeping liberal agenda.
“Big dreams are not a luxury reserved for a privileged few but the animating force behind every community, in every borough,” he said in his speech.
The moment was the pinnacle of de Blasio’s unlikely political rise as a symbol of restoration for the city’s Democrats, who outnumber Republicans 6-to-1 in one of the nation’s most liberal cites yet have not controlled City Hall since 1993.
De Blasio, 52, was first sworn in 12 hours earlier at a brief modest ceremony outside his home in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood. Flanked only by his wife, Chirlane McCray, and their two teenage children, he was administered the oath by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, signed the official paperwork and, with a broad smile, paid the requisite $9 fee to the city clerk.
The events at City Hall were conducted on a far grander scale.
Clinton was joined by his wife, former secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is a presumptive White House front-runner in 2016. Another possible presidential candidate, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also sat nearby, as did former mayor Michael Bloomberg, just hours into his first day as a private citizen after spending 12 years in office.
Thousands of people braved cold New Year’s Day temperatures to salute the new mayor, who is slated to hold a receiving line in City Hall after the ceremony. Two other Democrats were also sworn in to hold citywide offices: Letitia James as public advocate and Scott Stringer as comptroller.
De Blasio thanked his family, supporters and the city for “taking on the elite” and pushing for change.
“When I said we would take dead aim at the tale of two cities, I meant it. And we will do it. I will honor the faith and trust you have placed in me. And we will give life to the hope of so many in our city. We will succeed … as one city.”
Many frum activists were in the attendance at the event, and many had the chance to congratulate the new Mayor and wish him much success in the next four years.
People who work and do not receive benefits are being stretched to the limit. I am very far from wealthy but do not qualify for the Obama give aways. My insurance was terminated and because I don’t have the means to rely on high deductible insurance I am forced to pay top dollar for a n insurance that many doctors do not accept. My friends who receive food stamps are often more able to buy their supper than I am.
Everything runs in a cycle, nothing maintains its current status. So the Torah describes certain things and we see it in the history of klal yisroel and also in the laws of nature, economics, physics, and life itself. The general trend that appears to be getting stronger now will run its course after a- hopefully short- while.
Where was mendy Margolin?
I would like to hear what future Jewish alliance has to say…
Perhaps they can start a weekly article for col…very interested to hear the analysis of Yaakov behrman…a man who speaks sense…keep up the good work…where can I donate?
Why do you think the Alter Rebbe preferred even the danger in Russia to France? Open your eyes,trust in Hashem,not the government provision.
He’s a socialist. Period. He’ll make obama look conservative. Unlike obama he actually has a majority democratic party in new york which will back all his yuppie meshugassen.
BS”D
PS do you think there is any connection between the new mayor and the weather G-ds going berserk. They must be mad
BS”D
to # 7
I would like to know where you get your facts are from. I had a great plan which now has huge deductibles in all ares and does not cover my primary care physician
Can someone tell me one bad thing that President Obama has done? Stop being brain washed by the talk shows.. THe country is doing pretty good. ANd about Obamacare: thank G-d people can buy health insurance. WHy can we buy by our brokers any type of insurance except health insurance? THose of you who manage to get Medicaid, count your blessings , those who work for a large company that provides insurance -lucky for you. But AMericans who work for themselves, on the books, can’t buy decent health insurance . Until now. Bravo President Obama for doing something for us!!!
Downright terrifying that he won by such a landslide. How can so many people be so blind. This will not end well.
Another Dinkins!
But what a bunch of big shots! Very nice.
Thanks for pics.
BS”D
a real sad day, if not a tragedy, for New Yorkers and NYC
It’s bad enough that his ideas are Obam’ ish and we see how that has fared, but the man is not even the slightest mentch. Never mind that he had to bash Bloomberg in front of him but how in the world even behind his back could the new Mayor find cause to bash a Mayor who has done such good to NY. He was by all accounts a great Mayor
Nice to see all of our leaders posing with the honorable Bill Clinton.