Michael Bloomberg served as New York City Mayor from 2002-2013. He is CEO of Bloomberg L.P., the financial services and media company he cofounded in 1981. He consistently ranks as one of the wealthiest men in the world.
Previous Work Around Poverty and Opportunity
- Created the Center for Equal Opportunity as mayor, which sought to find innovative ways to measure and combat poverty in the city and has launched over 40 programs.
- Emphasized public-private partnerships as mayor as a way of bringing the private sector and philanthropy together with government to support the needs of low-income New Yorkers.
On the Issues
Jobs: Recently unveiled an “All-in-economy” agenda that prioritizes investments in education, vocational training, and manufacturing. Places a significant focus on investing in workers and rural America.
Affordable Housing: Calls for guaranteed housing vouchers for all Americans at or below 30 percent of their area’s median income, increasing the supply of affordable housing units, and helping local governments enact change on this front.
Health Care/ Insurance: Is focused on building on policies set forth by the Affordable Care Act and creating a public option that individuals can buy into.
Education: Both as a mayor and candidate, has stressed expanding and supporting charter schools.
Criminal Justice: Has proposed comprehensive criminal justice reform policies that include reducing the number of incarcerated youth, expanding federal funding for effective alternatives to incarcerated individuals, helping offenders better reintegrate into society, and taking investigative action to address the root causes of crime. Has received criticism for his stop and frisk policy as mayor for which he has apologized.
Minimum Wage: Has said as recently as 2015 that he opposes raising the minimum wage, but has unveiled a new plan that would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025.
Safety Net: Has endorsed a “public option” for retirement savings plans.
Children/Families: Wants to guarantee access to full-day preschool and increase subsidies for child care.
Taxes/ Tax Credits: Has called Sen. Warren’s Wealth Tax “counterproductive and unconstitutional.” Wants to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
News Articles
“‘An extraordinary progressive agenda’: Billionaire Mike Bloomberg tries running against inequality” (Washington Examiner: 1/30/2020)
“Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s Middle-Class Strategies” (Forbes: 1/28/2020)
“2020 candidates: Michael Bloomberg” (New York Times: 1/31/2020)
“If he builds it, will they come? Inside Michael Bloomberg’s unconventional 2020 campaign” (NBC News: 1/7/2020)