Giuliani: De Blasio's Ideas 'Retrogressive,' Not 'Progressive'

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani says the ideas of newly inaugurated Mayor Bill de Blasio aren't "progessive" at all, but "retrogressive."

Every policy de Blasio is discussing has failed historically going back 140 years, Giuliani said Tuesday on Fox News Channel's "Hannity."

"They were at the heart of why the city was a disaster in 1993-1994," when Giuliani took over as mayor from David Dinkins, he said.

"We're talking about, basically, Marxist ideas. We saw them used in Eastern Europe. We saw them used in Asia," Giuliani said. "I took over a city that was a disaster. The first thing I did was lower taxes, not raise taxes. The next thing I did was require people on welfare to work."

That policy led to 500,000-600,000 New Yorkers getting off government assistance and getting jobs, he said.

De Blasio has promised to try to raise taxes https://www.newsmax.com/Politics/bill-de-blasio-nyc-tax-wealthy/2014/01/03/id/545018 on the richest in the city to pay for universal pre-kindergarten education and require developers to build affordable housing.

Giuliani said he was offended by speakers at de Blasio's inauguration who attacked outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg as he was seated with other dignitaries at the ceremony. One speaker compared the city to a plantation.

"Those attacks were vicious, they were mean-spirited," Giuliani said. "The mayor is owed an apology."

Whether you agreed with him or not, Giuliani said, Bloomberg was a good mayor who worked tirelessly for the city.

Despite de Blasio's ultra-leftist ideology, Giuliani said, he hopes de Blasio will learn to govern practically.

Ed Koch, Giuliani said, was a very liberal congressman, but learned he had to be more practical and conservative as mayor.