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De Blasio's Iowa Presidential Forum Has Been Canceled

By Jeff Mays | November 10, 2015 5:27pm
 Mayor Bill de Blasio, at Gracie Mansion with First Lady Chirlane McCray, activist Van Jones, and Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, plans to dip his toe into presidential politics with the launch of a push for income inequality to become a central issue of the 2016 national elections.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, at Gracie Mansion with First Lady Chirlane McCray, activist Van Jones, and Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, plans to dip his toe into presidential politics with the launch of a push for income inequality to become a central issue of the 2016 national elections. "All of this is focused on the notion that we are not having a discussion on income inequality in this country and we are not having that discussion at our peril," de Blasio said.
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DNAinfo/Jeff Mays

NEW YORK CITY — The progressive group founded by Mayor Bill de Blasio to inject the issue of income inequality into the national presidential elections canceled a planned forum in Iowa on the topic, one of the group's major initiatives.

The forum's demise ends what was shaping up to be a major embarrassment for the mayor — it was unclear whether any presidential candidates would have showed up.

Geri Prado, executive director of the Progressive Agenda Committee, sent out a statement Tuesday afternoon that the group would not hold a presidential forum and instead "refocus" on new plans.

"A year ago, income inequality was not at the center of the national debate," Prado said. "The result was low voter turnout, and a determination by everyday Americans that politicians must address the inequality crisis."

But since de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray convened the group in April at Gracie Mansion, the issue has seeped into both the Democratic and Republican debates, reducing the need for a forum, according to Prado.

“It is clear other efforts beyond the previously-planned presidential forum will more effectively advance the cause of fighting income inequality," Prado continued. "However, TPAC will continue to work with our leaders at the local, state and federal levels to implement tangible solutions to what is the crisis of our time."

The announcement came shortly after de Blasio, during an interview on NY1 Tuesday, declined to discuss whether he would attend his own forum.

"That situation, we will have more to say on soon," de Blasio said.

The mayor has been criticized for focusing too much on national issues such as income inequality and not on nuts and bolts issues facing the city such as homelessness and crime.

De Blasio has rejected that idea and said that it's necessary to reach beyond New York City to get things done that are important to residents here.

"The overall concept of going where I can make an impact for the people of this city and on the concerns that matter to the people of this city is absolutely appropriate," said de Blasio.

Jeanne Zaino, a professor of political science at Iona College, called the cancellation "a bit of an embarrassment" for the mayor.

"He had to swallow his pride," said Zaino. "He made a big deal about being a progressive kingmaker and someone who could have a voice on the progressive left but ended up with his tail between his legs."

De Blasio also took heat from supporters of Hillary Clinton for failing to endorse her for months.

The mayor, who has worked for both Bill and Hillary Clinton, said he was waiting to hear a clear vision from the former secretary of state about income inequality even as other leading Democrats such as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito endorsed and campaigned for Clinton.

Clinton's supporters accused de Blasio of grandstanding.

The mayor recently endorsed Clinton although most experts said that de Blasio's decision to withhold his endorsement had no major effect on Clinton's policies.

Instead, it was Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren who likely influenced Clinton's policy stances on issues such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Keystone XL pipeline.

"For them to take credit for pushing Clinton to the left is laughable. You have to be in the race to push someone. Endorsements don't matter that much," said Zaino.

Prado said the group plans to reorganize and "will implement an aggressive multi-platform communications effort with our supporters to ensure these issues remain part of the national conversation — throughout this election season, and into the future."

De Blasio may also need to reorganize and rein in his plan of having national influence on the politics of the left.

"This suggests he has a real need to focus on what's going on in the city he runs. If he wants to push a progressive agenda, do it in New York City," said Zaino. "Once you've proven that you can do it here, then take it across the country."