Photo Courtesy of Councilman Ulrich
Last month, Ulrich celebrated the eight-year anniversary of his Council seat election win. This year, instead of running against Mayor de Blasio, Ulrich said he will be seeking a third term representing the 32nd District.
By Michael V. Cusenza
City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) this week announced that later this year he will be running for re-election to a third term on the Council—not for mayor.
“It’s something that I’ve been considering for quite some time now, mulling it over these past few months with my family, my friends, and my supporters, and I’ve decided that this would not be the right move for me to make,” Ulrich announced on Monday evening on “The Road to City Hall” on Spectrum News New York 1. “I think that despite what some of the polls may indicate, [Mayor] Bill de Blasio can absolutely be beat – but I’m not sure that I’m in a position to beat him this year.”
Show host Josh Robin pressed the issue, asking Ulrich if he believes he ultimately could defeat de Blasio. The confident councilman cited financing as a major hurdle, but also made it clear that he doesn’t view the incumbent as a significant threat—to any challenger.
“[De Blasio] is his own worst enemy,” Ulrich added. “If you look at his lackluster performance, and his inability to bring people together in this city, I think he absolutely can be a one-term mayor.”
Ulrich, over the past year, has blasted de Blasio for myriad issues. Here, in no particular order, is just a sampling of the councilman’s greatest Hizzoner hits:
- Last summer, Ulrich lambasted the mayor for his “poor handling” of the Superstorm Sandy reconstruction program, Build it Back, and the de Blasio administration “for not delivering on their promise to help people get back into their homes after Superstorm Sandy.”
- Earlier this month, Ulrich ripped de Blasio and “Turning the Tide on Homelessness, Neighborhood by Neighborhood” – the City’s latest plan to get a hold of the crisis: “Mayor de Blasio set expectations so incredibly low today that you have to wonder if he was even being serious. Over the next four years, he aims to move a mere 2,500 people out of the shelter system. This is an insult to the 60,000 plus New Yorkers who are desperately waiting for permanent housing. Homelessness is at an all-time high. It is a serious issue and deserves serious, thoughtful solutions. Instead of feuding with the Governor, the Mayor should be fighting in Albany to bring back Section 8 vouchers. Instead of building more shelters, the Mayor should be investing in transitional housing programs that actually work by encouraging rehabilitation and upward mobility. The Mayor should also fire his DHS Commissioner, Steven Banks, for doing an abysmal job running this Agency. Until there are real programs, real solutions and real accountability – we will not see real progress or help for the people who need it the most.”
- And in January, the councilman took aim at de Blasio’s Fiscal Year 2018 Preliminary Budget: “Mayor de Blasio’s budget uses smoke and mirrors to mask the real problems facing our city. The Mayor is obviously more concerned with his reelection and raising his own political profile than addressing the homeless epidemic, tackling the affordable housing crisis, and improving the quality of life in every borough.”
Ulrich has not endorsed a candidate, but promised he would when a front-running challenger emerged, and pledged to support that person in order to secure de Blasio’s legacy as a one-term Gracie Mansion tenant.
“I don’t think the city can stand another four years of his incompetent leadership, his inattention to detail, and lack of innovation,” Ulrich said.
