Mayoral candidates debate each other on poverty

NEW YORK (WABC) -- In race for New York mayor, Bill de Blasio is continuing his domination in the polls in his bid to become the first Democrat to be elected mayor here since 1989.

The latest Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters gives de Blasio 66%, Republican Joe Lhota 25%, and Independence Party candidate Adolfo Carrion has 2%.

A big issue in the race for mayor is poverty.

A new census report shows it's only getting worse in New York City, as is the income gap.

Bill de Blasio won the Democratic primary on a message of taxing the rich and helping the poor.

Thursday morning he refused to back down.

"So I will continue talking about a tale of two cities because it must be talked about if we're going to fix it," de Blasio said.

The Democratic frontrunner has tapped into a profound issue in New York City, that its crazy expensive to live here, and it's getting tougher.

New census figures show in 2007, before the recession, 18.5% of all New Yorkers lived in poverty, that rate has now gone up to more than 21%.

"Absolutely I see it. I see it every day! I lose neighbors all the time because they just can't afford it," said Hazel Dukes, of the NY NAACP.

The Republican in the race for mayor also agrees that it's increasingly difficult to live here, but he calls de Blasio's tale of two cities message divisive.

"We really should not be talking about a tale of two cities. We should be talking about a city of great expectations," said Joe Lhota, (R) Mayoral Candidate.

Joe Lhota Thursday accused de Blasio of exploiting the issue of rich versus poor.

"What is divisive going around talking about the tale of two cities talking about 'those' people who live on Park Avenue, that's not only divisive, that's code," Lhota said.

"It's not divisive to talk about a problem that millions of New Yorkers are facing! People all over this city are having trouble making ends meet," de Blasio said.

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new york city politics, politics & elections, dave evans

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