Photo: Office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been rather hush-hush around the specifics of his budget request at the 2015/2016 budget hearing today in Albany, reported City & State.
Unlike last year, when he was quite outspoken around his desire to get funding approval for his Universal Pre-K program, this year, he has kept his much of his planned "asks" close to the chest. But sources in the administration claim that one thing seems pretty certain: He is expected to lobby the state legislature for control over setting the minimum wage in New York City.
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer also plans to be in Albany on Wednesday and said on Twitter that he will be advocating to raise the minimum wage as well.
However, the mayor also may be fighting more of an uphill battle this time, after he threw his support behind Democratic candidates for the state Senate in an effort to swing the majority left. That didn't work. And so what he'll be facing instead is an even more contentious Republican majority, along with the fact that he recently lost a big advocate in former House Speaker Sheldon Silver, after he was indicted on multiple charges, including fraud.
Also, while both de Blasio and Cuomo are Democrats, it's widely known that the mayor pushes a more left-leaning agenda then the governor.
Still, political observers believe the chips will fall in the mayor's favor, as the tension between the two is just a natural part of their roles.
