De Blasio’s presidential forum slated for November in Iowa

But applying the cap to the city’s property taxes is opposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat with whom Mr. Flanagan has clashed over mayoral control of schools.

“The only message that we’re sending is that we believe in mayoral control”, Flanagan told POLITICO New York.

“It is astonishing to me that the MTA would threaten to hold New York City transit projects hostage for more city money”, said Borough President Melinda Katz.

Flanagan went on to explain that it was nothing personal against de Blasio. Tentative assessments released in January showed the market value of the city’s 1 million-plus properties soaring 9% from past year, to $988.3 billion. Interest groups such as the Real Estate Board of New York and watchdog organizations including the Citizens Budget Commission have complained for years about anomalies that render city property taxes unfair.

“While we appreciate the Mayor’s comments about the importance of diversity and inclusion in NYC, his announcement that our city is participating in the Strong Cities Network raises concerns because it opens the door to Countering Violent Extremism programs that we know to be counterproductive, violative of constitutional rights and stigmatizing”, NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said in a statement. I think he should come to a hearing and answer for that question first.

“If we had an actual legal team”, said long-term shelter resident Cancel about his fellow residents’ ongoing status of not knowing how long they can stay in their building, “this might be easier for us and everybody else”. “There’s consensus across educators, business, leaders and even the political spectrum that mayoral control works”.

De Blasio’s representatives denied that the mayor has ever refused to meet with Flanagan, placing the blame on him for not cooperating.

“The situation remains very fluid”, de Blasio said during a press conference in which he was flanked by several of the city’s commissioners.