First Debate Heats Up Democratic Mayoral Primary

The first Democratic debate in the primary for New York City mayor highlighted a range of issues facing city residents, as well as two different governing styles. Incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio sparred with former City Council member Sal Albanese on topics ranging from government transparency to affordable housing and development in New York City.

Here are some of the issues the Democratic candidates addressed.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Income inequality and housing loomed large in this debate. Albanese pushed back on de Blasio's record on building affordable housing units and slowing gentrification in the city.

"He has basically turned over the city to big developers. That's the bottom line," said Albanese. De Blasio retorted that Albanese had his facts wrong, arguing that his administration was on its way to creating affordable housing units for half a million New Yorkers.

Responding to a question posed by WNYC's Brian Lehrer, Albanese pointed to former Mayor Ed Koch and said he would follow his example by pausing for-profit development in favor of more non-profit building. De Blasio jabbed back, saying that what worked in the 1980s will not necessarily be successful now.

POLICING AND CRIME

The candidates clashed on methods of policing and crime statistics.

"What's really troubling about Bill is the way that he's politicized policing," said Albanese, saying de Blasio was wrong when he "publicly indicted the cop" who shot and killed 60-year-old Deborah Danner in the Bronx.

De Blasio said that police protocol was not followed and that Danner should not have died.

"The very same day I spoke, Commissioner O'Neill spoke and said, tragically, and I'm sure it was not the officer's intention, but the protocol was not followed. Ms. Danner shouldn't have died," said de Blasio.

Both candidates agreed that crime was down, but had different opinions about what was driving that trend. De Blasio repeatedly touted that New York is the safest big city in America thanks to successful strides in community policing and technology.

Albanese said the decades long trend of decreasing crime is not thanks to Mayor de Blasio, and that if Micky Mouse were mayor, the trend would continue.

TRANSIT

De Blasio trumpeted his recently proposed Millionaires Tax as a way to help fund the city's ailing transportation system. The mayor says the tax would put millions toward fixing the MTA's structural issues every year, as well as help fund half-priced tickets for the city's residents living at or below the poverty line. Albanese pushed back by arguing that de Blasio was disconnected from the real trials of the subway system.

"For three-and-a-half years, he took the position that transit was not his job. I had to personally shame him into taking the subway a couple of weeks ago," said Albanese.

TRANSPARENCY

Albanese contested that de Blasio's administration was the "least transparent" in recent history, citing slowness to respond to Freedom of Information Law requests and hold regular press conferences. He also cited a New York Times article describing an investigation into de Blasio's use of a personal email account to conduct government business.

"You're attempting to evade public exposure by having emails — you should know about that by now, about emails, by having emails on your personal email account," said Albanese.

De Blasio pushed back, saying he was committed to public transparency. He also responded to a direct question about personal political motives, denying his intentions to run for President in the 2020 election.

"To my fellow New Yorkers: I'm running for one thing and one thing only, for re-election as Mayor of New York City. It's my honor to serve as mayor of this great city. I want to serve for four more years," said de Blasio.