New York City Mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio announced the newest member to "Team de Blasio" this week, business magnate and billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
A well-known supporter of progressive and liberal causes, 81-year-old Soros has chosen to endorse de Blasio in this year's mayoral race because he believes the candidate has "the talent, vision and ability to lead New York City."
According to de Blasio's campaign website, Soros has chosen to back de Blasio for a number of reasons: his support for universal pre-kindergarten and after-school programs, campaign finance reform, and his opposition to New York City's controversial stop-and-frisk policy, which he criticizes for unfairly targeting black men, according to a report from Yahoo! News.
"Mr. de Blasio's commitment to create a truly universal Pre-K and after school system is sound policy and will have a powerful impact on reducing inequality and improving the lives of generations of New Yorkers," Soros said. "Through his leadership and advocacy on the issue of campaign finance reform, Bill de Blasio has been an important advocate for protecting our elections from undue influences of special interests."
"As Public Advocate, Bill de Blasio has promoted concrete policy changes that would mean far fewer innocent New Yorkers are subjected to demeaning police stops while at the same time maintaining reductions in crime."
Soros, Chairman of Soros Fund Management and Open Society Foundation, is the 22nd richest man in the world with a net worth estimated at $20 billion, according to Forbes. The philanthropist has reportedly donated over $8 billion to human rights, public health and education causes.
And while Soros is a man you'd do well to have in your corner, you definitely don't want to antagonize this octogenarian. He reportedly donated over $25 million in an effort to defeat President George W. Bush's bid for re-election in 2004, according to a report from National Review Online.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Soros said that removing Bush from office was his central focus and "a matter of life and death." He maintained that he would sacrifice his entire fortune to oust Bush "if someone guaranteed it."
After Bush's re-election, Soros backed a new political fundraising group called Democracy Alliance, which supports progressive causes and the formation of a stronger progressive structure in America.
Soros seems to have a soft spot for New York. In 2009, he donated $35 million to the State of New York to be ear-marked for under-privileged kids. According to Business Week, Soros also acted as a "philanthropic partner" with Mayor Bloomberg.
The philanthropic assistance made available through this "partnership" included $30 million contributed to New York City's Young Men's Initiative, to help young Black and Latino men; $125 million put toward supporting after school programs; and $11 million donated to city arts organizations and initiatives.
"New York's next Mayor needs to possess conviction, intelligence and a clear vision for where they want to take the City," Soros said. "I believe Bill de Blasio possesses these qualities and will be an outstanding Mayor for all New Yorkers."
Aside from Soros, de Blasio has countless politicians, labor unions, clubs, groups, organizations and associations from New York and across the country who have come forward to endorse him.
Other big names supporting de Blasio in his mayoral bid include Alec Baldwin, Harry Belafonte, Alan Cumming, Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Sarandon and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.
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