"Now comes the hard part.
Gliding to victory, Bill de Blasio was re-elected on Tuesday as the mayor of New York City, defeating his Republican challenger, Nicole Malliotakis, and a handful of independent candidates in an affirmation of his progressive agenda.
Mr. de Blasio, the first Democratic mayor to be re-elected in a generation, since Edward I. Koch captured his third term in 1985, now has four years to further his goal of reshaping the city in his progressive mold. But his ability to deliver may have far more to do with the winds blowing out of Washington and Albany than with circumstances in the five boroughs.
Federal budget cuts — threatened by President Trump and the Republican-led Congress, especially to social programs, health care and public housing — could cause serious problems and exacerbate social ills, forcing Mr. de Blasio to do financial triage. That could potentially drain money from signature programs, like his promise to accelerate and expand a push to build and preserve affordable housing.
And Mr. de Blasio, 56, remains hampered by his inability to forge a working relationship with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a fellow Democrat; many of the mayor’s plans require Albany’s approval, and the mayor has had few willing partners in the Capitol.
He has said that he would crusade in Albany to make the city’s arcane property tax system more fair across neighborhoods. He said that he would appeal to Albany to improve the state’s voting system to increase participation by making it easier to register to vote and to vote early.
He wants money from Albany to make free schooling available to all 3-year-olds. And he wants the state to approve a tax on wealthy New Yorkers to pay for subway improvements..."
De Blasio Coasts to Re-election, as Second-Term Challenges Await - The New York Times
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