Brad Lander took a risk last summer when he the mayor of New York City entered Instead of running a second term as a competent.
But then he was worried, he says, about the future of the city led by mayor Eric Adams – and later about the possibility that former government Andrew M. Cuomo would participate in the race, as he did.
He is run like a serious technocrat with a stack of progressive plans. But he didn’t have the same momentum as ZOHRAN MAMDANIIt has risen in the polls and the first choice approval of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (She ranked Mr. Lander third.)
Prior to the Primary of 24 June, the Leading democrats in the race Visited the New York Times for interviews. We publish fragments from those interviews, and this is the sixth in the series; Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
We have asked Mr Lander, 55, about 10 themes, with an occasional follow-up that touches his management of the finances of the city and the two good things he thinks did as mayor of Adams.
We have previously talked about Mr. Lander’s written Plan homelessness of the street for people with serious mental disordersare Criticism of Mr. Cuomo And how he seriously considered to become a rabbi.
1. What is the most important issue in the race: affordability, public safety, President Trump or something else?
In that order – affordability, public safety, Trump and then just clean up corruption and let the city run better. But I will first place affordability. That is what pushes people from New York.
2. Who was the best mayor of New York City in your life?
The best mayor of New York City Ever was Fiorello La Guardia, and he was not in my life. Unfortunately, I wish he had been.
The mayors in my life have done great things, but I hesitate to say which. If you want the mayor who has managed the city best – picked up the waste, had the city function well – Mike Bloomberg certainly did the best. But the gap to see how much income inequality grew and stopped and frankk was real.
The best only achievement of every mayor is Universal Prekindergarten, which has been incredible and life-changing for many families, but there were many other issues in the De Blasio administration.
3. Must the Elizabeth Street Garden in Manhattan Are you closed to build affordable homes?
Yes.
4. What is one issue in politics that you have changed of your mind?
I am happy to be able to say that I am open to admit when I’m wrong.
We did something there Research into Hudson Yards. I had postponed a number of things when I was director of the Pratt Center for Community Development that I thought the city would in principle be sewn and would not benefit financially. I thought it was all for the developer.
My team in the office of the Comptroller did some research and then came to the office and showed me: we earn between $ 200 million and $ 300 million a year. We published it. I have imposed cover that said: “I was wrong. The research says this actually works for New York City.”
5. There have been Questions about where Mayor Eric Adams lives. Where do you live?
I live on 13th Street in Park Slope.
How much is your rent or mortgage?
Our mortgage is $ 3,300 per month.
Do you have a car?
We own a car.
Which model?
We have a Toyota Prius.
How often do you take the metro or bus?
I take the metro or bus a few times a week.
6. What do you consider when it comes to your finances, growing up and now? Middle class? Higher middle class?
My mother was one Public high school counseling advisor. Mine Dad was a lawyer for legal services And then a lawyer in the private sector. We grew up with the middle class.
I would say that we, my wife and I, are the higher middle class. We have made the very happy decision to buy a cooperative in Brownsville, Brooklyn, for $ 125,000 in 1996, and that is why we were able to raise our family. We sold it and then bought our rowhouse on 13th Street, and that enabled us to live in a neighborhood that we could not afford now if we had not bought then.
7. Mayor Adams said you are Not investing in Israel As a more competent and criticized your management of the city’s pension funds. Why?
I mean, Eric Adams is every day and twice on Tuesday – probably more than that, to be honest.
Investments in Israel have grown on my watch, so it’s just a lie. And our pension performance – you can look at it. We are actually the first to Publish it online. They are exactly there for everyone to see.
Why do you think the Mayor have targeted?
I do my job. The task of City Comptroller is, in addition to managing those pension funds, supervision of the mayor – is to be a watchdog and I have been a good watchdog.
We have worked to cancel that $ 432 million DOCGO contract. [Mr. Lander criticized the city’s decision in 2023 to grant DocGo, a medical services company, a no-bid contract to help care for an influx of migrants.] Our audits have been difficult in all kinds of places.
I went to him early and said, “Let’s find some things to work together. Let’s try to have a strategy for what I have to do if it is my job to say” this contract stinks “or” this agency is not done his job. “
And he smiled, as he does, but not once they were willing to work with us to repair something that is broken.
8. What is a good thing that Mayor Adams did?
I will give him two.
NYC Reads – de Focus on literacyPhonics Education, children with dyslexia. Much more to do. There is only Two of those structured literacy schools. I think there should be one in every district, but it’s a good start.
And Trash -Containerization. It should not have taken us that long to place lids on the garbage cans. There is also a long way to go there. And probably Jessie Tisch Gets more credit than Eric. But a large part of the work of mayor is hiring good people. He has hired many bad people, but he has also hired some good people.
There will be a few large mayors priorities that I will deliver to the termination of homelessness on the street, building many affordable homes, expanding childcare and after-school and then my commissioners and deputy mayors will do a whole group of great things that we have not yet thought of. That is what happens when you hire really good people and have their backs.
9. What is your bagel order?
My bagel order is an all -bagel with spring -onion cream cheese, a slice of tomato and lox.
Roasted or not roasted?
Not roasted.
10. What is the last TV program that you binged?
We look at “Extraordinary lawyer Woo. “
I’ve never heard of that.
Do I have to choose something that people have heard of? The thing I have seen that people have to watch is the “Station eleven” mini series On HBO. That is the best that ever is on television ever. ‘Guards“Is a good second.
Jeffery C. Mays contributed reporting.
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