Blasio, citing "socialist impulse", wants more government control over New York property

In this November 7, 2017 photo, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio congratulates himself after voting at the Park Slope Library in Brooklyn, New York.
(AP Photo / Richard Drew)

Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke of his "socialist impulse" in describing an ideal world where the New York City government controls all the lands and buildings in his city.

"I think people from all over the city, from all walks of life, would like the city government to be able to determine which building goes where, how high, who will live, what will be the rent," Blasio said. in a big interview with New York Magazine. "I think there is a socialist impulse, which I hear every day in every community, that they want things to be planned according to their needs."

When asked about housing inequality, Blasio's Progressive Democrat lamented soaring rents and housing prices in one of the world's most expensive cities.

"Look, if I had my ideas, the city government would determine every piece of land, how would development unfold," he said. "And there would be very strict requirements regarding income levels and rents."

Later in the interview, de Blasio admitted that this type of government control was not possible at the moment – claiming that it was causing "friction" and "anger" – but said that in New York Many people would like to have a government that: better meets their daily needs.

"This is a world I would like to see, and I think we have, at least in this city, people who would like to have the New Deal, on a level," he said. "They would like to have a very, very powerful government, including a federal government, involved in the direct resolution of their daily problems."

The average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in New York is $ 2,524, more than double the national average of $ 1,180, according to census statistics prepared by Apartment List. DeBlasio said that these prices keep people "everyday".

"I was a day in Varick Street, near Canal, and there was a big sign in front of a new condo that said," The units start at $ 2 million "from Blasio in reference to a street in Lower Manhattan. "And that makes people completely mad in this city, because this kind of development is clearly not for ordinary people."