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| Heckles, Support, Shrugs: New Yorkers on de Blasio’s Presidential Bid | Heckles, Support, Shrugs: New Yorkers on de Blasio’s Presidential Bid |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] | [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] |
| In the video announcing his presidential run, Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City, described his hometown as “legendarily tough and big and complicated.” | In the video announcing his presidential run, Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City, described his hometown as “legendarily tough and big and complicated.” |
| Soon after, New Yorkers proved just how apt that was. | Soon after, New Yorkers proved just how apt that was. |
| As Mr. de Blasio officially kicked off his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, the reactions of city residents ran the gamut from support to indifference to vehement objection. | As Mr. de Blasio officially kicked off his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, the reactions of city residents ran the gamut from support to indifference to vehement objection. |
| “Bad idea, Mr. Mayor,” Sharon Henderson, 53, said. | “Bad idea, Mr. Mayor,” Sharon Henderson, 53, said. |
| “How do you want to run off and be president of the United States when you’ve got all these issues you’re supposed to be the mayor of?” said Ms. Henderson, a home health aide who works in Brooklyn and lives in a homeless shelter in Queens. “Nah.” | “How do you want to run off and be president of the United States when you’ve got all these issues you’re supposed to be the mayor of?” said Ms. Henderson, a home health aide who works in Brooklyn and lives in a homeless shelter in Queens. “Nah.” |
| As the 23rd entrant in the Democratic race, Mr. de Blasio is facing the challenge of standing out in a packed field of candidates, many of whom already have significant leads both in polls and fund-raising. | As the 23rd entrant in the Democratic race, Mr. de Blasio is facing the challenge of standing out in a packed field of candidates, many of whom already have significant leads both in polls and fund-raising. |
| His competitors include politicians with larger national profiles, like former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Senators Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts; two other mayors, Pete Buttigieg, of South Bend, Ind., and Wayne Messam of Miramar, Fla.; and closer-to-home candidates, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Cory Booker of New Jersey. | His competitors include politicians with larger national profiles, like former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Senators Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts; two other mayors, Pete Buttigieg, of South Bend, Ind., and Wayne Messam of Miramar, Fla.; and closer-to-home candidates, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Cory Booker of New Jersey. |
| Given the long shadows cast by other contenders, even those of Mr. de Blasio’s constituents who supported his presidential bid weren’t sure they would vote for him. | Given the long shadows cast by other contenders, even those of Mr. de Blasio’s constituents who supported his presidential bid weren’t sure they would vote for him. |
| Lord Harrison, 45, a musician from Harlem, said he liked Mr. de Blasio and his policies, calling the mayor “down to earth” and “a guy anyone can relate to.” | Lord Harrison, 45, a musician from Harlem, said he liked Mr. de Blasio and his policies, calling the mayor “down to earth” and “a guy anyone can relate to.” |
| Still, given the chance, he didn’t think he’d vote for the mayor as the Democratic nominee. | Still, given the chance, he didn’t think he’d vote for the mayor as the Democratic nominee. |
| “I think it’s time for a woman to win,” Mr. Harrison said. “I would choose Warren or Harris.” | |
| Many New York residents pointed to Mr. de Blasio’s track record as mayor as evidence that he was unfit for the presidency. | Many New York residents pointed to Mr. de Blasio’s track record as mayor as evidence that he was unfit for the presidency. |
| Outside ABC’s television studios in Times Square, a small crowd was gathered to greet the mayor when he arrived for an appearance on “Good Morning America.” | Outside ABC’s television studios in Times Square, a small crowd was gathered to greet the mayor when he arrived for an appearance on “Good Morning America.” |
| As the mayor entered the studio for an interview with George Stephanopoulos, protesters shouted that Mr. de Blasio was “no friend of labor.” | As the mayor entered the studio for an interview with George Stephanopoulos, protesters shouted that Mr. de Blasio was “no friend of labor.” |
| Then throughout his live TV appearance, they chanted, “Can’t run the city, can’t run the country.” | Then throughout his live TV appearance, they chanted, “Can’t run the city, can’t run the country.” |
| Among the protesters were police officers, many of whom said they had called in sick so they could heckle Mr. de Blasio and his campaign. | Among the protesters were police officers, many of whom said they had called in sick so they could heckle Mr. de Blasio and his campaign. |
| John Puglissi, 51, the first vice president of the Police Benevolent Association, was among those waving orange foam fingers that called Mr. de Blasio a liar. | John Puglissi, 51, the first vice president of the Police Benevolent Association, was among those waving orange foam fingers that called Mr. de Blasio a liar. |
| “He should run away,” Mr. Puglissi said. “Him joining the race is a joke. He’s no friend of labor. He’s a phony progressive.” | “He should run away,” Mr. Puglissi said. “Him joining the race is a joke. He’s no friend of labor. He’s a phony progressive.” |
| Still, not all New Yorkers shared the officers’ opinions. | Still, not all New Yorkers shared the officers’ opinions. |
| In Long Island City, Queens, home to the country’s largest housing project, Regina Dorch was eager to see the mayor seek higher office. | In Long Island City, Queens, home to the country’s largest housing project, Regina Dorch was eager to see the mayor seek higher office. |
| “I’m very excited,” said Ms. Dorch, 53, a longtime resident of the project, the Queensbridge Houses. “He’s a people person — he’s for everybody. He wants to help everyone survive.” | “I’m very excited,” said Ms. Dorch, 53, a longtime resident of the project, the Queensbridge Houses. “He’s a people person — he’s for everybody. He wants to help everyone survive.” |
| Ms. Dorch said she was not sure if she would vote for Mr. de Blasio, but was glad that she might have the chance. “I like him, and he will do well if he wins, but I like Joe Biden, too,” she said. | Ms. Dorch said she was not sure if she would vote for Mr. de Blasio, but was glad that she might have the chance. “I like him, and he will do well if he wins, but I like Joe Biden, too,” she said. |
| In an interview on the local news station NY1, Jumaane D. Williams, the city’s public advocate, said Mr. de Blasio had every right to enter the race. | In an interview on the local news station NY1, Jumaane D. Williams, the city’s public advocate, said Mr. de Blasio had every right to enter the race. |
| “He’s qualified,” Mr. Williams told NY1’s Pat Kiernan. “I can’t begrudge him for running.” | “He’s qualified,” Mr. Williams told NY1’s Pat Kiernan. “I can’t begrudge him for running.” |
| But he did not exactly voice his support. | But he did not exactly voice his support. |
| “If the question is, ‘Would I like to see you do for the country what you did for New York City?’ I would have to answer no to that,” Mr. Williams said. | “If the question is, ‘Would I like to see you do for the country what you did for New York City?’ I would have to answer no to that,” Mr. Williams said. |
| Before the announcement, as speculation had grown that Mr. de Blasio would jump into the race, the city’s often-divided residents appeared to achieve a rare unity in their belief that he should not run. | Before the announcement, as speculation had grown that Mr. de Blasio would jump into the race, the city’s often-divided residents appeared to achieve a rare unity in their belief that he should not run. |
| In an April poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, New York City voters gave Mr. de Blasio a 42 percent approval rating. | In an April poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, New York City voters gave Mr. de Blasio a 42 percent approval rating. |
| The poll also found that three-quarters of the city’s voters believed that Mr. de Blasio should not run for president. Forty-seven percent of them said that if he decided to run, it would be bad for New York City. | The poll also found that three-quarters of the city’s voters believed that Mr. de Blasio should not run for president. Forty-seven percent of them said that if he decided to run, it would be bad for New York City. |
| On Thursday morning, Isatou Jallow, 35, a security guard who lives in Jamaica, Queens, said she did not think the mayor had done enough for regular people, adding that she knew many who had been fleeing the city because prices were too high. | On Thursday morning, Isatou Jallow, 35, a security guard who lives in Jamaica, Queens, said she did not think the mayor had done enough for regular people, adding that she knew many who had been fleeing the city because prices were too high. |
| “I think you have to run the city first, before you can run the country,” she said. | “I think you have to run the city first, before you can run the country,” she said. |
| Noel Merritt, 58, a resident of the Queensbridge Houses, shook his head no to the bid. “No, do not do it,” he said. “He hasn’t done a good job as mayor.” | Noel Merritt, 58, a resident of the Queensbridge Houses, shook his head no to the bid. “No, do not do it,” he said. “He hasn’t done a good job as mayor.” |
| Under Mr. de Blasio, he continued, Mr. Merritt had only seen two things improve: universal pre-K and the minimum wage. But, he said, the tale of two cities — rich and poor — that the mayor had campaigned against had only gotten worse. | Under Mr. de Blasio, he continued, Mr. Merritt had only seen two things improve: universal pre-K and the minimum wage. But, he said, the tale of two cities — rich and poor — that the mayor had campaigned against had only gotten worse. |
| “As I look around, I see he is finishing up the Bloomberg plan,” Mr. Merritt said, gesturing to the rising towers of Long Island City across the street from the brown-brick Queensbridge Houses. “On that side of the street, everything is going up. On this side, everything is falling down.” | “As I look around, I see he is finishing up the Bloomberg plan,” Mr. Merritt said, gesturing to the rising towers of Long Island City across the street from the brown-brick Queensbridge Houses. “On that side of the street, everything is going up. On this side, everything is falling down.” |
| Sharon Otterman, Sean Piccoli and Edgar Sandoval contributed reporting. | Sharon Otterman, Sean Piccoli and Edgar Sandoval contributed reporting. |