Forget about the attack ads or the right painting Bill de Blasio a liberal leftist or Marxist. The Democratic candidate for mayor thinks he’s a Fiscal Conservative.

Mr. de Blasio was addressing a room full of realtors and lobbyists, Friday morning, at a breakfast hosted by the Association for a Better New York, an organization that is itself led by an old New York real estate family, the Rudins. In response to a question from a hotel owner asking if he would commit to not raising the industry’s taxes, he declared himself a “fiscal conservative.”

“I want to pleasantly shock the room and say I’m a fiscal conservative and I’m a progressive activist fiscal conservative, but I’m still a fiscal conservative,” he said. “And so, we can’t talk about tax cuts in any sector until we sort out our financial situation.”

The campaign of Republican Joe Lhota immediately shot back with some opposition research, calling it pandering for the Frontrunner.

“It’s delusional for anyone to think Bill de Blasio is a fiscal conservative. Welcome to another episode of the latest in unreality TV: Pandering Bill. He’ll say anything to anyone to get elected,” said Jessica Proud in a press release.

“Cue the laugh track. Except it’s sad, not funny. The City’s future is at stake,” the statement read.

Ms. Proud went on to list Mr. de Blasio’s record as evidence. “Bill De Blasio can say whatever he wants, but he can’t hide from his record,” the Lhota campaign noted.

-Voted to Increase Government Spending By 50%

De Blasio was a yes vote on every budget during his Council tenure. Throughout that time, spending skyrocketed. (City Council Legislator, accessed 9/21/13)
-Total expenditures increased by a total of 50%, from 39,698,060,747 for FY2002, the year before de Blasio was elected to the Council, to 59,479,863,786 for FY2010, the last budget he voted on.

-Sponsored pay raise for Council members from $91,000 to $112,500. (INT 458, 2006)

Debt increased while he served on Council:

-Debt increased by $8.8 billion, or 31% under de Blasio, according to budget figures;

-Debt service payments by the city increased by 152% – from $1.25 billion to $3.15 billion – an increase of $1.9 Billion;

-Debt per capita increased from $3,455 to $4,492 – 30% increase.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)