10 Questions With Michael Blake

At the first Democratic debate in this year’s New York City mayoral race, Michael Blake emerged as a scene-stealer, in part for his curt attacks on former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the race’s front-runner.

For those familiar with Mr. Blake, his performance might not have been entirely unexpected. He worked at the White House during the Obama administration, served as a New York State assemblyman and is an associate pastor at a Bronx church who knows how to craft a strong one-liner.

That experience, however, has not translated into much success in his bid to become mayor. He has been near the back of the pack in the polls, and his campaign has not qualified for the city’s generous public matching funds program.

Ahead of the June 24 primary, the leading Democrats in the race visited The New York Times for interviews. We are publishing excerpts from those interviews, and this is the fourth in the series; our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

We asked Mr. Blake, 42, questions about 10 themes, with the occasional follow-up, touching on his push to eliminate credit scores on rent and homeownership applications and whether it’s OK to put ketchup on a cinnamon raisin bagel.

We’ve written previously about where Mr. Blake and the other candidates stand on key issues and which candidates are raising the most money in your neighborhood.

1. What’s the most important issue in the race: affordability, public safety, President Trump or something else?

Affordability. If you can’t pay your bills, if you can’t figure out how to make it, it’s hard for you to focus on anything else. Now, the other issues are intertwined. No question about that. When we talk about ending credit scores for rent and homeownership applications, about increasing the living wage, all of that is tied to that. The cost of living is the biggest issue that people are struggling with.

2. Who is the best New York City mayor in your lifetime?

I’ve been going back and forth on that. I’m obviously partial to David Dinkins as an Alpha. [Mr. Dinkins was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, as was Mr. Blake.]

He demonstrated that you can balance equity while also having justice simultaneously. It was a pretty intentional thought process of, What are we doing for these communities of color that people are not otherwise?

3. Who did you rank first on your ballot in the 2021 mayoral primary?

I think it should be pretty obvious. I co-chaired Maya Wiley’s campaign. I know Kathryn Garcia definitely was ranked, too.

4. Mayor Eric Adams recently delayed the start of some fines for composting. Should composting be mandatory, and if so, should fines start now?

Yes and yes.

5. What’s one issue in politics that you’ve changed your mind about?

Probably discovery reform. I was there when we worked on it. I didn’t internalize how the changes would lead to it becoming harder for some of the prosecutors. We knew we needed to change discovery, because I think it was unfair how it previously was. But the shift, I think, went a little too far.

6. There have been questions about where Mayor Adams lives. Where do you live?

I don’t think there’s any question about that. I live in the South Bronx. I won a residency court challenge when I ran the first time, when, quite frankly, the haters who thought I was going to win my race tried to kick me off the ballot.

How much is your rent or mortgage?

I own. It’s about $1,800 per month.

Do you own a car?

I do not. Primarily because — and I’ve talked about this publicly — in 2001 I fell asleep at the wheel, and I’m reluctant to drive.

How often do you take the subway or bus?

You saw me coming across the street today! I took the A train here. I usually walk from my house to the 2, 5 train.

7. How would you describe your personal financial situation now and growing up? Middle-class, upper-middle-class, wealthy?

Middle-class, definitely. I’m definitely not wealthy. Look at my background. We were working-class. We sold dinners on Saturdays to pay rent. My mama was homeless in Jamaica when she became an orphan and came here. That’s what I know. My mama worked in manufacturing about 41 years and did home care. My daddy, God rest his soul, was a janitor at St. Barnabas. I was the youngest of four. Two of my three brothers were locked up and turned their lives around.

I’m glad that question is being asked about another candidate. It is intriguing when you talk about the working-class struggle and you’re not really communicating how wealthy you actually are. [He was referring to another candidate, Zohran Mamdani, a progressive state lawmaker who is the son of a prominent filmmaker.]

8. You’ve run for office a few times. What prompted you to run for mayor this time? And if you don’t win this race, are you done running for elected office?

This is my service. I mean, I’ve won seven times and lost three, but I seem to only get asked about the times I didn’t win. I’ve had three primary wins, three general wins, and I got elected vice chair of the Democratic National Convention.

I decided to run because I fundamentally believe that I am the best, at this moment of time, for what we’re facing. Who is best prepared to lead the city with federal experience in this moment? I’m the only person who’s been a part of a team that’s defeated Donald Trump; the one who I believe has the best affordability plan; and the experience of White House, state house and local — that makes me uniquely qualified to lead a city with a $115 billion budget when you know cuts are coming.

9. What is your bagel order or favorite breakfast sandwich?

I am a bacon egg and cheese on a croissant with salt and pepper and ketchup guy.

Ketchup?

Y’all are judging me. Don’t judge. It’s delicious. We had this whole back and forth — if I’m just chilling, I put it on a cinnamon raisin. Even the team was like, that’s a lot on a cinnamon raisin. I was like, yes it is, but it’s delicious, too. Let me rock.