Party: Democratic
Background: Thompson was the New York City comptroller from 2002 to 2009 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He oversaw the city’s $100 billion pension fund and made investments into housing for lower- and middle-class families. In 1994, he became head of the Board of Education, which he retained for five terms. He is the Chair of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Team. He lives in Harlem with his wife, Elsie McCabe Thompson, and two stepchildren.
Stop-and-frisk policy: Thompson has taken a moderate view on this controversial issue. He considers the practice to be a semi-useful policing strategy and considers its criticisms to be overblown. This has earned him support from Bloomberg, but has cost him the support of high profile black leaders — namely the Reverend Al Sharpton.
NYU Connection/ stance on NYU issues: Thompson has not made any statements concerning the NYU 2031 plan. His stance on other university issues are also unclear.
Economics: Thompson promotes an economic climate that welcomes small business ventures. He has worked with the mayor’s Office of Management and Budget to lower debt service and borrowing costs to recover from the worst of the post-9/11 budget issues. He has highlighted the needs of self-employed New Yorkers, which account for about one-half of the New York City’s job growth. He has made recommendations to the management and connection of the city’s workforce development system.
City Policies: In his campaign statement, Thompson outlines that his goals are to decrease the affordability gap, prepare for environmental threats, fix the city’s health care and hospital systems, and support the small business and immigrant communities. He also said that to keep New York the safest big city in country, policing strategies need to be effective while balancing constitutional rights. Thompson also said his administration would be more proactive in listening to the outer boroughs than his predecessor’s.
Key Affiliations: Thompson’s most conspicuous endorser has been the Reverend Floyd H. Flake, who is the pastor of Great Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral in Queens, which has over 23,000 members.
Transportation: Thompson opposes Metropolitan Transit Authority fare increases and promoted state funding to the MTA to make up for its budget shortfalls. He plans to push for reducing waiting periods in the subways and installing countdown clocks outside of stations for arrival times. He has no plans for removing any created bike lanes. Instead he aims to expand the bike lanes, as well as add larger signage and better lighting and paved roads. He also has opposed bridge tolls over the East and Harlem Rivers that reduce traffic to smaller businesses and working families.
Education: Thompson plans to expand prekindergarten education and physical education, as well as increase state and federal funding for New York City’s public school system. He also supports expansion of the city’s charter schools. Thompson proposed students studying science, math, technology and engineering take a specialized test in these fields instead of a state Regents exam.
Housing: Thompson supports expanding affordable housing. He created and rehabilitated affordable housing units through the New York City Pension Funds’ Economically Targeted Investments program. He outlined a plan to create 120,000 units of housing and to offer low-interest loans to building owners and issuing tax-exempt bonds. He did not address the 421a tax-abatement program intended to increase construction of affordable housing.
Health: Thompson wishes to simplify the prerequisites for receiving publicly funded health care and reducing the health care disparities based on income. Thompson is also an advocate for Spanish language services in hospitals and expanded physical education programs in schools. He believes that diabetes education and resources are important and the Medicaid reimbursement rate should be altered.