The New York City mayoral election is quickly coming to an end. Tomorrow, Nov. 5, residents of New York City will cast their votes to decide who will succeed Mayor Bloomberg as the mayor of the most densely populated city in the U.S. The two candidates vying for the position are Democrat Bill de Blasio, who is the clear front-runner, and Republican Joseph Lhota.
So the biggest question before election day is: Who are you voting for? Here are 10 facts you need to know about both candidates to help you decide who will get your vote.
Bill de Blasio, Democrat
1. Worked as Regional Director under then-Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, in which he fought for increased federal funding for affordable homes, and worked for Hillary Clinton's campaign for U.S. Senate in 2000, according to his campaign website.
2. Spent eight years on the City Council, headed the City Council's General Welfare Committee to better serve middle and working-class families. The Committee passed the Gender-Based Discrimination Protection law to protect transgendered New Yorkers, and passed the Domestic Partnership Recognition Law to ensure that same-sex couples in a legal partnership could enjoy all the same legal benefits of heterosexual couples in New York City.
3. Was sworn in as Public Advocate in 2010, the City's second-highest elected office. Stopped thousands of teacher layoffs, fought for compensation for 9/11 First Responders who became ill following their heroic work and pressured landlords to improve building maintenance and upkeep.
4. Proposes reform on tax breaks, particularly for large companies engaged in NYC economic development, which could save $250 million per year. Wants to create a Unified Development Budget to ensure that subsidies for economic development go to create jobs that offer a living wage with benefits, and that the development is spread throughout the city. Also wants to strengthen neglected industry sectors in every neighborhood in the city.
5. Calls for an increase in taxes for New Yorkers earning $500,000 or more in order to expand after-school programs for middle school students and to create universal pre-K programs.
6. As Public Advocate, he fought against school closures, including the closing of P.S. 114 in Harlem. He advocates for struggling schools to require specific plans to address their needs, and does not believe in school closures. Also supports increasing the number of schools that offer career and technical education.
7. Proposes a city-backed ID card to allow undocumented immigrants to access basic services, like opening a bank account or signing an apartment lease. He also supports allowing undocumented immigrants to access driver's licenses.
8. Wants to simplify the application process for food assistance programs, as well as emphasize job creation, job training and education as part of the city's welfare-to-work program. He also supports legislation to prevent employers from using credit ratings in hiring decisions.
9. Wants to enroll 600,000 more New Yorkers in Affordable Care Act-covered health insurance programs by 2018.
10. Advocates stop-and-frisk reform, expanding police resources and strong gun-safety laws.
Joe Lhota, Republican
1. Was an investment banker for 14 years at PaineWebber and First Boston. He specialized in public finance and is an expert in infrastructure finance, especially in financing plans and complex debt restructuring, according to his website.
2. Joined the Giuliani Administration in 1994 as Finance Commissioner, Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Deputy Mayor of Operations.
3. In 2011, was named Chairman & CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Oversaw the implementation of the FASTRACK program, $30 million in service enhancements and restorations. Also headed the MTA after Superstorm Sandy, which was up and running quickly after the storm.
4. Advocates for attracting new business to N.Y., such as the fast-growing hospitality and high-tech industries, by encouraging incentives for affordable housing and creating tax incentives to draw in new industries and keep growing businesses in NYC.
5. Wants to stimulate the tourism and hospitality industries by lowering N.Y. travel taxes and lowering the hotel tax to 5 percent.
6. Wants to create jobs and attract businesses by creating public-private partnerships for manufacturing, offer tax abatement incentives to manufacturing employers and modernize city regulations to meet the needs of manufacturers.
7. Wants to lower the property tax and ensure that property tax assessments are tied to the worth of the property.
8. Advocates for closing failing schools and creating more public schools, both traditional schools and charter schools. He wants to double the number of charter schools, particularly in low-income areas. Also wants to give all children access to pre-K services.
9. Does not believe that the police should limit stop-and-frisk policies; believes that the NYPD should ensure that they are operating within the confines of the stop-and-frisk law and are in accordance with the protections in the U.S. Constitution.
10. Wants to create incentives for the construction of 60,000 affordable housing units through city capital investments.