At a time when New York Metropolis is seemingly dealing with a management disaster, Michael Blake, the son of Jamaican immigrants, says his determination to run for mayor is pushed by his perception that “New York Metropolis deserves higher and is due the very best in management.”
Blake grew up in a working-class household within the Bronx—his mom was a 40-year producer who raised 4 boys, and his late father, a member of the labor union 1199SEIU, labored as a upkeep supervisor at St. Barnabas Hospital within the Bronx — advised Caribbean Life that he’s “dedicated to tackling the problems that have an effect on the on a regular basis lives of New Yorkers, particularly those that have been marginalized.”
He mentioned his platform facilities on a number of key areas: addressing the True Price of Dwelling, Reasonably priced Housing and Homelessness, Managing Environment friendly and Efficient Authorities, and Schooling and Youth Empowerment.
Blake mentioned he intends to deal with the precise value of dwelling in New York Metropolis with methods like assured earnings and incentives to extend wages, particularly for childcare and homecare suppliers.
He additionally seeks to create job alternatives by investing in small companies and making a fairer financial panorama.
With rising and unaffordable rents and housing prices, Blake mentioned he plans to determine a Mitchell Lama 2.0 technique to deal with the housing disaster.
He additionally mentioned he would improve reasonably priced housing development, spend money on assist companies for unhoused New Yorkers and folks in psychological well being crises, and take away credit score scores from hire and mortgage purposes.
An ordained minister, Blake mentioned he desires to “convey belief and integrity again to Metropolis Corridor by restoring accountability and innovating on how public companies are delivered.”
He mentioned his priorities will deal with improved public security and public transportation and strengthening entry to the humanities, tradition, sports activities, and leisure.
Blake believes that training is “the important thing to unlocking alternative. ” He goals to take a position extra in public colleges, significantly these in underserved communities, increase entry to larger training and expert trades for college students of shade, and totally fund common childcare for all households.
Blake mentioned he embodies “the spirit of resilience and neighborhood” – values instilled in him by his dad and mom, who, he mentioned, “labored tirelessly to construct a greater life for his or her household.”
In his run for mayor of New York Metropolis, Blaske mentioned he attracts on his religion and repair, alongside together with his wealthy background in public service, enterprise, and social justice, “to supply a transparent imaginative and prescient for town’s future.”
He mentioned his upbringing in an immigrant household taught him the significance of exhausting work, neighborhood assist, and the pursuit of alternatives.
Blake mentioned his expertise rising up within the Bronx has formed his understanding of the challenges confronted by working-class New Yorkers and has fueled his dedication to creating alternatives for all, significantly communities of shade.
He typically jokes about having the ability to handle three jobs due to his roots.
A deep sense of duty outlined Blake’s youth. In 2014, he was elected to the New York State Meeting, representing the 79th District within the Bronx.
Throughout his three phrases, Blake turned recognized for his advocacy for small companies, training, and social justice.
His key achievements included Supporting Small, Minority, and Ladies-Owned Companies, felony justice reform, and My Brother’s Keeper Program.
He mentioned his advocacy led to laws that decreased the fee interval for small companies contracting with New York State from 30 days to fifteen days.
He was additionally instrumental in extending the Minority and Ladies-Owned Enterprise Enterprise (MWBE) program, which has offered tens of millions of {dollars} in contracts for minority-owned companies.
Blake mentioned he led efforts to cross the “Elevate The Age” laws, which ensures that 16 and 17-year-olds are not tried as adults in felony courtroom.
He mentioned his dedication to reforming the felony justice system additionally included securing funding for lead remediation in public housing and pushing for extra range within the medical area by way of scholarships for college students of shade.
Blake mentioned he efficiently created the primary statewide My Brother’s Keeper program in New York, which has raised greater than $74 million over 4 years to assist younger individuals of shade and enhance academic outcomes.
He mentioned these legislative accomplishments mirror his “deep dedication to fairness and equity,” which is central to his imaginative and prescient for the way forward for New York Metropolis.
Blake’s management extends past New York. From 2017 to 2021, he served as vice chair-at-large of the Democratic Nationwide Committee (DNC), changing into the primary Black man elected to a DNC management function since Ron Brown in 1989.
Blake mentioned he labored to mobilize younger voters, communities of shade, and native candidates nationwide.
He mentioned he traveled to 31 states and Japan, the place he organized marketing campaign coaching and voter mobilization methods.
Moreover, Rev. Blake labored within the Obama-Biden administration as affiliate director of Public Engagement, the place he targeted on outreach to African American, minority, and girls enterprise homeowners.
He additionally performed a key function in launching the White Home City Entrepreneurship Summit and labored to extend federal procurement for minority and women-owned companies, leading to record-high spending on these enterprises.
“I’m right here for the individuals,” he mentioned. “For Blake, operating for Mayor is not only about looking for workplace — it’s about making certain that each New Yorker, no matter background, has a chance to thrive.”
Rev. Blake mentioned he’s poised to do properly as the one candidate representing his native borough of the Bronx and Harlem.
Likewise, as a member of the Jamaican neighborhood, he mentioned he would leverage his relationships in Central Brooklyn and Southeast Queens.
He exuded robust confidence in profitable the mayoral race, bolstered by his deep connections to New York Metropolis, the place he mentioned he has constructed a fame for being “a tireless advocate for underserved communities.”
Blake mentioned his clear imaginative and prescient for a extra equitable and inclusive metropolis resonates with a broad base of voters who’re in search of change, making him a powerful candidate to be ranked second or third on ballots when voters have already got a favourite in thoughts.
Together with his wealth of expertise in public service and neighborhood organizing, Blake mentioned he’s “well-equipped to deal with town’s most urgent points.”
He mentioned his management, rooted in a real dedication to social justice, makes him a powerful contender within the race.
As town grapples with financial disparity, housing shortages, and requires reform, Blake mentioned his message of hope, progress, and integrity presents “a compelling case” for his management.
However he mentioned he’s “not simply operating for mayor;” he’s “operating to construct a greater, fairer New York for everybody.”
Blake mentioned his marketing campaign is about making a metropolis the place each New Yorker has the possibility to succeed, no matter their background.
Together with his confirmed monitor file, unwavering dedication, and imaginative and prescient for the longer term, Blake mentioned he is able to lead New York Metropolis into a brand new period of alternative and justice.
“Tomorrow begins as we speak!“ he confused.
